R&B Superstar R. Kelly Could Face Life in Prison Following Sex Trafficking Conviction

R. Kelly

Monday, over 25 years after his marriage to Aaliyah, then 15, first raised concerns about his proclivities and following decades of allegations of misconduct with young women and children, R&B superstar R. Kelly was found guilty of charges including sexual exploitation of a child, bribery, racketeering and sex trafficking. 

The 54-year-old, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces 10 years to life in prison following the conviction. A jury of seven men and five women found Kelly guilty on all counts brought against him by the Eastern District of New York in the federal case. 

“Today’s guilty verdict forever brands R. Kelly as a predator, who used his fame and fortune to prey on the young, the vulnerable, and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification,”  said Jacquelyn Kasulis, acting US attorney from the Eastern District of New York.

R. Kelly is "a predator who used his inner circle to ensnare underage girls and young men and women for decades, in a sordid web of sex abuse, exploitation and humiliation," Kasulis added.

Kelly was facing nine counts — one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which makes it illegal to take anyone across state lines “for any immoral purpose." Of the 14 underlying acts for the racketeering count, he needed to be found guilty of at least two to be convicted of that count. Jurors found prosecutors had proven 12 of those acts with five victims, including the late Aaliyah.

“Robert Kelly is a serial sexual predator who used his fame and musical tours as his personal hunting grounds to find his victims,” Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Peter Fitzhugh said.  “Mr. Kelly ran a criminal enterprise whose mission was to serve his sexual gratification by setting up a complex organization of enablers and handlers.  When his victims tried to escape, Mr. Kelly and his accomplices silenced them through bribery, intimidation, and physical violence."

Fitzhugh added, "The brave survivors who overcame Mr. Kelly’s abuse deserve our upmost respect for telling their stories and bringing an end to his 30-year reign of terror over the young and vulnerable.”

Sentencing is scheduled for May 4.

Beyoncé Reflects on Turning 40 in Personal Letter to Fans

Photo Credit Instagram @beyonce

Her 40th birthday may have been Sept. 4, but Beyoncé her fans, parents and peers have been celebrating all month long. Thursday, however, (Sept. 23) the 28-time Grammy was feeling introspective.

She was also in a sharing mood and took to her website to share what the milestone birthday meant for her and thank her legion of fans in the BeyHive and beyond for their heartfelt messages and support in a personal letter.

"As Virgo Season comes to an end, I hope my fellow Virgos had great birthdays. I'm so thankful for every inspiring human who took the time to send me all the beautiful messages. I cried tears of joy and was covered in chilly bumps. Your videos, your posts, your countdowns, your playlists and your well wishes, I will cherish forever," the megastar began.

Those messages ran the gamut from well-wishes from everyday fans to a star-studded video put together by Harper's Bazaar, for which she was the September cover person. 

After thanking her fans Beyoncé went on to say that this year is the first in which she really understands what it means to live in the moment, something she thought she knew at 21 or 30 but admitted that she didn't. 

“The more mature I become, the more I understand and the deeper my joy grows. There’s a freedom and liberation knowing that I’ve made it to the other side of my sacrifice. I’m finally giving myself permission to enjoy the seeds I’ve worked so hard to plant my whole life,” she wrote. 

Most importantly for the singer perhaps was coming to the realization that turning 40 was not an end of youth that should be mourned but a new beginning that should be celebrated.

“Whoever tried to condition women to feel that we are supposed to be old or unhappy when we turn 40 got it ALL THE WAY F’D UP," she wrote. "This has absolutely been the best I’ve felt in my life. I’m so grateful to be GROWN, GROWN!”

Beyoncé ended the note by reminding the reader that most of us met her when she was 15, and we have grown up together, adding, "You bring soooo much joy into my life. I hope my art can continue to bring a little joy into yours. I Love You Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep.” 

Read the entire letter below:

The Fugees to Reunite for First Time in 15 Years to Celebrate 'The Score'

Photo Credit B+

For the first time in 15 years Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel will take to the stage together Wednesday, reuniting one of the defining hip hop groups of the 1990s – Fugees.

In 1996 the trio's second album "The Score" shot them to superstardom. Hit singles "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not" helped propel it to the top of the Billboard charts. The Fugees went on to become the first hip-hop group ever to be nominated for Album of the Year at the 1997 Grammy's, where "The Score" took home awards for Best Rap Album and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Killing Me Softly").

The group's first reunion since 2006, when the Fugees kicked off Grammy week with a free show in Hollywood, will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the seven-time platinum album, which has sold over 22 million copies and is the best-selling album ever by a hip-hop group. 

“The Fugees have a complex but impactful history,” said Hill in a statement. “I decided to honor this significant project, its anniversary, and the fans who appreciated the music by creating a peaceful platform where we could unite, perform the music we loved, and set an example of reconciliation for the world.”

Jean added: “As I celebrate 25 years with the Fugees, my first memory was that we vowed, from the gate, we would not just do music we would be a movement. We would be a voice for the un-heard, and in these challenging times, I am grateful once again, that God has brought us together.”

The reunion will also launch a 12-city world tour beginning with Wednesday's New York City "intimate" pop-up show that is scheduled to take place in an undisclosed location. According to reporting from Variety the New York show is in support of “Global Citizen Live,” a global broadcast event “calling on world leaders to defend the planet and defeat poverty,” to air on September 25. Those looking for an opportunity to attend can head here.

The rest of the tour will commence November 2 at United Center in Chicago and will make stops across the globe before finishing in Africa, with the final shows taking place in Nigeria and Ghana. 

FUGEES TENTATIVE TOUR 2021 DATES: 

• Wed, Sept 22 – NYC – ???
• Tues, Nov 2 – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Sun, Nov 7 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
• Fri, Nov 12 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
• Thurs, Nov 18 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Sun, Nov 21 – Miami, FL – FTX Arena
• Fri, Nov 26 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
• Sun, Nov 28 – Washington D.C. – Capital One Arena
• Sat, Dec 4 – Paris, France – La Defense Arena
• Mon, Dec 6 – London, U.K. – The O2
• ??? – Nigeria – ???
• Sat, Dec 18 – Ghana – ???