Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. 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. Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. The long-running criminal case of R. Kelly consistently takes strange turns that leaves fans perplexed and for which the case becomes more complicated. Sparkle testified against Kelly in 2008 but, as we all know, he was found not guilty. Photo Credit: Gary Miller for Getty Images). 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. 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. R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. I know them. 'Nobody Believed Me': Singer Sparkle Speaks on How She Warned About R 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. Sparkle, who is reportedly the aunt of the 14-year-old who testified that she was introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt, who encouraged her to ask the singer to be his god-daughter and entice him by rubbing his head and sitting on his lap, is disputing the claim. Sparkle added that her niece, sister and brother-in-law all reported that nothing was going on, however. 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. That I should rub his head and ask him to take that role in my life., Sparkle denied any wrongdoing when a social media user questioned her about being the aunt who was mentioned during the testimony. However, her sister Valerie didn't want to do anything about the tape, and the family became divided. As of now, Sparkles niece and her attorney have yet to respond to Sparkles claim she lied on the stand. 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. (Several other people have also identified the girl and Kelly on the tape during testimony. To what degree, singer, Sparkle's niece, is cooperating with authorities is still not official. Following the allegations made in court, Sparkle took to social media to issue a video statement denying the claims. 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. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly . 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. Its impact cannot be overstated and a month later, Kelly was facing new charges in Chicago. Im not that girl. Before Fame. R. Kelly Trial: Sparkle Claims Niece Lied About Her On The Stand The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. Singer Sparkle Denies Her Niece's Claims That She Introduced Her To R She shared that she feels these are lies organized by her sister as a method of sabotage. 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 . Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building following a hearing on June 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. I know them. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places. The singer's niece, who's allegedly the 14-year-old girl on the infamous 2008 sex tape, recently claimed Sparkle encouraged her to ask Kelly to be her godfather by enticing him. Sparkle the Singer Niece - Search - chipnation.org 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. "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. While the witness is addressed in court as Jane, her story included identifying details, including that she is Sparkles niece. Singer Sparkle testified back then that it was her niece on the video but her niece nor anyone else in the family would corroborate her identity on the video tape. 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. Sparkle Speaks Out Following Niece's Testimony, Singer Claims Niece Is We want to hear from you! Sparkle also heard the news of her niece's testimony and took to Instagram to discuss the allegations. She pointed out that during this time period, she ran into Kelly at a family bowling event, and he gave her his number and invited her to come down to the studio, to illustrate that there was no bad blood between them, however much Genson tried to imply it. 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. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! Her family would rather keep the matter quiet, she said, even if that means protecting an alleged predator. Muskan Sharma is a law student at Calcutta University. Sparkle, Once R. Kelly's Protge, May Testify Against Him. Again. 90s R&B Singer Sparkle Responds To Niece Testimony Against R Kelly It's sickening. 8771 1829 linktr.ee/sparklelivemusic Posts Reels Tagged Show More Posts from sparklelivemusic 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, she told The New York Times on Tuesday. Please say its not you., Takeoff Shot in Head and Torso, According to Coroner Report, Aaron Carter Pulled Over On Suspicion Of DUI While Driving RV. "You couldn't break the chain with us. Singer Sparkle Responds To Her Niece Testifying In R Kelly's Trial - WZAK One of the disgraced singer's former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. Sparkle Claims Her Niece Lied About Her In R. Kelly Case - Thirsty for News he asked. "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. 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. 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. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. ", Genson then made a comment about the girl on the tape looking like a willing participant. If you are in your 40's you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. Sparkle (singer) Wiki - everipedia.org 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. 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. We were tight, tight, tight." Celebrate (From "Sparkle") Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks. R Kelly accusers share their delight after disgraced singer convicted The Times reports, her lawyer says she is now cooperating with authorities. 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. Sparkle, the aunt of an R Kelly victim, is claiming her niece is lying on the stand as she testifies about her experience with the singer as a 14-year-old. At the time, Sparkle identified the child in the video as her niece. