‘Surviving R. Kelly’ accuser: ‘Nobody had my back’

Nothing appears to stay to R. Kelly — till now. The 51-year-old R&B star has been trailed for many years by accusations of sexual misconduct, which have barely dented his profession. He even carried out on the 2002 Olympics after a tape surfaced of him allegedly having intercourse with a 14-year-old woman. However the brand new Lifetime docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly,” may change that. “I didn’t wish to do the documentary, I initially acknowledged ‘no,’ ” says singer Sparkle (nee Stephanie Edwards), who started her profession as Kelly’s protege in 1998. “However Dream Hampton, one of many [‘Surviving R. Kelly’] exec producers … mentioned that I used to be heroic in a way, that I used to be the one individual that stood up and spoke up about what he had finished to my niece.” Sparkle herself wasn’t victimized by Kelly, however her niece was the 14-year previous woman within the tape. When Sparkle alerted the police, it led to a 2008 baby pornography trial for Kelly, who was acquitted. That’s simply one of many subjects lined in “Surviving R. Kelly,” which continues Friday and Saturday nights at 9 p.m. The docuseries covers Kelly’s total life, from his childhood to his profession to his alleged sexual historical past with underage ladies. Well-known faces corresponding to John Legend and Wendy Williams seem within the sequence — “ ‘I Imagine I Can Fly’ is a kind of songs that impressed lots of people, it was huge,” Legend says onscreen — together with Sparkle, Kelly’s brothers, his ex-wife Andrea and several other girls who describe previous relationships they had with the singer. ‘I’m blissful the younger women and girls who’re talking up now are talking up, however I want somebody had my again then.’ Lisa Van Allen, 38, who dated Kelly in 1998 when she was 17, is one in every of these girls. “I spoke out in 2008. I testified towards R. Kelly [at his child pornography trial],” she says. “Again then, I don’t assume individuals had been so open to the thought of change. However now with this MeToo motion and Harvey Weinstein and Invoice Cosby — all these completely different circumstances about abuse, it’s the best time now.” Van Allen thinks that Kelly has been in a position to function scot-free for thus lengthy partially due to who he victimizes. “He dates minority races,” she says. “I believe that has so much to do with it. If you happen to take a look at Cosby, Weinstein — [their victims] weren’t quite a lot of ethnic girls. Now we have to inform our tales to be heard. It’s unhappy that now we have to go more durable but when that’s what needs to be finished, now we have to do it.” Sparkle says she’s glad that talking up has turn out to be extra prevalent, since she felt alone when the tapes first got here to mild. “I spoke up after I first realized of the tape and the scenario. I didn’t hesitate. As quickly as I noticed it, I used to be on the telephone with the authorities,” she says. “That’s the place the trial took place. “I’m blissful the younger women and girls who’re talking up now are talking up, however I want somebody had my again then. Social media is nice now — all these actions are right here now. However there was a ‘me’ earlier than there was ‘Me Too.’ “No person had my again.” Whereas the subject material of “Surviving R. Kelly” is darkish, Van Allen has been in a position to transfer on to a contented life. She lives in Atlanta together with her fiancee, and he or she’s an advocate for abuse victims. “Girls are utilizing their voices now greater than ever,” she says. “Social media is extra lively now than it was in 2008. That alone is a huge impact, the truth that you may attain the lots actually rapidly now. “I might hope us doing this docuseries helps different abuse victims and offers individuals energy and braveness to talk out and know that they deserve higher.” [embedded content] Share this: https://nypost.com/2019/01/03/surviving-r-kelly-accuser-nobody-had-my-back/ The post ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ accuser: ‘Nobody had my back’ appeared first on My style by Kartia.