By Kelly Butler. R. Kellys new case may end differently than his last. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Last week in court R. Kellys original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. She was my heart.". black entertainment news, parenting tips and beauty secrets that are specifically for black women. ), "I watched a few seconds of it, and I refused to watch the rest," Adra Gengler testified. Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. . Among things hes already been convicted of, prosecutors accuse him of abusing young girls for decades and filming their encounters. If convicted, he'd have to register as a sex offender. Sparkle: Directed by Sam O'Steen. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. She said that his acquittal then affected her view of the #MeToo movement a decade later. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. With Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee, Dwan Smith. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Heres Why. NBA Bans Donald Sterling For Life after Racist Comments. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. All Rights Reserved. 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. "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said. "She kept coming down with me," she told the station, "which was [a] safe [situation] at the time. Sparkle, the aunt of an R Kelly victim, is claiming her niece is lying on the stand as she testifies about her experience with the singer as a 14-year-old. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]. R Kellys Sister Says Hes The Victim of Lies & Racism, C-Murder On A Hunger Strike Protesting Prison Conditions, Meet Kym Sellers Family First Storm Shyanne Sellers [VIDEO], Maryland Mayor Arrested On 56 Counts Of Child Pornography. The woman, who is now in her 30s and had been identified by singer Sparkle as her niece, had refused to testify against R. Kelly in his 2008 trial, which resulted in his acquittal. Still, she admitted, she hadn't had the same level of success on her sophomore album with Motown as she did with her Kelly-produced debut, and she hadn't received any royalties from Kelly. Whats your take on it? At the time, Sparkle identified the child in the video as her niece. Sparkle corrected him and said she had asked to be released from her contract so she could work with other people, such as Steve Huff, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. | Follow on Twitter: @BridgetEE and IG: @Bridgetee26, Source: MadameNoire.com/iOne Digital / MadameNoire. Singer Sparkle testified back then that it was her niece on the video but her niece nor anyone else in the family would corroborate her identity on the video tape. ", More cases against R. Kelly will come forward, Sparkle predicted, if they don't settle out of court first. Sparkle, who had a hit with Kelly in 1998 called "Be Careful," told radio DJ Adimu of the Beat (KKBT) on April 3 that her niece was a fledging rapper whom she introduced to Kelly. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. Meanwhile, Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, has come out in her own defence and claims that her niece has lied on the stand as she did not push her to be involved with Kelly. Several witnesses identified the singer and the girl to authorities afterward, but Kelly was still acquitted of 14 child pornography charges on June 13, 2008. Among the issues covered in the investigatory program were allegations made by a former Kelly protege, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. While her immediate family as well as the girl herself have yet to step forward, a former protg of R. Kelly has told a Los Angeles radio station that the girl on the tape is her niece, whom she says was 14 at the time the tape was made. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). You just know your family. The woman who previously testified against Kelly in 2008 and was the one who brought the sex tapes to the victims parents knowledge says that she had the greatest of intentions when she spoke up against Kelly, but her life was made hell by the victims mother. "I know my family. When R. Kelly was acquitted on child pornography charges in 2008, jurors reportedly said it was because the 14-year-old girl he was accused of sexually assaulting on video refused to testify. Im beyond pleased to finally hear the mountain Ive tirelessly worked on moving over the years is now being assisted with the help of my niece and her parents, she told The New York Times on Tuesday. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. In the meantime, Kelly has hired private investigator Jack Palladino to help build his defense, Palladino's office confirmed. Since the news of her nieces cooperation has been made public, Sparkle says she is thrilled. Photo Credit: Gary Miller for Getty Images). The Jane Doe witness, who allegedly was a minor when she first met Kelly but is now an adult, reportedly told the court that Sparkle instructed her to ask Kelly to be her godfather. We talked about business. SEPTEMBER 17: Singer R. Kelly appears standing beside his attorney, Steven Greenberg during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. In @nytimes Feat. She also spoke out in September 2021 after the singerwas convictedof nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. Blog. Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldnt be more thrilled about it. 11 Songs. I wish they were backing [me] when I was coming up and had a story to tell, but nobody believed. 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. On the stand this afternoon, Stephanie Edwards (aka R&B singer Sparkle) says that she introduced the alleged victim, a budding rapper and singer, to Kelly when the three of them met up in the. Back in 2008, Kelly ended up being acquitted on charges of child pornography. According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts and money before and after the trial so she would lie to investigators, avoid questioning, and so she would not testify against him. Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. According to the niece that is identified as Jane Doe, her aunt said,That I should rub his head and ask him to take that role in my life. as the young teens Godfather. But after R. and I parted ways, it was me not watching over her. