Is The R for Rapist? #AskRKelly

Let me start by saying, this post is not about the recent dragging R. Kelly underwent on Twitter last week, while funny, i’m here for a bigger reason. This troubling piece on The Village Voice Blog “Sound Of The City by Jessica Hopper titled “Read the Stomach-Churning Sexual Assault Accusations against R. Kelly In Full“ is what leads me here today. This piece, which details the disgusting allegations filed against R. Kelly; features an in-depth interview with Jim DeRogatis, the Chicago Sun-Times reporter who broke the story and has been following it ever since. While I was always aware R. Kelly’s antics complete on that salacious tape and I remember his trial, I had NO IDEA it was quite this deep, this big or this serious.

• note: when the first story about the allegations came out I was in high school about these girls’ age. So unless I lived in Chicago(which I didn’t) or followed R. Kelly, his press and career very intently(which I didn’t) this would not have been something I would know about.

However, this piece REALLY shines a light on the whole “R. Kelly messing with little girls” story showing that this situation is far worse than most may have realized.

DeRogatis speaks about how if you pay attention to the tapes of R. Kelly you can see him coaching the girls on what to do, and different positions to get in. They don’t look like happy, consenting participants but rather they’re just there. “We’re witnessing a rape.” DeRogatis notes.  And that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Now for me, up until this point i’ve mostly been indifferent about R. Kelly as a whole. I don’t care about nor do I buy any of his new music but admittedly the allegations levied against him were never the reason why. If an older song of his came on the radio, i’d  still sing along. Word-for-word. This theory was proven the other day In fact while listening to my iPod.  “Honey Love” came on and you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t a part of Public Announcement because I was sangin’ along, loudly! “Give me that Honey Looooooove.”

This sing along  came to a screeching halt as R. began the second verse as the following lyrics,which sounded extra suspect, hit me like a brick…almost like I was hearing them for the first time. “Let’s go to the mall baby, i’ll pick you up around noon baby…” right there my stomach instantly turned because it was so evident he was speaking to a teenager. What grown woman are you picking up and taking to the mall in the middle of the day?! That’s not a “date”! I would think anyone above 18 can make their own way to the mall. Gross!

It wasn’t until reading this piece today, that this thought of disgust was confirmed by Jim DeRogatis. One of his various poignant points, yes rock stars do some crazy things in their lives, but that’s behind close doors, out of the scene, they never throw it in our faces by inserting it into their art. Where as R. Kelly actually sings about what he’s doing to these young girls he’d been raping. The same line  of “Honey Love” continues: “…don’t you worry about a thang. ’cause I got all the answers girl, to the questions in your head and i’m going to be right there for you, baby!”  translation: yeah you’re confused you’re not sure what’s going on but i’ll be right there to coach you, so don’t worry. Which speaks to Jim’s afore-mentioned point about how R. would coach these young girls in these videos. Again, I state: GROSS!

Doesn’t it just ooze a pedophile trying to lure a little girl into his fan?

In effort not to spoil all the bombshells I got from the article i’ll note a few points that were so “wow“, they completely turned me and my stomach inside out and got me so #turntup I just had to write-up a post about it, because no article comment was going to do me justice.

1. He mentions Aaliyah a couple of times and her place in this whole situation.  The following quote, in reference to the earlier point about acts not putting their dirty laundry on display, is what took it all out of me “But if you’re listening to “I want to marry you[r], pussy,” and not realizing that he said that to Aaliyah, who was 14, and making an album he named Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number — I had Aaliyah’s mother cry on my shoulder and say her daughter’s life was ruined, Aaliyah’s life was never the same after that…”  Aaliyah’s mom was crying on his shoulder and her life was never the same after that…that just did it for me. I am TOO THRU… Truth be told, I thought the Aaliyah marrying R. Kelly thing really did end up being rumor, I never actually believed he was messing around with her all LIKE that. I stand enlightened. 
2. The overall point of the piece is how nobody really gives a damn what happens to young black girls in this country especially in this situation. There were so many young girls victimized and many people talked to him, a reporter, to tell the story because all they really wanted was for R. Kelly to stop. One victim even attempted suicide after her “time” with R. Kelly. Everybody should care about this still, because these women are still, to this day, affected by this. Everyday.
3. Lastly and most importantly, R. Kelly’s trial, back in 2008 which he was acquitted for was for Child Pornography. The sex tape itself having a young girl on it. He’s NEVER been brought up on [statutory] rape charges, which if convicted would have him register as a sex offender. There have been many allegations levied, and cases filed, but nothing ever brought to court.

That last point is most important, because he ultimately was acquitted of making a sex tape with an underage person on it (Child Pornography) but nothing was made of the actual act that was happening on the tape.  Add to that, the only reason he was acquitted and charges haven’t been brought formally is because the girl who was on the tape didn’t testify. According to the piece, her and her parents were off vacationing in the south of France (this was NOT an affluent family, they didn’t have St. Tropez money). He pays off everybody involved! He settles those cases and swears them to secrecy. Knowing now, how big this whole thing is, It’s actually more than disgusting, it’s downright outrageous. My stomach isn’t in shambles so much over the accusations but rather the fact that none of those girls will get justice.

I implore you, if you do nothing else read this article, get the whole scope of the situation.

R. Kelly has a serious problem and supporting his music is merely aiding and abetting. Imagine if all of Chris Brown’s  songs consisted of lyrics about choking and beating up women. Folk would probably write letters to the President and/or burn his house down to get him off the streets. NOBODY would support that. But R. Kelly is detailing how he seduces, urinates and/or penetrates under age girls as a full-grown man and he’s still headlining music festivals? What part of the game is that?

#LetUsPray