It's been quick fall from grace for Chicago's R. Kelly, the troubled R&B singer who has been trailed for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves.
Kelly, now 52, has consistently denied any sexual misconduct.
In 2008, Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges that centered on a graphic video that prosecutors said showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13.
The Grammy Award-winning recording star's career recovered in the wake of the trial, but not everyone gave him a pass. Things again came to a head earlier this year with a cable docu-series, "Surviving R. Kelly," that said the singer had abused women and underage girls, keeping some in virtual captivity. A protest was held outside Kelly's Near West Side recording studio in January.
During that time, a #MuteRKelly campaign began. He was dropped from a concert in his hometown of Chicago, and other concerts have been canceled since.
The docuseries spurred an investigation in Atlanta and in Chicago, where Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx urged any victims of Kelly to come forward. In February, her office filed 10 counts of sexual abuse against Kelly. They say he abused four women, including three underage girls. Among the evidence was video purported to show Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old.
Kelly and his attorney have denied any wrongdoing on the singer's part. Kelly was held briefly on $1 million bond before being released from Cook County Jail, in late February, after pleading not guilty.
Kelly sought to sway public opinion this week by sitting down for an interview with Gayle King of "CBS This Morning," but the singer became hysterical and angry as he discussed the trouble he was facing, including a bad relationship with his ex-wife.
On Wednesday, Kelly went to the Daley Center in Chicago to appear before a domestic-services judge. That judge ordered Kelly jailed because he was unable to pay $161,000 in back child support, according to a publicist who spoke to reporters after Kelly was taken into custody.
Kelly was still jailed as of Thursday.
Rising from poverty on Chicago's South Side, Kelly broke into the R&B scene in 1993 with his first solo album, "12 Play," which produced such popular sex-themed songs as "Your Body's Callin'" and "Bump N' Grind." He has written numerous hits for himself and other artists, including Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga. One of his best-known hits is "I Believe I Can Fly."
R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 1
R&B Singer R. Kelly goes to court March 6 for a hearing on overdue child-support payments; he would later be taken into custody. (Getty Images)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 2
In January 2019, demonstrators call out R&B singer R. Kelly for his alleged mistreatment of women. (WBBM Newsradio/Steve Miller)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 3
R. Kelly's mugshot issued by the Chicago Police Department (via AP)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 4
R. Kelly appears before a judge after he surrendered to Chicago police. (AP)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 5
R. Kelly after his release from Cook County Jail in February 2019 (AP)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 6
Attempting to rehabilitate his image, R. Kelly becomes agitated during an interview with Gayle King on "CBS This Morning." (via AP)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 7
Singer R. Kelly goes to court March 6 for a hearing on overdue child-support payments. (USA Today)R Kelly: Everything We Know So Far 8
R. Kelly was taken into custody for non-payment of child support; this is his latest mugshot. (Cook County Sheriff's Department)
