The documentary that was well overdue arrived last month thanks to Dream Hampton and Lifetime network. The six hour-episode about famed singer – Robert Sylvester Kelly’s pka (R.Kelly) timeline of sexual predatory behavior of rape, abuse, sodomy, and master manipulation of young girls of color that began at the start of his music stardom 25 years ago.
Over the weekend, R.Kelly turned himself in to Chicago police authorities over new allegations that have come forward. Kelly has been indicted for 10 sexual abuse charges. Three of the alleged victims were between the ages of 13 – 16 during the sexual encounter in the year 1998 through 2003. Kelly has been charged with class 2 felonies.
Now here’s the backstory and thoughts on #Surviving Kelly documentary.
Kelly, a victim of child molestation by family members and alleged persons in his neighborhood community; had long recounted the years his innocence was stolen at the advances of adult/persons who were much older than him in his ‘SoulaCoaster’ audible memoir book. Yet, til this day, R.Kelly refuses to mention the names of his sexual predators, and hold them accountable for their actions, and after watching ‘Surviving R.Kelly’ I can now assume WHY! One of Kelly’s alleged predators is said to be his older sister Theresa Kelly who reportedly molested both R.Kelly and his younger brother Carey Kelly from ages six up through thirteen years of age. In turn, R.Kelly has allegedly done the very same to underage girls alike and as we saw on the ‘Surviving R.Kelly‘, many of Kelly’s survivor victims were afraid to speak up after years of dating the singer.
, ” I Really Think It’s A Generational Curse Because It Goes On In The Black Community. Because As I Grew Up I Asked Alot Of People That I Met About It (Molestion). Some Could Remember, Some Couldn’t, But I Remember It. I Remember Sexually, It Woke Up My Hormones Alot Earlier Than It Was Suppose To Be Awoken. It Woke My Curiosity Alot Earlier Than It Was Suppose To. And, I Know I Became Alot Sexual At An Early Age Because Of That. – R.Kelly “
Similar to the victims of ‘Surviving R.Kelly’, R.Kelly’s traumatic infliction of sexual pain as a child came from the hands of ‘trusted’ adult men and women. Now the abuse child (R.Kelly) – becomes the abusive adult perpetuating the same broken and abusive pattern to younger girls alike with his influential power as a renown musician. Thankfully, some of the survivors of R.Kelly (who also entrusted in him) and a few parents of (current women that are being held in his captivity) have come forward to demand justice for Kelly’s longstanding predatory behavior.
” The Power Of Mind Control “
The irony that plagues here is that the self-proclaimed ‘Pied Piper’ has managed to flaunt his transgressions in plain site with the help, protection, and assistance of his payroll team, record label and others for decades. The entertainment industry is filled with many ‘yes men’ and ‘yes women’ who are at the beck and call, and apparent ‘silence’ of ‘unrighteous acts’ committed by elite artists/executives who sustain their livelihoods – hence why the outcry from this docu-series hails from the majority of non-celebrities.
I don’t recall an uproar of this sort back in 1995 when R.Kelly married his artist protege’ Aaliyah who was just 15 years old at the time of their elopement, and again in 2002 when the public videotape release of R.Kelly having sexual intercourse and urinating on the 14 -year old niece of his grooming artist – Sparkle. This was more than enough proof to #MuteRkelly all together. But Kelly’s trial was set six years later, which many alleged to be a deliberate account from Kelly’s legal team to get the singer acquitted now that the underage minor had reached the age of consent. Many of the alleged victims in the docu-series said they’ve met Sparkle’s niece during their dating period with the Kelly, and some engaged in threesome accounts with her and Kelly. Sparkle’s niece is still reportedly still serving as one of Kelly’s women.
Like many predators in families, neighborhood communities; you know – (the folks they tell you to be aware of). The predators in church (esp. the catholic priests, and high level bishops/ pastors that prey on the purified young, the predators in politics, entertainment, law enforcement and those in day-to-day workspaces who’ve been called out by a few accusers – justice is rarely served. The voices of ‘those victims’ are often MUTE due to the giant status of the accused. This cycle of predatory behaviors occurs often because there are many ‘birds of a feather flocking and protecting one another’; many of whom lack the value of a moral compass.
I cringed my teeth with anger and disgust listening to members of R.Kelly’s personal entourage camp, and the women R.Kelly had sexual relations with testify about their contribution in ‘recruiting girls’ at his request to engage in his pedophile fetishes. My teeth cringe persisted, as I listened to the survivor’s similar accounts of R.Kelly’s desire to have sex with underage girls and subjecting (them at random moments) to engage in ‘vile and perverse sexual acts’ with him and other women they’d never met prior.
One survivor is currently suing R.Kelly for contracting an incurable STD, and rumor has it that she is not the only one. Kelly seemingly engaged in ALOT of unprotected sex and is alleged to have inflicted abuse, violence, and notorious intimidation tactics to underage, young and adult women that went unchecked and swept under the rug for decades.
The parents and adult women testimonies were a bit unsettling to watch at times. With the exception of Mrs. Gardner who seemed defiant in getting her daughter (Dominique) back, there were a few side-eye moments here with a couple of the testimonies that aired. In the docu-series, one couple (The Clary’s) admits that they were aware of R.Kelly’s previous sex charges, and rumors alike but since the singer had been acquitted of the charges, they felt no initial harm in introducing their 17 -year old daughter (Azriel Clary) to R.Kelly at a concert show not suitable for a teen.
Soon after, the couple agrees for Kelly to serve as a manager to jumpstart their daughter’s singing career after discovering their daughter had secretly met with Kelly in a hotel room. What the Clary’s did not expect was the inevitable that followed after Azriel’s 18th birthday. Azriel cut off all communication -ties with her parents. It’s been two years since the Clary’s have seen their daughter.
The women (who were ‘of consenting age’) admits their vulnerability and admiration for the singer is what ultimately led to Kelly taking advantage of them, although there were noticeable ‘red flags’ from prior rumor stories and alleged physical abuse they endured after moving in with Kelly.
One survivor points out that most of the women in Kelly’s compound residence (including Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly), had to ask permission to use the restroom, eat at leisure, and instructed to never speak with any other person(s) besides Kelly. Whether Kelly brought these women to the studio, hotels, or his residence the women were always separated in different rooms.
Kelly allegedly had most of his women sign non-disclosure agreements, and made personal threats to harm their loved ones that compelled them to stay silent. The mere fact that R.Kelly (52) has repeatedly involved himself with underage girls throughout his musical career is disturbingly sad.
Since their first introduction to Kelly as teenagers, Azriel Clary, Sparkle’s niece, and Jocelyn Savage are currently in R.Kelly’s custody. Despite the few pop up videos that show these young women cheering on Kelly at concerts, shopping in Nordstrom in beverly hills, – that’s just the surface images we’re looking at. Like Kelly’s alleged predatory behavior, there’s some deep layers of pain and dark secrets underneath.