Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. In @nytimes Feat. Fourteen witnesses had identified the girl in the video during the 20018 trial, but she and members of her family did not testify. 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,. 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. 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. She would go on to release a successful self-titled album in 1998, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. But now people are seeing.". We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Kelly is on trial in Chicago for child pornography and charges that he rigged his 2008 trial to secure his freedom by intimidating the witnesses and using money to make the victim disappear. With Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. 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. "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]. Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. 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 went on to sign with Motown Records and released a second album, titled "Told You So," in 2000. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and first met Kelly in 1989. 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.. Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. "But until our investigation is . NBA Bans Donald Sterling For Life after Racist Comments. In the meantime, Kelly has hired private investigator Jack Palladino to help build his defense, Palladino's office confirmed. I went at it alone. She writes for Thirsty for News, covering world news and entertainment. "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. Sparkle continued, This is another form of the terrible decision-making of her mom and in my opinion, the unfortunate continuing allegiance to Robert.. His whole M.O., he stated this to me not long ago, is he likes them when they are ripe and young because he can mold them into what he wants them to be and control their minds and make them do what women 'should' do. Bop Shop: Songs From J-Hope And J. 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The federal charges are separate from the 10 counts of sexual abuse Kelly received in February in Chicago and different from the other 11- sexual misconduct counts he was slapped with in May in that same city. Those who have been following the scandal were shocked to hear Sparkles testimony because she has long advocated for R. Kellys imprisonment for what he is accused of doing to her niece. Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. Please say its not you, the user said. Sparkles niece ended up in court before the side settle, and Sparkle who said she rode for her niece, fell out with Robert Kelly, however her family turned their back on her in the fallout out of everything. 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. TikTok video from Samke Ndlovu INdlovu (@samkeindlovukaz): "#Aunty and Niece Challenge ". People are trying to make money off my music and my name in a very, very negative way. Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building following a hearing on June 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. 6 2019, Updated 5:51 a.m. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Former protégé of R. Kelly makes allegations on Los Angeles radio station. We were tight, tight, tight." 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. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. 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. Sparkle, wearing a touch of silver glitter on her face, testified that in December 2001, she got a phone call from an attorney telling her that a relative of hers was on a sex tape she needed to see, at which point an associate of the attorney's came to her home and played her the tape. Sparkle Claims Her Niece Lied About Her In R. Kelly Case, Kelly Osbourne Shares Adorable First Photo of Baby Son Hanging Out with Uncle Jack, UFC Ring Girl Arianny Celeste Sizzles In Black Bikini Beach Photo Drop, Cardi B Reveals First Close-Up Look At Her Latest Face Tattoo For Son Wave, Chelsea Stokes & Kelsea Ballerini Kiss For The First Time In Public As A Couple, Avril Lavigne and Tyga Spotted Hanging Out Amid Separation from Mod Sun, 2022 Thirsty for News. 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. Who, do you believe, is lying? Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle, is an American R&B singer. 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. So I feel a responsibility for that also, although I'm not responsible for his actions, I feel responsible for even taking her there. Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. At the time, she and her family denied her appearance in the video and refused to testify. Those suspicions were heightened after a now-infamous video, which shows Kelly intimately engaging. Sparkle also heard the news of her niece's testimony and took to Instagram to discuss the allegations. 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. Prosecutors turned over to Kelly's defense team a DVD that alleges to show Kelly having sex with an underage girl in the 1990s. Sparkle stated that her niece was "doing the will of her mom," who she says has allegiance to R. Kelly. But after R. and I parted ways, it was me not watching over her. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]." Sparkle said that she regrets not being a better protector of her niece. At the time, the niece had denied it was her, although she changed her testimony on the stand on Thursday to confirm that it was her in the video. 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. - YouTube 0:00 / 25:48 Intro EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea Kelly. 1 on iTunes. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 'You just know your family. 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. One of the disgraced singers former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. Sparkle is best known for her 1998 R&B debut hit single 'Be Careful '. Advancing the culture and building bridges. Activity. He is accused of perpetrating these acts against 12 women, at least eight of which were underage at the time he was sexually involved with them. If you are in your 40s you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). BridgetEE: A Music and Entertainment blogger/ Historian / Global Grind Freelance Writer Now lets observe what transpires in the court. Sparkle's age is 47. Sparkle's niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. (Several other people have also identified the girl and Kelly on the tape during testimony. I was ashamed.. