|
After 6 Years, Star's Trial Date Nears
R. Kelly's R& B Career Has Soared Despite His Indictment Over Explicit
Videotape
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 20, 2008; A02
CHICAGO. April 19 -- It has been six years since silky-voiced singer R.
Kelly was indicted on child pornography charges, accused of videotaping
himself in sex acts with a 14-year-old girl. He has since sold millions of
albums, earned tens of millions of dollars, toured the nation -- and never
faced a jury.
Attorneys dueled one another over expert witnesses. They battled about the
videotape. They won postponements because of other trials and obligations. A
prosecutor gave birth, Kelly had an appendectomy and the judge fell off an
18-foot ladder while trying to fix a skylight.
Through it all, presumed innocent, Kelly produced music that rocketed to the
top of the Billboard charts.
But now, barring accident or surprise, the 41-year-old R&B superstar will go
on trial next month in Chicago in a case that could shape his offstage
reputation for years to come. Jury selection is scheduled to begin May 9 on
the South Side, where the enigmatic hometown showman who likes to keep it
real is expected to endure some of the most real moments of his life.
"R. Kelly is looking forward to his day in court and he is confident that
when all the evidence comes out, he will be shown not to have committed any
crime," said Kelly spokesman Allan Mayer, who will fly in from New York to
help manage the expected media hubbub.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent M. Gaughan imposed a gag order,
limiting the details that have filtered from a series of closed-door
sessions in recent months. In earlier hearings, Kelly's attorneys began by
denying that he was the man in the video, while the alleged victim denied
that the girl was her.
The attorneys, led by prominent Chicago lawyer Edward Genson, who has
represented fallen media baron Conrad Black and former representative Mel
Reynolds (D-Ill.), also said the female in the video was 18, and therefore
had reached the age of consent.
To counter those assertions, prosecutors have labored to assemble witnesses,
including relatives of the girl, who is now a woman in her early 20s. The
government has also assembled experts to authenticate and date the
recording, based in part on the setting, as well as radio advertisements and
songs by the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys heard in the background.
Gaughan ruled over defense objections that the 26-minute videotape, which is
available on the Internet, will be played in court. It shows a man engaged
in variety of sex acts with a girl. He is also seen giving her money.
The tape, first leaked to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2002, led to a 21-count
grand jury indictment against Kelly, later reduced to 14 counts. Cook
County's chief prosecutor, Richard A. Devine, said at the time that the
charges should "send a message to sexual predators that taking advantage of
minors will not be tolerated."
Kelly was sued before the indictment by at least two women who said they had
sex with him before they turned 18, according to news reports. He was also
married briefly in 1994 to singer Aaliyah D. Haughton, who was then 15. He
recently split with his wife, a former dancer with his act. They have three
children.
As time went on, Kelly the musician was undeterred. He produced album after
album, one a year since the indictment, and his popularity soared. Six
studio albums in his career have reached the top of the Billboard 200 and
all 10 have reached at least No. 2. A new album is nearing release.
"He's become one of the most consistent voices in R&B today," said Dion
Summers, who directs urban programming for XM Satellite Radio. "I'd call him
the Marvin Gaye of this generation: The impact on R&B, the impact on his fan
base and the longevity of his career."
Summers said an element of Kelly's success has been the range of his work,
which includes collaborations with artists as varied as Celine Dion and
young hip-hop performers. He moves from dreamy and hopeful riffs to spirited
stepping songs and raunchy raps infused with a hard-edged sexuality.
"One minute, he's talking about 'Feelin' on Yo Booty,' which struck a
certain chord with his fan base," Summers said, "and he'll turn around and
do 'I'm Your Angel' with Celine that's a total pop smash."
Summers said the criminal charges have not resonated with Kelly's audience.
"I strongly believe that many people have forgotten because it's been so
long," Summers said. "For the others it's like this: It's true of everyone
from Britney to Whitney; nothing makes you overlook drama or overlook
negative situations or negative press like hit records."
An introductory video on Kelly's Web site, shot against the Chicago skyline,
shows him in conversation with his late mother. He says, "Sometimes, I wish
I could trade in my success."
"Oh, son," a voice replies, "what does it profit a man to gain the whole
world and lose his soul?"
"I want out," Kelly says. "But it's hard. I need answers, Mama."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041901
823.html
|
| |
| |
|
