The verdict is welcome, but it is long overdue.
Yesterday, R. Kelly – whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly – was found guilty on all nine charges in his sex trafficking trial.
The verdict follows a six-week trial in which nine women and two men spoke about the sexual violence and abuse they experienced at the hands of the musician.
Kelly was charged with eight counts of sex trafficking and one charge of racketeering, after the court heard how he sexually abused women and girls through a criminal scheme.
The rapper now awaits sentencing on 4 May, and he may spend the rest of his life in prison.
In their impact statements, a number of survivors shared their reaction to the verdict.
One woman, identified in court as Sonja, testified that Kelly drugged, imprisoned and raped her. She wrote yesterday: “I’m ready to start living my life free from fear and to start the healing process.”
Lizette Martinez, who also testified against Kelly, said that she was “relieved” by the verdict.
She added: “I’m so proud of the women who were able to speak their truths.”
Indeed, the guilty verdict was welcomed by survivors of rape and sexual violence, not only in the trial, but around the world. However, it’s also difficult to ignore one glaring question. Why, despite the overwhelming body of evidence against Kelly, did it take so long for justice to be served?
Allegations against Kelly have been circulating for almost 30 years. In 1994, he married Aaliyah when she was just 15 and he was 27. Then, in 2002, he was charged with 21 counts of making “indecent images of children”, as reported by Sky News. The trial was delayed 2008 and Kelly was eventually acquitted.
Years later, in 2019, the release of the documentary Surviving R. Kelly detailed further sexual abuse allegations against the musician.
Kelly was able to get away with his crimes for so long due to numerous reasons. For starters, he was propped up by his fame, money and influence. The rapper was operating from an undeniable position of power. All the while he was committing abuse, his net-worth climbed, as he sold 100s of millions of records around the world.
On top of that, prosecutors said that managers, security guards and members of Kelly’s entourage helped facilitate Kelly’s abuse.
Crucially, Kenyette Tisha Banes, one of the founders of the #MuteRKelly movement, says that the reason Kelly was not held accountable for so long was because he targeted “young black girls from inner-city Chicago.”
A key journalist leading the initial investigation against Kelly, Jim DeRogatis, echoes Banes’ sentiment.
He said: “What the 48 women whose stories I’ve told in the last 21 years have all said to me is that nobody matters less in America than young black girls. They are simply not believed, and women in general are not believed about a sexual abuse story. But black girls in particular.”
Even in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, the experiences and testimonies of Black women and girls are routinely sidelined. According to a report published on now.org, unfounded biases often lead to reports of sexual violence against Black women being ignored or dismissed. Additionally, studies show that Black women experience higher rates of intimate partner violence.
While R. Kelly’s guilty verdict is welcome, it is long overdue. The case points to the need to treat the reports of survivors of sexual assault seriously, and to tackle the power systems – systemic racism and misogyny – that allow abusers to get away with their crimes.
If you have been affected by any of the details of this article, you can contact Women’s Aid’s 24 hour helpline on 1800 341 900 and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888.
