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. It's very upsetting. I wish they were backing [me] when I was coming up and had a story to tell, but nobody believed. "I have an ex-manager that's been on my back," he said. I cant help the lies told on me & under oath at all & cause ya momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify An exchange between two ex-lovers? In the recent federal indictment, he was accused of paying off the girl and her family so they would lie for him and not cooperate with investigators. She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. Like she said on "Surviving R. Kelly," Sparkle reiterated that she was naive at the . Singer Sparkle's Allegations About R. Kelly And Her Niece In 'Surviving Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. We were tight, tight, tight." In the meantime, Kelly has hired private investigator Jack Palladino to help build his defense, Palladino's office confirmed. "I wanted this to go away. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. Stephanie Edwards made a statement to the New York Times: At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. Though praising her niece for finally cooperating with prosecutors, the singer says that she is at the center of a . Sparkle also heard the news of her niece's testimony and took to Instagram to discuss the allegations. She writes for Thirsty for News, covering world news and entertainment. Chicago police have not charged Kelly, and will only say that their investigation is continuing. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said. Sparkle Addresses Niece's Testimony Against R. Kelly The singer used social media to "put a few things in context." By DeMicia Inman August 22, 2022 4:12pm Singer R. Kelly leaves the. "It's crazy and torn up, in every way imaginable," she said. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Prosecutors turned over to Kelly's defense team a DVD that alleges to show Kelly having sex with an underage girl in the 1990s. 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. 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. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. 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. She. There's no denying it,' she says on the stand. 1 on iTunes. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. Kids edition - Orlando And Sparkle. No -- it was part of a shouting match during a contentious cross-examination between R. Kelly's defense attorney Ed Genson and the prosecution's star witness, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. She also attested to having sexual encounters with the singer hundreds of times since the age of 14. 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. "She shared how she didn't see me as a survivor but she wanted to celebrate me for being the first one to stand up and bring to light what was going [on].". Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. But after the meeting, "There was one side and another side," she said. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. Lets continue to pray for healing in this family. Report: Sparkle's Niece, the Girl in 2008 Trial Video, Now Aiding R Interview: Sparkle on R. Kelly's Guilty Verdict - The Cut ", Sparkle wasn't the only witness to get emotional on the stand Thursday. "Anger? Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building following a hearing on June 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. She attributed details of her nieces testimony to misguidance and the inability to think independently. One of the first witnesses to take the stand this week was Kellys victim that was featured on the original sex tape that leaked. The Times. She admits that some things went down but now she is saying her aunt encouraged it. Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! According to The New York Times, the extent of this girls cooperation with authorities isnt clear, her lawyer, Christopher L. Brown spoke of her willingness to work with authorities days after Kelly was accused, in a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators to protect him. 5 Infamous Murder Cases Involving Athletes, Deadly Day for Rappers XXXTentacion and Wopo. "I know my family. Kelly got emotional during the sit-down and alleged that he is "fighting for his . Sparkle, first woman to publicly accuse R. Kelly, on - CBS News Modern Movie Musical Essentials. ", More cases against R. Kelly will come forward, Sparkle predicted, if they don't settle out of court first. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. Here's Where to Find the Best Corned Beef in Cleveland! advice and career trends - and MadameNoire provides all of that. Chrisean Rock Announces Blueface Made It Official With Her Yesterday, R. Kelly sat down with Gayle King for his first interview since new allegations of sexual abuse against the singer have been revealed, most due in part to Lifetime's docu-series, Surviving R. Kelly. Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. But after R. and I parted ways, it was me not watching over her. 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. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Sparkle Calls Her Niece a Liar - Rhymes With Snitch 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. Kelly faces 14 counts of child pornography -- seven for directing, seven for producing. Blog. It's sickening. Sparkle replied with a strong denial. Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. 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. "But there are others that haven't been spoken of that have been possibly paid off. Stephanie Edwards | Aisha Music "I know my family. For full coverage of R. Kelly, see "The R. Kelly Reports.". Genson accused Sparkle of being bitter and characterized the end of her working relationship with Kelly as a firing. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. Uh Oh! Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. What do you think about the matter? But things have changed since 2008. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. What Ever Happened to: Sparkle | Soul In Stereo FAQ + Create an Account / Login. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. I've been blackmailed for the last four years, and I didn't give in, and I'm still not gonna give in. Sparkle is best known for her 1998 R&B debut hit single 'Be Careful '. Sparkle explains that she testified against Kelly in court, although he allegedly tried to bribe her. In 2002, the singer Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, claimed her niece was the underage girl in an infamous sex video featuring R. Kelly. With Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps. Sparkle said that she had discussions with Hankerson, who was also Aaliyah's uncle, about signing to his Blackground record label about two weeks before Aaliyah's death in 2001, but that discussions fell apart. A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). Whitten Sabbatini for . She said she regretted bringing her niece to Kelly's studio and later his home -- "my mistake," Sparkle said. I know them. Career. 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. Singer Sparkle Denies Niece's Testimony That She Brought Her To R Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes. 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 has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by.