TikTok video from Samke Ndlovu INdlovu (@samkeindlovukaz): "#Aunty and Niece Challenge ". Celebrate (From "Sparkle") Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks. Sparkle stated that her niece was "doing the will of her mom," who she says has allegiance to R. Kelly. 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.. Its not clear to what extent shes working with investigators, but her attorney, Christopher L. Brown, confirmed that she is indeed cooperating. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. Sparkle did try and make up for her mistake, and I don't believe her niece in saying rub his head, I believe the niece is permanently damaged by Robert and her parents and her parents told her to say that to take the blame off of them. ", Sparkle wasn't the only witness to get emotional on the stand Thursday. Both have pleaded not guilty. Sparkle Denies The Claims Made By Her Niece In Court--Says She Never Sparkle added that she and Kelly were never romantically involved as painted by the victim. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. | Follow on Twitter: @BridgetEE and IG: @Bridgetee26, Source: MadameNoire.com/iOne Digital / MadameNoire. Sparkle (1976) - IMDb R. Kelly: Singer Sparkle Denies Telling 14-Y-O Niece To Rub Singer's Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. Sparkle's Niece Reshona Lanfair Finally Comes Forward Against R Kelly PredIQtion Markets. Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. At the time, Sparkle identified the child in the video as her niece. On the stand, the woman, who is now 37 and identified as just Jane Doe, shared details of how she met Kelly and how they had sex hundreds of times, and he made videos of their encounters which sometimes also involved other minor girls. "I had a nasty taste in my mouth after seeing what I saw, and after many people, you know, didn't want me to speak out," Edwards told ET. Black Women Around R. Kelly's Trial React to His Conviction - The New 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! Sparkle Shares What Was Left Out Of "Surviving R. Kelly" - MadameNoire "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. We were tight, tight, tight." Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. According to reports, Sparkle was allegedly suggested by the niece. Ivie is a Nigerian-American, native New Yorker, and journalist covering, Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years For Child Sex Crimes, R. Kelly Silenced Aaliyah & Her Family With Non-Disclosure Agreement After 1995 Marriage Annulment, Watch the Trailer For Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. Sparkle testified against Kelly in 2008 but, as we all know, he was found not guilty. She's being exposed to the world. She got . Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. No," she said. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. 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. R. Kelly's Former Backup Dancer, Sparkle, Slams His Interview With We were a gospel group just years prior so me thinking about them for them was partly programmed in meagain, Because Robert was given the opportunity to have his own imprint, record label, I introduced my sister, my brother-in-law and my niece to Robert at CRC studios in 1997 in hopes of landing my niece a career in this industry, not a concert as she testified, Sparkle said. Home. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the indictment, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts, money before and after the trial in exchange for her lying to investigators, being unavailable for interviews and refusing to testify against him. Jurors and observers heard the gory details from the 14-year-old, who disclosed that the singer began grooming the 14-year-old victim and began having sex with her at just 15 years old when Kelly was around 30 years old. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. She went on to claim that Sparkle was the one who introduced her to Kelly, saying her auntencouraged her to rub Kellys headand sit on his lap. Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes. Our societys awareness and understanding of sexual assault has increased while Kellys funds have dwindled. The alleged victim on the tape is also the niece of the singer Sparkle, whom Kelly mentored as an artist early in her career. Kelly has been charged with multiple sex crimes involving four women, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged encounters. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. What, exactly, is the relationship between Kelly and Sparkle, and what are the claims being made against the infamous artist? In the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart. #SomeoneWhoLovesMusicWayTooMuch In her video, Sparkle read a statement from her phone and said, "Not all that you heard yesterday from my niece is true. Surviving R.Kelly: The Final Chapter Sheds Light On Singers Alleged Feces Force-Feeding Ritual And Intimate Footage Of Aaliyah, Jailhouse Drop: Streaming Platforms Remove R. Kelly I Admit It Album, Singer Calls The Pied Piper Prison Production A Bootleg, More Punishment Pending: Pied Piper R. Kelly Found Guilty On Six Counts In Federal Child Pornography Trial, testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? 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. Trust me.". R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. Find a review of [article id="1587729"]the major players in the R. Kelly trial here[/article]. In one of his few public comments on the issue, Kelly told Chicago radio station WGCI-FM in Chicago on April 4 that he couldn't comment on much of the scandal, per his attorney's advice. Without Wayne Shorters Weather Report, Jazz Rap Wouldnt Be What It Is, Fans Are Overjoyed to See De La Soul Albums on DSPs, 9 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of March 3), Larry June & The Alchemist Announce Joint Album The Great Escape. 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. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. I'm happy to see the #MeToo movement and Time's Up movement are backing these women. Sparkle was also the one to call her family members when she would find out that the niece was alone in the studio with him. For full coverage of the ongoing R. Kelly case, see The R. Kelly Trial Reports. "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].". Bossip Comment Policy She also attested to having sexual encounters with the singer hundreds of times since the age of 14. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. Unsurprisingly, that testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? Sparkle Speaks Out Following Niece's Testimony, Singer Claims Niece Is This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Black women Sparkle replied with a strong denial. Sparkle explains that she testified against Kelly in court, although he allegedly tried to bribe her. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. Things heated up when Genson accused her of being in on a scheme to either use the tape to extort Kelly or to make money by mass-producing it. People in Kelly's circle interviewed in "Surviving R. Kelly" claim to have seen the woman on the singer's property multiple times in recent years. Shortly after the tape was released, the woman's aunt - 1990s R&B singer Sparkle - came forward and blasted her former mentor R Kelly. 11 Songs. Sparkle Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth Who wouldn't be [disgusted]? If convicted, he'd have to register as a sex offender. It's very upsetting. Kellys defense team had argued that the girl and Kelly could not be identified in the tape, and some jurors said the girls refusal to testify made it difficult to convict him. One of the first witnesses to take the stand this week was Kellys victim that was featured on the original sex tape that leaked. Yes, Sparkle identified the 14-year-old as her sister's daughter and that the girl was engaging in filth with the Pied Piper of R&Pee. Who is Sparkle and how is she linked to the R Kelly case? Here's what's Sparkle's Niece Now Working With Authorities In R. Kelly Case Girl In Alleged R. Kelly Tape Said To Be 14-Year-Old Niece Of Singer Reshonda Landfair | Aisha Music Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. R. Kelly was later acquitted of all charges. 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. I know them. Sparkle: Directed by Sam O'Steen. "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]. Sparkle first started singing in her family's gospel music group. Sparkle, first woman to publicly accuse R. Kelly, on - CBS News Last week in court R. Kelly's original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify.