Sexual Assault Scandal: Is This The End of R. Kelly?

In April last year, the sad scenes of popular black American comedian and actor, Bill Cosby been led out of a court room in handcuffs to a state prison after he was sentenced to 3 - 10 years behind bars for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, an incident which occurred in 2014, was something no one predicted.

Fans of the 81-years-old could hardly watch the tragic scenes and none could come to terms as to why such a popular celebrity like Bill who has been in the limelight since the 60's would be involved in cases of aggravated sexual assault. He was denied bail and led out of the courtroom in handcuffs – a scenery which brought tears to many eyes.

While this was still a bitter pill to swallow, the bitter news of Robert Sylvester Kelly (popularly referred to as R. Kelly) surfaced.

R. Kelly has been in and out of accusations linking him to sexual abuse of minors – an allegation he has continuously denied. A new documentary titled ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ seem to have put out everything in the open and the beloved R. Kelly – another black-American celebrity is in the middle of a full blown sexual assault scandal, and faces possible investigations and imprisonment.

The documentary is a three-night, six-part special which exposed the disturbing sexual abuse allegations against R. Kelly. It is made up of more than 50 interviews with Kelly's family members, his former collaborators and his alleged victims – who all accused the singer and songwriter of engaging in various sexual assaults involving minors.

The singer threatened the producers of the show with a lawsuit, but many of his fellow entertainers have expressed their disappointment in the “I believe I can fly” crooner and called for an in-depth investigation into the allegations, urging the state to persecute him if he is found guilty.

Celebrities like Lady Gaga, John Legend, Yvette Nicole Brown, Christina Coleman, Terry Crews, Kerry Washington, Jemele Hill, Lupita Nyong'o and many others have thrown their weights behind the victims, calling for R. Kelly to face justice.

If the singer had any fight left, it was surely defeated after his biological daughter released a statement on social media calling him a monster and saying the allegations were true.

R. Kelly’s daughter, who have for a long time changed her name from Joann Kelly to Buku Abi said she has not spoken to her dad for many years because he is a terrible father.

A part of Buku Abi’s statement read:

"The same monster you are all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house.

"My choice to not speak on him and what he does is for my peace of mind. My emotional state. And for my healing.

"This past year for my family has been very difficult, all the love and support you all continue to show is why we keep going."

Is this the beginning of the end for R. Kelly?

Header Image Credit: Billboard.com