The Truth About R. Kelly's Relationship With His Ex-Wife Today
On September 27, R. Kelly was been found guilty in court after decades of sexual abuse allegations. As reported by The New York Times, a New York City jury found Kelly guilty of eight counts of sex trafficking, as well as one count of racketeering. Sentencing isn't scheduled until May 4, 2022, but, based on the charges, the singer could receive a life sentence.
"Today's guilty verdict forever brands R. Kelly as a predator who used his fame and fortune to prey on the young, the vulnerable and the voiceless for his own gratification," Brooklyn U.S. attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis told reporters on the day of the verdict. Kelly's victims shared similar sentiments as Kasulis. "I'm ready to start living my life free from fear and to start the healing process," one witness identified as Sonja said, via BBC. Kelly, meanwhile, wasn't expecting a guilty verdict. "The government cherry-picked their version that they thought would support the continuation of the narrative," Kelly's lawyer Deveraux Cannick argued to BBC reporters. "Why would he expect this verdict given all the inconsistencies that we saw?"
However, there's another person with an opinion about the decision: Drea Kelly, the singer's ex-wife. Following the verdict, Drea appeared on "Good Morning Britain." As she put it, she's somewhat conflicted about her children's father possibly spending the rest of his life in prison. Read more below.
After R. Kelly's guilty verdict, Drea Kelly feels like 'her heart is in two places'
On September 28, Drea Kelly made an appearance on "Good Morning Britain," where she discussed R. Kelly's guilty verdict from the night prior. Despite feeling for the victims, the singer's ex-wife admitted that she also feels sorry for her children.
"I feel that my heart is in two places," Drea said. "My heart definitely goes out to the survivors and the courage that it takes to come forward and tell the story, but my heart breaks as a mother because this is now the legacy that my children will have to deal with and their children's children." Though she has distanced herself from it, she's afraid that her children won't be able to. '"At the end of the day, you cannot walk away from your bloodline."
"His blood runs through my children's veins and it's part of their DNA and they couldn't escape it even if they wanted to," she continued. "So it's very difficult for me to sit in that position." She's also explained that she won't interfere with her children's and Kelly's relationship, should they choose to support him. "It doesn't matter if your parents have a problem with drug addiction — you are still going to love them because they are a part of your DNA, you share blood with them."
In the past, Drea accused Kelly of being abusive during their marriage, something that didn't sit well with the singer.
Drea Kelly said R. Kelly stopped paying child support after she spoke out against him
This isn't the first time Drea Kelly has spoken out against her ex-husband R. Kelly. In 2018, Drea detailed what their marriage was like. "People have no idea that there's two different men here," Andrea told ABC News. "There's a person: Robert. There's the persona: R. Kelly." Andrea married to R. Kelly at the age of 22 in 1996, and the two share three children: Joann, Jaah, and Robert Jr. In 2005, she filed a restraining order against Kelly, and the couple ultimately divorced in 2009.
Per Drea, Kelly was physically and emotionally abusive towards her. "Here I am, his principal dancer, choreographer, on stage right next to him, and people have no idea that this man just beat me on the bus," she said. "People have no idea of the bruises I'm hiding." Despite personally alleging abuse by Kelly, Drea didn't immediately believe the sexual abuse accusations against him. "I'm thinkin' to myself, 'That's impossible," Andrea said. "But then again, he kept me very sheltered. I'm too busy dealin' with my own abuse." Drea also said the last time she spoke to her ex-husband was "so long ago, I can't even remember."
In 2019, the choreographer revealed that Kelly had stopped paying child support. "He stopped paying child support when I came forward with my story, so he's still economically abusing me," Drea told People. "So, it's like, 'Oh, okay, you want to tell your story? Fine. I'm cutting off child support.'"
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.