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly . The alleged victim on the tape is also the niece of the singer Sparkle, whom Kelly mentored as an artist early in her career. In court, Sparkles now-37-year-old victim niece told the court R Kelly starting having sex with her when she was only 14, claiming they had sex hundreds of times before she turned 18. Whitten Sabbatini for . The woman claimed that Kelly agreed to serve as her godfather and that her parents had given their blessing. Though she hadn't witnessed anything between Kelly and her niece that could be considered inappropriate, Sparkle said she saw hints of things that she didn't want to acknowledge at the time, "little hints of something, little touches," that in hindsight concerned her. Her family eventually began to allow her to visit with Kelly without an adult present. Close Menu. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. She said this took place during a time when other members of her family also had a working relationship with the singer (Sparkle's brother-in-law, for instance, played guitar for Kelly, she said). Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. "She's doing exactly what he told her to do. I've been blackmailed for the last four years, and I didn't give in, and I'm still not gonna give in. Its impact cannot be overstated and a month later, Kelly was facing new charges in Chicago. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. Those suspicions were heightened after a now-infamous video, which shows Kelly intimately engaging. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. Will No Longer Be Pursuing These Indictments: Chicago Prosecutor Drops Sex-Abuse Charges Against Singer R. Kelly Months After Conviction. The prosecution has not responded to the claim. Sparkle, the girl in the picture and a few others confirmed it was said niece, but the rest of the nieces family said it was . It's sickening. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. The decades-long crusade cost the 46-year-old her closest relationships and stifled her own music career. I know them. 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. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Sparkle was horrified when she discovered that it was her niece at the center of Kelly's 2002 child pornography indictment. Sparkle has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by. "I just shied away from the industry. 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. Trivia Though praising her niece for finally cooperating with prosecutors, the singer says that she is at the center of a . Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. "I have an ex-manager that's been on my back," he said. "Sparkle" featured a duet with Kelly, titled "Be Careful.". he asked. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. People are trying to make money off my music and my name in a very, very negative way. "It's hurtful to my sister, to my brother-in-law and to my niece, especially, because it's all her. Sparkle is claiming that the victims mother was also upset at her, and the victims testimony was aimed at getting back at her for going against Kelly. Sparkle's niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. advice and career trends - and MadameNoire provides all of that. When I learned that, I would go out of my way to speak to people just to tick him off. Her testimony sliced her family into factions, relegating her to years of . 2 on the R&B charts and was certified gold soon after . When she watched the recording, she said, she recognized her niece, "You know your blood," Sparkle said. 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]. put a few things in context,. Sparkle explains that she testified against Kelly in court, although he allegedly tried to bribe her. Sound it in the comments. Lets continue to pray for healing in this family. Now lets observe what transpires in the court. The Times reports, her lawyer says she is now cooperating with authorities. Sparkle went on to sign with Motown Records and released a second album, titled "Told You So," in 2000. @lifetimetv SRK For Girls/Women linktr.ee/isparklei Posts Reels Videos Tagged I believe that [the police] have a lot that they are actually going to bring to light.". And earlier this week, lawyer Michael Avenatti who gave a tape of Kelly and a young girl to the Cook County States Attorney in February said the singer gave the girl in the tape and her family $2 million to remain silent. But now people are seeing.". She would go on to release a successful self-titled album in 1998, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. I went at it alone. Sparkles niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. "But there are others that haven't been spoken of that have been possibly paid off. Sparkle thinks that allegiance to Robert still exists. The "Better Be Careful" singer was one of the first people to go public about . "She's like a robot." In this courtroom sketch, a woman who goes by pseudonym Jane, left, testifies in R. Kellys trial in federal court, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Chicago. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. Best known by her stage name, Sparkle rose to prominence as a member of R. Kelly's Rockland Records and was the first artist to release a single on the label. She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as Jane in R. Kellys criminal trial, where he faces charges for child pornography. She said there was no bitterness between her and Kelly over the split: "He was my homeboy. But after the meeting, "There was one side and another side," she said. Her family also wouldnt be a witness for prosecutors, but things are different now. She says "There have been too many girls to count. The co-defendants in the case are Derrel McDavid, a former business manager who faces child pornography and obstruction charges, and Milton June Brown, Kellys former assistant, who faces one count of conspiracy to receive child pornography. Kellys federal trial in Chicago began last week and he is faced with charges of producing and receiving child pornography, enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, and obstruction charges. We were still cool." As of now, Sparkles niece and her attorney have yet to respond to Sparkles claim she lied on the stand. Sparkle explained that this is a result of a "family feud," which has led to her being a target of lies from her niece, who Sparkle feels lied about her on the stand out of loyalty to her mother. "Anger? 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