R. Kelly drama ignites further after third tape surfaces

Alyssa Bunde
Staff Writer

American singer Robert Sylvester Kelly, famously known by his stage name R. Kelly, is pleading not guilty to 10 charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. According to Fox News, out of the four victims, three are younger than 17. These alleged events occurred between 1998 and 2010.

Attorney Michael Aventaii has turned in two tapes to prosecutors in Chicago, one of which sparked the 10 charges against Kelly, according to TMZ. CNN has since reviewed this tape and claim it lasts 42 minutes and 45 seconds and is, “clear and explicit.” CNN states the tape has a naked man, allegedly R. Kelly, performing multiple sex acts with a girl. CNN also expressed that, “it is impossible to know her age from just the video.” However, six times during the tape the girl refers to her genitalia as 14-years-old. 

A third tape has also surfaced from a Pennsylvania man named Gary Dennis. According to NBC News, Dennis found the tape when he was cleaning out an old box of VHS recordings at his home. Dennis stated that he has never met Kelly and is unsure where the tape came from but that he was “disgusted” and “horrified” by it. 

Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg, has denied that his client was on any tape. Greenberg has put out a statement explaining, “it’s not him,” continuing that it’s, “obviously now just open season on R. Kelly.”

The singer bailed himself out of jail only to be brought back after the discovery that he owes over $160,000 in child support, according to TMZ. The singer reluctantly put forward the bare minimum of $161,633 and once again walked out of jail. 

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the singer has faced charges. According to The Week, Kelly faced child pornography charges in 2002. A tape showed the singer allegedly showing him having sex with a minor. However, he was ultimately acquitted. 

SNL star Pete Davidson has weighed in on the controversy. He claimed, “You don’t know how good someone’s music really is until you find out they’re a pedophile.” The comedian continued expressing his concern that, “After we do our research, we’re not gonna have much left because it seems like all the really talented people are sick.”