R. Kelly’s Appeal Denied as Convictions Stand – Supreme Court Battle Looms
R. Kelly’s legal troubles aren’t going away anytime soon. The disgraced R&B singer’s latest attempt to overturn his sex trafficking and racketeering convictions has been shut down, keeping his 30-year prison sentence intact.
On Wednesday, February 12, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected his appeal, reaffirming the 2021 guilty verdict handed down in New York. Kelly, now 58, had hoped to have his convictions thrown out, but the three-judge panel reviewing the case made it clear that his past actions were undeniable.
The Court’s Verdict: No Leniency for Kelly
In their ruling, the judges stated that R. Kelly “exploited his fame to lure girls and young women into his grasp” for over two decades. They detailed how he manipulated his victims, isolating them from their loved ones and subjecting them to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.
Despite Kelly’s legal team arguing that there were issues with the trial—ranging from biased jurors to improperly applied laws—the court remained firm in upholding the conviction.
Kelly’s Lawyer Plans to Take It to the Supreme Court
Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, blasted the court’s decision, calling it “unprecedented.” She has since revealed plans to take the fight to the Supreme Court, although the odds of success remain slim.
This isn’t the first time the Supreme Court has been approached regarding Kelly’s legal battles. Last year, the high court refused to hear an appeal related to his 2022 conviction in Chicago on child sex charges.
More Allegations Surface – This Time From His Own Daughter
As if Kelly’s legal troubles weren’t already deep enough, new allegations have surfaced from a shocking source—his own daughter, Joann Kelly, known as Buku Abi.
In the 2024 documentary Karma: A Daughter’s Story, Abi claims that her father sexually abused her as a child. She recalls waking up to him touching her and pretending to be asleep out of fear.
Through tears, she reflects on the devastating impact of the alleged incident:
"He was my everything. For a long time, I didn’t even want to believe that it happened. I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person, that he would do something to me. I really feel like that one millisecond completely changed my whole life."
Kelly’s Defense Team Denies the Claims
Following the release of the documentary, Kelly’s attorney publicly denied the allegations, stating that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had investigated the claims years ago and found them to be “unfounded.”
"He’s probably the most highly investigated individual on the planet when it comes to these types of claims," Bonjean said, insisting that if the accusations had any merit, legal action would have been taken.
What’s Next for R. Kelly?
With his convictions upheld and more allegations surfacing, R. Kelly’s legal battle is far from over. While his team is determined to take the case to the Supreme Court, it remains to be seen whether he will get another chance at freedom—or if his fate is sealed.