In The Latest Entertainment News Of R. Kelly
In a landmark decision, a judge has ruled that any remaining royalties of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly will go to his victims. This groundbreaking victory marks an important step in empowering survivors of sexual abuse and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
For years, Kelly has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse, with numerous survivors coming forward to share their stories. This judgment, which seeks to ensure that the singer’s wealth is used to support those he has harmed, sends a powerful message to other perpetrators that they will not escape the consequences of their actions.
Kelly’s music catalog will be used to cover the $506,950.26 owed to his sexual assault victims. The royalties, which amount to $567,444.19, are currently held in Universal Music Group’s bank account, per Blavity.
To ensure that the victims receive their payments, Brooklyn U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly has ordered the record label to release the funds. In addition to this, the judge also requested that Kelly contribute the $28,000 he had set aside for his prison commissary towards his debt.
These fines stem from Kelly’s conviction in 2022, where he was found guilty of racketeering and sexual exploitation of young women and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He also received a separate 20-year sentence for a federal child pornography case. Universal Music Group is not the only label being instructed to pay royalties towards the victims’ expenses.
Earlier this year, Heather Williams, who was assaulted by Kelly at the age of 16, was granted access to his royalties at Sony Music, which amounted to $1.5 million, along with an additional $4 million from a settlement agreement in 2019. In December, a surprise album titled “I Admit It” was released without the knowledge of Sony Music and Kelly’s attorney, but it was quickly removed.
Both the record label and his legal team claimed to be unaware of how the music was shared with the public. Despite some former fans boycotting his music, Kelly’s discography continues to generate revenue from streaming platforms. According to Blavity, Kelly will serve 19 out of the 20 years for the pornography charge concurrently with his 30-year sentence for federal racketeering and sex trafficking. He is currently incarcerated at Butner Federal Prison in North Carolina.
