“We assume that 15-year-old Black girls have the cognitive ability to manipulate a grown man.”Īnd some superstars have admitted that the race of the accusers shaped their perceptions in Mr. “Our reality is that our society just does not view Black women and girls as credible,” said Kenyette Barnes, a co-founder of the #MuteRKelly campaign. Experts say Black women have historically been far more likely than white women to have their accusations about sexual misconduct distrusted or ignored. Legal experts and people who study sexual abuse have also suggested that the race of most of Mr.

Kelly avoid consequences for his behavior as well. There are some cultural factors that may have helped Mr. They said the singer let some witnesses know they could be “subject to physical harm” if they proceeded. Kelly of paying witnesses to not cooperate with the authorities in the lead-up to his 2008 trial and acquittal. Kelly “used his henchmen to lodge threats and exact revenge,” blackmailing women with nude photographs of themselves or embarrassing information, one prosecutor, Elizabeth Geddes, said in closing arguments.įederal prosecutors also accused Mr. Kelly’s payments to women who made accusations in exchange for their silence.Īnd when that was not enough, Mr. The government drew attention to what has been described as the “ settlement factory” that kept his accusers quiet, offering evidence of Mr. The entertainer had an expansive network of enablers around him, federal prosecutors said, from his closest confidantes and employees to many in the music industry who knew of the concerns about his behavior but did not intervene. He was not anticipating this verdict because based on the evidence, why should he anticipate this verdict? I’m sure - I’m sure we’ll be appealing.” He directed these videos and produced them, not only for his own sexual gratification, but in some instances for the purpose of using these videos to silence and threaten his victims with public exposure of these tapes if they ever revealed what he had done to them.” “Of course, Mr. Kelly’s brazen acts of intimidation against his accusers kept him shielded from prosecution.” “Kelly, after grooming, isolating and intimidating his child victims, recorded them being sexually abused and humiliated by him. Despite numerous reports of his destructive abuse over the years, Mr. Kelly as a predator who used his fame and fortune to prey on the young, the vulnerable and the voiceless.” “Mr. “Today’s guilty verdict forever brands R. Once one of the biggest names in popular music, he could face decades in prison. Kelly Found Guilty on All Counts The singer was convicted of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges for a decades-long scheme to recruit women and underage girls for sex.

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