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. Apple Music Film, TV & Stage. Prosecutors turned over to Kelly's defense team a DVD that alleges to show Kelly having sex with an underage girl in the 1990s. This can't be real, can it? : r/awfuleverything - reddit She added that there is a family feud, and the victims testimony is a clear plan to try to take her down.. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Last week, Kellywas arrested for an additional 13 counts of federal sex trafficking and child pornography charges. Sparkle's age is 47. R&B Singer Sparkle, Who Spoke Out Against R. Kelly Decades Ago ", "No," she said. The co-defendants in the case are Derrel McDavid, a former business manager who faces child pornography and obstruction charges, and Milton June Brown, Kellys former assistant, who faces one count of conspiracy to receive child pornography. Here's Where to Find the Best Corned Beef in Cleveland! Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. But in 2001, when she actually witnessed the tape herself, she didn't hesitate to call. Sparkle, the girl in the picture and a few others confirmed it was said niece, but the rest of the nieces family said it was . In an Instagram video, Sparkle called the confusion a family feud and stated that she wanted to put a few things in context., Absolutely NOT!! By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. ", Sparkle wasn't the only witness to get emotional on the stand Thursday. The alleged victim on the tape is also the niece of the singer Sparkle, whom Kelly mentored as an artist early in her career. Though Kelly has talked to local Chicago media about the scandal, he hasn't addressed a lot of the questions people have about the tapes. In her video, Sparkle read a statement from her phone and said, "Not all that you heard yesterday from my niece is true. 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. The singer, real name Stephanie Edwards, alleges that the girl on this videotape was her 14-year-old niece, whom she had introduced to Kelly along with other members of her family, including her . You cant stifle me. Black women Genson pointed out that the girl is seen receiving money on the tape. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. "Sparkle" featured a duet with Kelly, titled "Be Careful.". Sparkle was the first and only successful artist to release an album on Kelly's Rockland label.Sparkle's dbut album, the self-titled Sparkle, was released on May 19, 1998.The album debuted at No. #SomeoneWhoLovesMusicWayTooMuch She says "There have been too many girls to count. 5 Infamous Murder Cases Involving Athletes, Deadly Day for Rappers XXXTentacion and Wopo. Sparkle replied with a strong denial. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Of course Im in full unwavering support of them and their act of courage.. Reshonda Landfair | Aisha Music R. Kelly's ex-wife Drea and singer Sparkle react to his conviction Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldnt be more thrilled about it. The now 37-year-old woman who is identified only as "Jane," told jurors that she was first introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt Sparkle in the mid-1990s when she was 13 years old. Absolutely NOT! A new development in the case has resulted from the Sparkles nieces recent admission of the truth. In "Surviving R. Kelly," Edwards discusses Kelly's behavior toward her while they worked together. 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. The decision, many believe, ultimately resulted in the jury acquitting the singer. Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. READ: Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors. 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. Whats The Deal With This R. Kelly Album That Dropped? I went at it alone. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Creator of Bridget EEs Bloghouse, a A Place Where Real Music Is Previewed and Reviewed. "Like she's a prostitute!" Sparkle added that she and Kelly were never romantically involved as painted by the victim. [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. All Rights Reserved, Follow Us on Snapchat for All Our Breaking News, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, Offset and Quavo Spotted Sitting Apart at NBA Game Following Alleged GRAMMY Argument, Drake Wagers Half a Million Dollars on Jon Jones Victory at UFC 285, Soulja Boy Performs In Front Of Seemingly Low-Energy Crowd At Rolling Loud. I Never, Ever Left My Niece Alone In The Studio: Sparkle Shares What Was Left Out Of "Surviving R. Kelly" Posted on January 16, 2019 - By Veronica Wells MadameNoire Featured Video "Of course not. MadameNoire is a sophisticated lifestyle publication that gives African-American women the latest in fashion trends, 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. In @nytimes Feat. There are a lot of people who are very jealous of me right now and they're trying to destroy me.". 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." "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].". Sparkle first started singing in her fa Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle is an American RB singer. In another video she released, Sparkle claimed that the claim was an absolute f**king lie. She added she had indeed introduced Kelly to the victim and her mother and father, but it was not her intention for her to become involved with the singer. 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. Will No Longer Be Pursuing These Indictments: Chicago Prosecutor Drops Sex-Abuse Charges Against Singer R. Kelly Months After Conviction. Sparkle explains that she testified against Kelly in court, although he allegedly tried to bribe her. Sparkle Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. 