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. 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. Trust me. Stay tuned to Thirsty for more updates. Among the issues covered in the investigatory program were allegations made by a former Kelly protege, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. While a lot of people thinking that Sparkle was the one who introduced her niece to R Kelly and left her there, she explains that there were many other family members more involved than she was. Sound it in the comments. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. 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. R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as Jane in R. Kellys criminal trial, where he faces charges for 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. 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. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. According to . By Kelly Butler. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. According to a report in The New York Times, the young girl who appeared in the infamous tape that showed the R&B singer performing sex acts and urinating on the then-14-year-old is now cooperating with prosecutors. One of the first witnesses to take the stand this week was Kellys victim that was featured on the original sex tape that leaked. She says "There have been too many girls to count. [article id="1587950"]The mother of another friend of the alleged girl on the tape[/article] cried when she talked about seeing the tape for the first time and recognizing her daughter's friend, saying she was "100 percent certain" it was her by her face, her hairstyle and her voice. Sparkle Live Music (@sparklelivemusic) Instagram photos and videos sparklelivemusic 731 posts 1,870 followers 467 following Sparkle Live Music Musician/band We play your dream music soundtrack Put a Sparkle in your big day. ), "I watched a few seconds of it, and I refused to watch the rest," Adra Gengler testified. READ: Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors. She was my heart.". 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. It's disgusting. She attributed details of her nieces testimony to misguidance and the inability to think independently. As of now, Sparkles niece and her attorney have yet to respond to Sparkles claim she lied on the stand. Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Kelly is now facing state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering. The woman disclosed that her aunt and her parents knew about her being around Kelly. Kelly would ultimately be acquitted on charges pertaining to the tape. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. She previously told the Cut that, when Kelly was producing her first album in the late '90s, she thought the singer could also help her niece, an aspiring rapper, launch a career. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. Sparkle's niece who was 14 years old was alleged to be the young girl in the video tape that went viral on the streets before going viral was such a thing. 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. PredIQtion Markets. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. To what degree, singer, Sparkle's niece, is cooperating with authorities is still not official. "I wanted this to go away. 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. Stephanie 'Sparkle' Edwards Although she praised her niece for finally cooperating with prosecutors, the singer says that she is at the center of a "family feud." All Rights Reserved. Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. Will No Longer Be Pursuing These Indictments: Chicago Prosecutor Drops Sex-Abuse Charges Against Singer R. Kelly Months After Conviction. The long-running criminal case of R. Kelly consistently takes strange turns that leaves fans perplexed and for which the case becomes more complicated. This decades-long history of abuse was documented through witness and survivor testimony in the dream hampton produced documentary Surviving R. Kelly which aired on Lifetime this past January. R. Kellys new case may end differently than his last. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. In the old video footage, Kelly can be seen engaging in sex acts with the young girl, whom he also urinates on. 11 Songs. They would pretty much drop me off and then leave, she said about her parents and the introduction by her aunt. "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. Before Fame. 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. 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. Profession: Singer. 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. 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. Kelly has been charged with multiple sex crimes involving four women, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged encounters. In "Surviving R. Kelly," Edwards discusses Kelly's behavior toward her while they worked together. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. But in 2001, when she actually witnessed the tape herself, she didn't hesitate to call. "I know my family. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. In her video, Sparkle read a statement from her phone and said, "Not all that you heard yesterday from my niece is true. 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. 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 We later found out that the alleged little girl was the niece of R&B singer Sparkle best know for her smash hit slow cut Be Careful with R. Kelly himself. 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. 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. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. But let me chill. At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes.
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