"But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]. Jane, one of multiple alleged victims set to take the stand, revealed under oath that she was the teenager with Kelly in the explicit video recording that resulted in his arrest and child pornography trial in 2008. This encounter disheartened Sparkle and caused her to step back from her career in entertainment. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), singer began grooming the 14-year-old victim and began having sex with her at just 15 years, Prosecutors are pushing for another conviction, R. Kelly being sentenced to 30 years in prison, R. Kelly and Joycelyn Savages Father Denies She Gave Birth To His Baby, R. Kellys Unauthorized Album I Did It Removed From Streaming Services, DJ Envy, Lil Mama, Erica Mena Calls Out Angela Yee Over Breakfast Club Claims, Nicki Minaj Launches Own Record Label, Skeng Among First Signees, Popcaan and Squash 6ixx Boss Clash On IG Igniting Beef, Nicki Minaj New Song Red Ruby Da Sleeze Debut At No. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. Genson suggested that Sparkle next tried to conspire with former Kelly manager Barry Hankerson "about doing something bad to Robert. Twitter Debates 16-Year Age Gap Between Jaylen Brown & Mouthwatering Meemaw Bernice Burgos, Barbie Gyal Nicki Minaj Returns From Hiatus And Sets Di Road Ablaze At Trinidad Carnival 2023, Rain Pon Meeee: Ashanti Reminds Everyone How Feathered And FINE She Was At Trinidad Carnival 2019, Chaka Khan Shows No Mercy Blasting Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey & Other Names On Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singers' List, Funniest (And Pettiest) Tweets From NBA All-Star Weekend 2023. At times sniffling and dabbing her eyes and her nose with a tissue, Sparkle appeared to be on the verge of tears but remained composed, although she also became defiant when Genson had his turn and accused the R&B singer of trying to take revenge against Kelly for terminating her record-label contract. Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? 6 2019, Updated 5:51 a.m. He rose to fame after singing as an eight-year-old in church before winning a $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated US television talent show, "Big Break," hosted by Natalie Cole. People are trying to make money off my music and my name in a very, very negative way. because you deserve it! Though Kelly has talked to local Chicago media about the scandal, he hasn't addressed a lot of the questions people have about the tapes. Those who have been following the scandal were shocked to hear Sparkles testimony because she has long advocated for R. Kellys imprisonment for what he is accused of doing to her niece. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. So I feel a responsibility for that also, although I'm not responsible for his actions, I feel responsible for even taking her there. In addition to child pornography, Kelly is facing state and federal charges of obstruction of justice, sexual assault and racketeering. Its impact cannot be overstated and a month later, Kelly was facing new charges in Chicago. The "Better Be Careful" singer was one of the first people to go public about . In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. According to . "You have no idea whether this was put together by someone trying to get money from Robert, do you?" Modern Movie Musical Essentials. Uh Oh! In her video, Sparkle read a statement from her phone and said, "Not all that you heard yesterday from my niece is true. Since the news of her niece's cooperation has been made public, Sparkle says she is thrilled. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, a recording artist as well, was born on May 13, 1975. The woman disclosed that her aunt and her parents knew about her being around Kelly. "Of course not. Sparkle continued, This is another form of the terrible decision-making of her mom and in my opinion, the unfortunate continuing allegiance to Robert.. In one of his few public comments on the issue, Kelly told Chicago radio station WGCI-FM in Chicago on April 4 that he couldn't comment on much of the scandal, per his attorney's advice. Advancing the culture and building bridges. Sparkle was the first and only successful artist to release an album on Kelly's Rockland label.Sparkle's dbut album, the self-titled Sparkle, was released on May 19, 1998.The album debuted at No. The Times reports, her lawyer says she is now cooperating with authorities. "Surviving R.Kelly," a Lifetime docu-series that's airing in six parts on three nights about musician R. Kelly, has reinvigorated the public's interest in the long list of accusations made against the controversial singer. Though his attorney argued that he was not a flight risk and had appeared at all of his court appointments on time, a judge denied bond calling the case extraordinarily serious.. Sparkle testified at trial in 2008 that the man in the video was Mr. Kelly, and that the girl was her 14-year-old niece. Whats The Deal With This R. Kelly Album That Dropped? In her traumatic account, she recalled her aunt introducing her to Kelly and encouraging her to build a close relationship with the now-disgraced singer. Without Wayne Shorters Weather Report, Jazz Rap Wouldnt Be What It Is, Fans Are Overjoyed to See De La Soul Albums on DSPs, 9 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of March 3), Larry June & The Alchemist Announce Joint Album The Great Escape. