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. "Surviving R.Kelly," a Lifetime docu-series that's airing in six parts on three nights about musician R. Kelly, has reinvigorated the public's interest in the long list of accusations made against the controversial singer. With Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. 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. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. 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. The singer expressed hurt and called the testimony a result of their "family feud." In addition, Sparkle revealed that her niece attempting to implicate her in the case is an "absolute will of her mom" and an "unfortunate . Before Fame. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and first met Kelly in 1989. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. "But there are others that haven't been spoken of that have been possibly paid off. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. Activity. Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle, is an American R&B singer. Sparkle, however, disputed the witness account after a social media user questioned her about it. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Her family eventually began to allow her to visit with Kelly without an adult present. 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. Muskan Sharma is a law student at Calcutta University. It's sickening. 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. At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. At times sniffling and dabbing her eyes and her nose with a tissue, Sparkle appeared to be on the verge of tears but remained composed, although she also became defiant when Genson had his turn and accused the R&B singer of trying to take revenge against Kelly for terminating her record-label contract. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girls family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. 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. But now people are seeing.". Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The woman who is known as an early protg of Kelly in the 1990s and goes by the stage name Sparkle had previously testified in Kelly's 2008 trial and the 'Surviving R. Kelly' documentary as she had identified her niece as the girl in a porn video that circulated in Chicago. Find a review of [article id="1587729"]the major players in the R. Kelly trial here[/article]. By Kelly Butler. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. "You have no idea whether this was put together by someone trying to get money from Robert, do you?" For full coverage of the ongoing R. Kelly case, see The R. Kelly Trial Reports. Stephanie Edwards made a statement to the New York Times: Genson pointed out that the girl is seen receiving money on the tape. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. #SomeoneWhoLovesMusicWayTooMuch She shared that she feels these are lies organized by her sister as a method of sabotage. "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 has publicly spoken out against Kelly in multiple formats, including in the 2019 Surviving R. Kelly docuseries that led to his most recent charges and convictions. "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. Like she said on "Surviving R. Kelly," Sparkle reiterated that she was naive at the . "I just shied away from the industry. Genson suggested that Sparkle next tried to conspire with former Kelly manager Barry Hankerson "about doing something bad to Robert. Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei) Instagram photos and videos isparklei Follow 180 posts 27.5K followers 395 following Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) Musician Obstacle Course EP - 7/13 Response To The Verdict @thecut Life Feat. "It's crazy and torn up, in every way imaginable," she said. Im not that girl. This encounter disheartened Sparkle and caused her to step back from her career in entertainment. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. black entertainment news, parenting tips and beauty secrets that are specifically for black women. "It's hurtful to my sister, to my brother-in-law and to my niece, especially, because it's all her. The woman claimed that Kelly agreed to serve as her godfather and that her parents had given their blessing. If you are in your 40's you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Her testimony sliced her family into factions, relegating her to years of . Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Kelly got emotional during the sit-down and alleged that he is "fighting for his . 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. Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. 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. You cant stifle me. Kellys federal trial in Chicago began last week and he is faced with charges of producing and receiving child pornography, enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, and obstruction charges. Although a jury acquitted R. Kelly,. But I didnt know that a bomb was coming.. Sparkle replied with a strong denial. If you are in your 40s you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Kelly would ultimately be acquitted on charges pertaining to the tape. She said there was no bitterness between her and Kelly over the split: "He was my homeboy. Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. MadameNoire is a sophisticated lifestyle publication that gives African-American women the latest in fashion trends, Sparkle has openly confronted the fact that her niece has lied about her in court. PredIQtion Markets. Both have pleaded not guilty. "She's my niece. BridgetEE: A Music and Entertainment blogger/ Historian / Global Grind Freelance Writer "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]. Her family also wouldnt be a witness for prosecutors, but things are different now. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. At the time, Sparkle identified the child in the video as her niece. 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. Prosecutors are pushing for another conviction on those charges to add to R. Kelly being sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering by a New York jury last month. Robert didnt allow pretty much anyone to speak to me, Edwards alleges in the new show. Blog. 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. 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. To what degree, singer, Sparkle's niece, is cooperating with authorities is still not official. One of the first witnesses to take the stand this week was Kellys victim that was featured on the original sex tape that leaked. Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. The victim in the video did notcooperate with prosecutors in the original case, but finally agreed to workwith the government after Kelly was arrested in 2019. Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, also positively identified R. Kelly as the man on the tape engaging in illegal sex with her 13-year-old niece. Sparkle has long asserted that her niece was abused by Kelly. 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? Knowing that theres no right answer to explain their ongoing actions and years of support for Robert once learning about that tape, the clear plan is to try and take me down because Ive been so vocal, she explained. The long-running criminal case of R. Kelly consistently takes strange turns that leaves fans perplexed and for which the case becomes more complicated. The woman who previously testified against Kelly in 2008 and was the one who brought the sex tapes to the victims parents knowledge says that she had the greatest of intentions when she spoke up against Kelly, but her life was made hell by the victims mother. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Back in 2008, Kelly ended up being acquitted on charges of child pornography. But after the meeting, "There was one side and another side," she said. 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. 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. The young girl who was recorded in the infamous and wide-spread tape of R. Kelly engaging in sexual acts is going back on years of precedence and cooperating with investigators in the child pornography case against the R&B singer. Trivia MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. I cant help the lies told on me & under oath at all & cause ya momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify Sparkle's niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her.