Open Thread: The R. Kelly Verdict

by Latoya Peterson

Looks like the Pied Piper of R & B will continue to walk the streets.

Gina from What About Our Daughters notes some of the comments on predominantly black websites, like Essence:

I think justice was served. We have several of our black men in jail for these crimes, that they actually do commit, but without knowledge. The teenagers today look and dress like grown ups, and there parents see this and don’t care. I don’t think people should do time, when they do not know the person is a minor. Another thing the girl denied that it was her, even if it was her you can only go by what she says. The problem is R Kelly is making to much money doing him and people are jealous. Kelly keep doing you. I’m

-Mona Harris

I know R.Kelly did it but so what! He likes young love oh well!!! She allowed herself to be done like that. Why was she at a grown ass man house anyway.EXACTLY!! She wanted it…they wanted it and it doesnt really matter because he was found not guilty so get over it.Im sure he will do it again i just hope next time he leaves the camera at home…Go R. Kelly!!!yeaaaa

-Queenipoo

JUSTICE WAS SERVED !!!! IT’S PROVEN THE MAN IS INNOCENT…I BELIEVED ALL ALONG THAT TAPE WAS CORRUPT.AND SO WAS THE TESTIMONY OF SPARKLE AND THE LIL MONEY HUNGRY TRAMP WHO JUST WANTED MONEY FROM ANY AND EVERY SOURCE SHE COULD GET IT FROM. THE MOLE ON R.KELLY BACK COULDN’T BE EXPLAINED, WHY IT WAS NOT IN THE TAPE.

-REAL JUSTICE

I think that only God knows what happen.And what does it matter what happened anyway.Its not like R.Kelly forced the girl to have sex and I am so sick of people giving young woman the freedom to do what they want and blame the man for their inpurities. That girl knew exactly what she was doing!Furthermore, not only Kelly should’ve been on trial, but her aunt and mother should be too. Why is a girl that young at R. Kellys home in the first place???It’s neglegence on the parents part as well.So don’t blame Kelly for taking a

-Crystal J.

Gina calls this ignorance personified, I am inclined to agree.

In discussing the case with some of my friends, a few pointed out that it may not have been R. Kelly on the tape. (This was also the main strategy of the defense.) When I asked who they thought it was, they mentioned R.Kelly’s brother, who looks a lot like him. However, Carey Kelly denies being involved. A 2006 report from MTV news states:

A few years back a rumor circulated that R. Kelly planned to claim that it was actually his brother featured on the sex tape that prompted child-pornography charges against the singer. But R. Kelly’s younger brother has a tape — and a few claims — of his own.

Carey Kelly has resurfaced in a new low-budget DVD in which he puts forth a number of allegations against his more famous brother. Chief among them, Carey says R. offered him $50,000, a record deal and a house if he would perjure himself on the witness stand. Previously Carey had expressed concern when he heard that his resemblance to his brother might be used as a defense strategy to cast doubt that it was really the singer on the tape (see “R. Kelly’s Brother: I Support Him But Won’t Take The Fall”).

“I got a call about a year and a half ago,” Carey says on the Drahma Magazine-produced DVD, which was first available on MediaTakeOut.com and was released Tuesday. “My brother wanted me to do some sh– pertaining to this case that would leave me behind bars with a record deal. It doesn’t make sense, so I turned it down. … Since I couldn’t lie for him in a court of law, we’re back to beefing again, and we ain’t brothers no more.”

Carey Kelly also accuses R. Kelly of a litany of other crimes:

Carey also claims that R. abuses his wife (see “R. Kelly, Wife Separate — Petition For Restraining Order Tells Of Alleged Abuse”), tried to molest their other brother’s daughter and molested their 12-year-old second cousin. And if those claims weren’t enough, Carey also says R. is bisexual (“He in the closet for real,” Carey said on Hot 97).

Sista Toldja wrote a long post titled Nobody Loves a Black Girl, which just about sums up my sentiments on the case:

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