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. With Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps. On Tuesday, after Kelly pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, a Chicago judge ordered him to remain behind bars without bond, where hes being kept away from general population for safety reasons. Kelly got emotional during the sit-down and alleged that he is "fighting for his . One of the first witnesses to take the stand this week was Kellys victim that was featured on the original sex tape that leaked. Our societys awareness and understanding of sexual assault has increased while Kellys funds have dwindled. I cant help he lies told on me & under oath at the.. & cause ya Momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify.. [shrug emoji].. Ivie is a Nigerian-American, native New Yorker, and journalist covering, Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years For Child Sex Crimes, R. Kelly Silenced Aaliyah & Her Family With Non-Disclosure Agreement After 1995 Marriage Annulment, Watch the Trailer For Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter. She's being exposed to the world. Sparkles niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. ), "I watched a few seconds of it, and I refused to watch the rest," Adra Gengler testified. I've been blackmailed for the last four years, and I didn't give in, and I'm still not gonna give in. Unsurprisingly, that testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? For the past 20 years, Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, has been trying to convince the world that Kelly sexually abused her teenage niece. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. [He] cant tell me what I can and cant do. Muskan Sharma is a law student at Calcutta University. An R&B singer who was once Kelly's protg, Sparkle testified for more than an hour and a half Thursday afternoon during Kelly's child-pornography trial, describing how she introduced her niece to Kelly, how she later came to discover that the sex tape existed, and how that drove her family apart. There's no denying it,' she says on the stand. At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. he asked. In the indictment, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts, money before and after the trial in exchange for her lying to investigators, being unavailable for interviews and refusing to testify against him. Flavor Of Love Reality Star Deelishis' Niece Reportedly Killed in Mass Shooting; Baddies West Season 3 Fights: Stunna Girl vs. Everybody; 50 Cent Inks Non-Exclusive Broadcast Deal With Fox; Cardi B & Offset Meal Launches at McDonald's on Valentine's Day; Leilani Capalot - T Shirt Music Video & BTS | Video Zone Trivia We were very cordial.". Sparkle says she became suspicious of R. Kelly's involvement with her teenage niece in 2001. Sparkle was also the one to call her family members when she would find out that the niece was alone in the studio with him. He did say, however, that not all the evidence had been revealed (see [article id="1453299"]"R. Kelly Settles Civil Suit, Defends Himself On Radio"[/article]). The singer used social media to "put a few things in context.". By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Prosecutors turned over to Kelly's defense team a DVD that alleges to show Kelly having sex with an underage girl in the 1990s. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places. If you are in your 40's you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). But let me chill. "I know my family. The victims aunt is a singer named Sparkle, who agreed to testify in the 2008 trial and identified Kelly as the man in the video and her niece as the girl. Sparkle has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by. Stephanie Edwards, a singer known as Sparkle, testified at R. Kelly's 2008 trial. What is the relationship between the two singers? Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. Since the alleged R. Kelly sex tapes first hit the media two months ago, the primary question has been if the girl featured on the 27-minute tape, currently under investigation by the Chicago police, was actually underage, since her identity had been kept hidden. Of course Im in full unwavering support of them and their act of courage!, Kim Kardashian Lands Olympic Partnership Deal, Shapewear Line To Be Worn By Team USA Athletes, She Tried It: Inahsi Naturals Aloe Hibiscus Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler, She Tried It: Ivy Park Drip 2 and 2.2 Black Pack, Prioritize Your Skincare With These Tips For Melanin-Rich Complexions, Burts Bees Skincare Works Harder, Not Harsher, 11 Black Celebrities Who Say They're Not African American, 'Bernie Mac Show' Stars Camille Winbush And Dee Dee Davis Get Chewed Out For Joining OnlyFans, 8 Famous Lesbian Women Who Were Married To Men. In 2002, Kelly re-entered Sparkle's life when a video that appeared to depict sex between Kelly and a 14-year-old came to the attention of police. "Anger? Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. We later found out that the alleged little girl was the niece of R&B singer Sparkle best know for her smash hit slow cut Be Careful with R. Kelly himself. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 'You just know your family. In the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.
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