which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. Its not clear to what extent shes working with investigators, but her attorney, Christopher L. Brown, confirmed that she is indeed cooperating. Im beyond pleased to finally hear the mountain Ive tirelessly worked on moving over the years is now being assisted with the help of my niece and her parents, she told The New York Times on Tuesday. Modern Movie Musical Essentials. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. "You have no idea whether this was put together by someone trying to get money from Robert, do you?" "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. His Masters Are Missing: New R. Kelly Music, I Admit, Unauthorized, Pulled from Streaming Services, The Man is In Prison: Tevin Campbell Receives Backlash After Stating R. Kelly Could Go Against Usher In a Verzuz Battle. Yesterday, R. Kelly sat down with Gayle King for his first interview since new allegations of sexual abuse against the singer have been revealed, most due in part to Lifetime's docu-series, Surviving R. Kelly. Sparkle niece is still with R kelly - YouTube Sparkle niece is still with R kelly Capricorn Queen 1.74K subscribers Subscribe 424 Share 169K views 4 years ago #SurvivingRkelly. And earlier this week, lawyer Michael Avenatti who gave a tape of Kelly and a young girl to the Cook County States Attorney in February said the singer gave the girl in the tape and her family $2 million to remain silent. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. Kelly has been charged with multiple sex crimes involving four women, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged encounters. Sparkle was also the one to call her family members when she would find out that the niece was alone in the studio with him. We later found out that the alleged little girl was the niece of R&B singer Sparkle best know for her smash hit slow cut Be Careful with R. Kelly himself. The decades-long crusade cost the 46-year-old her closest relationships and stifled her own music career. It's so very sad.". Bossip Video Sparkle, the aunt of an R Kelly victim, is claiming her niece is lying on the stand as she testifies about her experience with the singer as a 14-year-old. He rose to fame after singing as an eight-year-old in church before winning a $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated US television talent show, "Big Break," hosted by Natalie Cole. Prosecutors turned over to Kelly's defense team a DVD that alleges to show Kelly having sex with an underage girl in the 1990s. advice and career trends - and MadameNoire provides all of that. Kelly is on trial in Chicago for child pornography and charges that he rigged his 2008 trial to secure his freedom by intimidating the witnesses and using money to make the victim disappear. The singer, real name Stephanie Edwards, alleges that the girl on this videotape was her 14-year-old niece, whom she had introduced to Kelly along with other members of her family, including her . Sparkle corrected him and said she had asked to be released from her contract so she could work with other people, such as Steve Huff, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. "I have an ex-manager that's been on my back," he said. Fourteen witnesses had identified the girl in the video during the 20018 trial, but she and members of her family did not testify. Sparkle said that she had discussions with Hankerson, who was also Aaliyah's uncle, about signing to his Blackground record label about two weeks before Aaliyah's death in 2001, but that discussions fell apart. A new development in the case has resulted from the Sparkles nieces recent admission of the truth. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. Mar. Activity. Genson suggested that Sparkle next tried to conspire with former Kelly manager Barry Hankerson "about doing something bad to Robert. She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Sparkle's niece who was 14 years old was alleged to be the young girl in the video tape that went viral on the streets before going viral was such a thing. In her traumatic account, she recalled her aunt introducing her to Kelly and encouraging her to build a close relationship with the now-disgraced singer. Stephanie Edwards made a statement to the New York Times: He did say, however, that not all the evidence had been revealed (see [article id="1453299"]"R. Kelly Settles Civil Suit, Defends Himself On Radio"[/article]). She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. By Kelly Butler. PredIQtion Markets. "A lot of people know about it, but when the smoke clears, you guys will really be able to know exactly what is going on. Sparkle was born Stephanie Edwards on May 13, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. The prosecution has not responded to the claim. Here's Where to Find the Best Corned Beef in Cleveland! Im not that girl. She was my heart.". "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. Sparkle was the first and only successful artist to release an album on Kelly's Rockland label.Sparkle's dbut album, the self-titled Sparkle, was released on May 19, 1998.The album debuted at No. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. "You couldn't break the chain with us. For the past 20 years, Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, has been trying to convince the world that Kelly sexually abused her teenage niece. "Anger? Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. But after the meeting, "There was one side and another side," she said. When I learned that, I would go out of my way to speak to people just to tick him off. Career. There's no denying it. Sparkle added that her niece, sister and brother-in-law all reported that nothing was going on, however. The co-defendants in the case are Derrel McDavid, a former business manager who faces child pornography and obstruction charges, and Milton June Brown, Kellys former assistant, who faces one count of conspiracy to receive child pornography. His response thus far has been that the tapes are fabricated and that he's been blackmailed. "I wanted this to go away. Though she hadn't witnessed anything between Kelly and her niece that could be considered inappropriate, Sparkle said she saw hints of things that she didn't want to acknowledge at the time, "little hints of something, little touches," that in hindsight concerned her. R. Kelly was later acquitted of all charges. BridgetEE: A Music and Entertainment blogger/ Historian / Global Grind Freelance Writer "But there are others that haven't been spoken of that have been possibly paid off. No -- it was part of a shouting match during a contentious cross-examination between R. Kelly's defense attorney Ed Genson and the prosecution's star witness, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts and money before and after the trial so she would lie to investigators, avoid questioning, and so she would not testify against him. While a lot of people thinking that Sparkle was the one who introduced her niece to R Kelly and left her there, she explains that there were many other family members more involved than she was. Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. Trust me.". I also did not want that person to be me, Jane testified. Shortly after the tape was released, the woman's aunt - 1990s R&B singer Sparkle - came forward and blasted her former mentor R Kelly. @lifetimetv SRK For Girls/Women linktr.ee/isparklei Posts Reels Videos Tagged Her family also wouldnt be a witness for prosecutors, but things are different now. I'm happy to see the #MeToo movement and Time's Up movement are backing these women. Sparkle explained that this is a result of a "family feud," which has led to her being a target of lies from her niece, who Sparkle feels lied about her on the stand out of loyalty to her mother. It's messed up. Close Menu. Though Kelly has talked to local Chicago media about the scandal, he hasn't addressed a lot of the questions people have about the tapes. At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. Sparkle, born Stephanie Edwards, issued a video statement denying the claims. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 'You just know your family. Those who have been following the scandal were shocked to hear Sparkles testimony because she has long advocated for R. Kellys imprisonment for what he is accused of doing to her niece. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may recall in the 2008 trial against Kelly, the girl in the tape along with her family members refused to testify against the singer. Sparkle has openly confronted the fact that her niece has lied about her in court. Robert didnt allow pretty much anyone to speak to me, Edwards alleges in the new show. The long-running criminal case of R. Kelly consistently takes strange turns that leaves fans perplexed and for which the case becomes more complicated. R Kellys Sister Says Hes The Victim of Lies & Racism, C-Murder On A Hunger Strike Protesting Prison Conditions, Meet Kym Sellers Family First Storm Shyanne Sellers [VIDEO], Maryland Mayor Arrested On 56 Counts Of Child Pornography. In her video, Sparkle read a statement from her phone and said, "Not all that you heard yesterday from my niece is true. Sparkles niece ended up in court before the side settle, and Sparkle who said she rode for her niece, fell out with Robert Kelly, however her family turned their back on her in the fallout out of everything. If you are in your 40s you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. Its impact cannot be overstated and a month later, Kelly was facing new charges in Chicago. On Friday, Sparkle took to social media to denounce some of the claims made by her niece on the stand. One of the disgraced singer's former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. At the time, Sparkle identified the child in the video as her niece. Sparkle, who is reportedly the aunt of the 14-year-old who testified that she was introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt, who encouraged her to ask the singer to be his god-daughter and entice him by rubbing his head and sitting on his lap, is disputing the claim. Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes. Will No Longer Be Pursuing These Indictments: Chicago Prosecutor Drops Sex-Abuse Charges Against Singer R. Kelly Months After Conviction. Sparkle, however, disputed the witness account after a social media user questioned her about it. Following the allegations made in court, Sparkle took to social media to issue a video statement denying the claims. The singer used social media to "put a few things in context.". Absolutely NOT! Kellys defense team had argued that the girl and Kelly could not be identified in the tape, and some jurors said the girls refusal to testify made it difficult to convict him. We were very cordial.". Advancing the culture and building bridges. Sparkle, the girl in the picture and a few others confirmed it was said niece, but the rest of the nieces family said it was . In 2001, the singer Sparkle (seen above in the 2019 Lifetime series Surviving R Kelly), whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, went public with allegations that R Kelly sexually assaulted her niece . While the survivors have now found justice, Sparkle said she still feels guilty for introducing her niece to Kelly in 1997. Latest dancehall and hip hop news and music at your fingertips. She said this took place during a time when other members of her family also had a working relationship with the singer (Sparkle's brother-in-law, for instance, played guitar for Kelly, she said). Although a jury acquitted R. Kelly,. Sparkle first started singing in her family's gospel music group. Meanwhile, Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, has come out in her own defence and claims that her niece has lied on the stand as she did not push her to be involved with Kelly. He has pleaded not guilty. An R&B singer who was once Kelly's protg, Sparkle testified for more than an hour and a half Thursday afternoon during Kelly's child-pornography trial, describing how she introduced her niece to Kelly, how she later came to discover that the sex tape existed, and how that drove her family apart. I cant help the lies told on me & under oath at all & cause ya momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify, she said. According to . Picture Perfect Poster Girl: Taylour Paige Stars As "Boogie's" Leading Lady, UPDATE: Jesseca Dupart Denies That LisaRaye Found Out About Da Brat's Pregnancy Via Social Media, Your Weekly Helping Of Tidday Meats & Treats On The Gram, Cougar Chronicles! Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. Before Fame. For full coverage of the case, read the R. Kelly Reports and check out this [article id="1586932"]complete timeline[/article] of the events leading up to the trial. Lets continue to pray for healing in this family. Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. Sparkle Live Music (@sparklelivemusic) Instagram photos and videos sparklelivemusic 731 posts 1,870 followers 467 following Sparkle Live Music Musician/band We play your dream music soundtrack Put a Sparkle in your big day. Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Kellys federal trial in Chicago began last week and he is faced with charges of producing and receiving child pornography, enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, and obstruction charges. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. An R&B singer who was once Kelly's protg, Sparkle testified for more than an hour and a half Thursday afternoon during Kelly's child-pornography trial, describing how she introduced her niece . That's it.". I cant help he lies told on me & under oath at the.. & cause ya Momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify.. [shrug emoji].. In the recent federal indictment, he was accused of paying off the girl and her family so they would lie for him and not cooperate with investigators. "Sparkle" featured a duet with Kelly, titled "Be Careful.". Best known by her stage name, Sparkle rose to prominence as a member of R. Kelly's Rockland Records and was the first artist to release a single on the label. Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, also positively identified R. Kelly as the man on the tape engaging in illegal sex with her 13-year-old niece. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. In a contentious court battle, Edwards testified against Kelly in 2008, according to ET Online. In an Instagram video, Sparkle called the confusion a family feud and stated that she wanted to put a few things in context., Absolutely NOT!! Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle, is an American R&B singer. Sparkle says she became suspicious of R. Kelly's involvement with her teenage niece in 2001. In "Surviving R. Kelly," Edwards discusses Kelly's behavior toward her while they worked together. Jurors and observers heard the gory details from the 14-year-old, who disclosed that the singer began grooming the 14-year-old victim and began having sex with her at just 15 years old when Kelly was around 30 years old. Im letting those who know and support me that this is a family feud, she says at the beginning of her video, reading notes from her mobile device. "It's crazy and torn up, in every way imaginable," she said. Sparkle, who had a hit with Kelly in 1998 called "Be Careful," told radio DJ Adimu of the Beat (KKBT) on April 3 that her niece was a fledging rapper whom she introduced to Kelly. 11 Songs. Singer Sparkle found herself in the middle of R. Kellys federal child pornography trial. She went on to claim that Sparkle was the one who introduced her to Kelly, saying her auntencouraged her to rub Kellys headand sit on his lap. Sparkle was Kelly's protge in the 90's. The singer agreed to testify in the 2008 trial and identified Kelly as the man in the video and her niece as the girl. Kelly faces 14 counts of child pornography -- seven for directing, seven for producing. (Genson tripped her up on cross, when she said she was never in possession of the tape, even though her brother and his ex-wife had testified that she was.) But let me chill. Kelly is now facing state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering. "There have been a couple that have come to light that have settled out of court, so that they would not go to criminal court," Sparkle said, referring to Kelly's settlements with Tracy Sampson and Tiffany Hawkins. Stay tuned to Thirsty for more updates. In 2002, Kelly re-entered Sparkle's life when a video that appeared to depict sex between Kelly and a 14-year-old came to the attention of police. Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Earlier this week, Kelly who wore ankle shackles along with his orange jumpsuit, pled not guilty to the charges. I Never, Ever Left My Niece Alone In The Studio: Sparkle Shares What Was Left Out Of "Surviving R. Kelly" Posted on January 16, 2019 - By Veronica Wells MadameNoire Featured Video "Never. Its no secret the original R Kelly having relations with a minor (allegedly) video was all over the streets on VHS. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Black women Sparkle is claiming that the victims mother was also upset at her, and the victims testimony was aimed at getting back at her for going against Kelly. Without Wayne Shorters Weather Report, Jazz Rap Wouldnt Be What It Is, Fans Are Overjoyed to See De La Soul Albums on DSPs, 9 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of March 3), Larry June & The Alchemist Announce Joint Album The Great Escape. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Sparkle, the aunt of an R Kelly victim, is claiming her niece is lying on the stand as she testifies about her experience with the singer as a 14-year-old. According to the niece that is identified as Jane Doe, her aunt said,That I should rub his head and ask him to take that role in my life. as the young teens Godfather. The decision, many believe, ultimately resulted in the jury acquitting the singer. Whats your take on it? "It's hurtful to my sister, to my brother-in-law and to my niece, especially, because it's all her. SEPTEMBER 17: Singer R. Kelly appears standing beside his attorney, Steven Greenberg during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Profession: Singer. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. Both have pleaded not guilty. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places. The Times reports, her lawyer says she is now cooperating with authorities. Sparkle has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by. She said there was no bitterness between her and Kelly over the split: "He was my homeboy. . In the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart. A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). While her immediate family as well as the girl herself have yet to step forward, a former protg of R. Kelly has told a Los Angeles radio station that the girl on the tape is her niece, whom she says was 14 at the time the tape was made. Now lets observe what transpires in the court. Custom Content Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand . MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Former protégé of R. Kelly makes allegations on Los Angeles radio station. In @nytimes Feat. One of those relatives, singer Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified Thursday that she had introduced the alleged victim to Kelly, and that the girl called him her "Godfather."
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