November 14, (THEWILL) – American singer, songwriter and record producer, Robert Sylvester Kelly, popularly known as R. Kelly, is taking legal action against the federal government, alleging a privacy breach during his time at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in Chicago.
The lawsuit alleges that several prison officers leaked his private information, saying he is a Grammy-award winning recording artist and a nationally recognised celebrity.
As with all prisoners, but particularly because of Plaintiff’s status, the United States of America, through the Bureau of Prisons, BOP, had a duty to protect Plaintiff and his private and sensitive information, to ensure that its employees did not exploit Plaintiff for financial gain or for any other reason.
“At least 60 BOP officers made unauthorised access to Plaintiff’s sensitive, confidential and private information.
“Some of those BOP officers either shared and/or sold that information to third parties including members of the media and witnesses in Plaintiff’s criminal prosecution.”
R. Kelly faced investigations for using his fame to engage with underage fans for sexual purposes.
Despite being acquitted in 2008 for child pornography charges, a 2019 documentary led to RCA Records terminating his contract.
Subsequent arrests in 2019 and 2021 resulted in convictions for racketeering and child pornography.
In 2022, he received a 31-year prison sentence, with a scheduled release on December 21, 2045.
Currently serving time at FCI Butner Medium I. Kelly has vehemently denied the allegations.
R. Kelly revealed early traumatic experiences in his life, including the tragic death of his girlfriend, Lulu, during a play date at age eight. He described a household with inappropriate behaviour in the absence of his mother and grandparents.
From ages 8 to 14, Kelly endured sexual abuse by an older female family member, a revelation also shared by his younger brother, Carey. Kelly explained in his autobiography that fear and shame prevented him from disclosing the abuse.
Additionally, at around age 10, he suffered sexual abuse from an older male family friend. Kelly’s autobiography also mentioned an incident at age 11, where he was shot in the shoulder, with conflicting accounts of whether it was a suicide attempt or an accident.
In his recording journey, Kelly rocked the charts, selling a whopping 75 million records globally. He claimed his throne as the most successful male R&B artist in the ’90s, earning accolades like three Grammys for the uplifting anthem ‘I Believe I Can Fly.’
Not to mention, he left his mark with the soulful ‘You Are Not Alone,’ nominated for Michael Jackson.
Critics hailed him as the ‘King of R&B,’ while he humbly dubbed himself the ‘Pied Piper of R&B.’
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