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. Singer Sparkle found herself in the middle of R. Kellys federal child pornography trial. Sparkle said in disgust. Interview: Sparkle on R. Kelly's Guilty Verdict - The Cut He rose to fame after singing as an eight-year-old in church before winning a $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated US television talent show, "Big Break," hosted by Natalie Cole. In the old video footage, Kelly can be seen engaging in sex acts with the young girl, whom he also urinates on. Report: Sparkle's Niece, the Girl in 2008 Trial Video, Now Aiding R According to . While the survivors have now found justice, Sparkle said she still feels guilty for introducing her niece to Kelly in 1997. Girl In Alleged R. Kelly Tape Said To Be 14-Year-Old Niece Of Singer 2 on the R&B charts and was certified gold soon after . Day 3: Sparkle's Revenge - Slate Magazine The Jane Doe witness, who allegedly was a minor when she first met Kelly but is now an adult, reportedly told the court that Sparkle instructed her to ask Kelly to be her godfather. She admits that some things went down but now she is saying her aunt encouraged it. Custom Content Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand . On Tuesday, after Kelly pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, a Chicago judge ordered him to remain behind bars without bond, where hes being kept away from general population for safety reasons. Robert didnt allow pretty much anyone to speak to me, Edwards alleges in the new show. EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea - YouTube Sparkle Live Music is on Instagram 731 posts on their profile "I know my family. Find a review of [article id="1587729"]the major players in the R. Kelly trial here[/article]. She says her. 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. Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. Sparkle's Niece Reshona Lanfair Finally Comes Forward Against R Kelly According to reports, Sparkle was allegedly suggested by the niece. Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. Since the news of her nieces cooperation has been made public, Sparkle says she is thrilled. 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. Last week in court R. Kelly's original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. 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. An exchange between two ex-lovers? Since the alleged R. Kelly sex tapes first hit the media two months ago, the primary question has been if the girl featured on the 27-minute tape, currently under investigation by the Chicago police, was actually underage, since her identity had been kept hidden. She would go on to release a successful self-titled album in 1998, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. She said that his acquittal then affected her view of the #MeToo movement a decade later. Stay tuned to Thirsty for more updates. Sparkle (1976) - IMDb black entertainment news, parenting tips and beauty secrets that are specifically for black women. CHICAGO -- "Sweetie, I'm not trying to get any money for this!". 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. It's very upsetting to my family. Genson accused Sparkle of being bitter and characterized the end of her working relationship with Kelly as a firing. 'R Kelly made me wear schoolgirl outfits and call him Daddy', victim Sparkle has long asserted that her niece was abused by Kelly. Sparkle testified at trial in 2008 that the man in the video was Mr. Kelly, and that the girl was her 14-year-old niece. Bop Shop: Songs From J-Hope And J. 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Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Sparkle first introduced her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly in 1997 a decision that still haunts her to this day. She said she regretted bringing her niece to Kelly's studio and later his home -- "my mistake," Sparkle said. Im letting those who know and support me that this is a family feud, she says at the beginning of her video, reading notes from her mobile device. His response thus far has been that the tapes are fabricated and that he's been blackmailed. Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei) Instagram photos and videos 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Still, she admitted, she hadn't had the same level of success on her sophomore album with Motown as she did with her Kelly-produced debut, and she hadn't received any royalties from Kelly. Sparkle Talks R Kelly, Aaliyah Marriage, Introducing Cousin To Singer On Friday, Sparkle took to social media to denounce some of the claims made by her niece on the stand. Sparkle first started singing in her family's gospel music group. You may recall in the 2008 trial against Kelly, the girl in the tape along with her family members refused to testify against the singer. 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. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. In the meantime, Kelly has hired private investigator Jack Palladino to help build his defense, Palladino's office confirmed. Sparkle (2012) - IMDb R. Kelly's Inner Circle: Bruce Kelly, Demetrius Smith, Sparkle, And Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. Sound it in the comments. Career. She's being exposed to the world. Sparkle - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. Sparkles niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. She said there was no bitterness between her and Kelly over the split: "He was my homeboy. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. She got . Kids edition - Orlando And Sparkle. And earlier this week, lawyer Michael Avenatti who gave a tape of Kelly and a young girl to the Cook County States Attorney in February said the singer gave the girl in the tape and her family $2 million to remain silent. So I feel a responsibility for that also, although I'm not responsible for his actions, I feel responsible for even taking her there. Now that her niece has finished testifying, Sparkle is speaking out again - and what she's saying is EXPLOSIVE. Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. Three sisters form a singing group in 1950s Harlem, but success threatens to ruin their relationship forever. The "Better Be Careful" singer was one of the first people to go public about . MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators.