That is interesting. So you are saying a 15/16 can give lawful consent to have sex?

A 18 year old and a 16 year old is that satuatory rape?:eek:

He disgusts me....
 

First of all I'm 18 and I don't care how old this girls look, they could look 30 for all I care, its all about the mentality. If Kelly could just take a minute and keep his pants zipped and engage these girls in a five minute conversation (although he didn't seem to bright) I think he'd realize that something just ain't right. Something along the lines of "oh you're 19, what year did you graduate, what college do you attend, oh whats your major, oh your not in school...well when did u know u didn't want to go.." I think you get what I'm say. The key is details...then If the girl was still underage and could answer some key questions...well then she's a great pathological liar and then should share some of the blame.

IMO Aaliyah is relevant to his pattern of behavior, he married her and lied about it, let's face it lying about his relationships with minors is second nature...Sparkle may very well be trying to get back at Kelly, I really don't know and I don't care. Its not like she's bringing him down his dumb self did it to himself

Depending on where you live - in some states the age of consent is as low as 14, again, 15/16 is the norm, a few states still have 18 as the age of consent. It often matches the age that a parent can sign for their child to get married. It has been adjusted down in many states due to teen pregnancy trends - don't ask me for the logic that's just what has happened.

Also, the "adult" party sometimes has to be over 18, it is usually 19 and above. However, even if it is a consensual relationship, say between a 19 and a 16 year old, it may not be statutory rape, but it could still be illegal - it might constitute contributing to the deilnquency of a minor. It all depends on how the statutes are written - the unfortunate part is that often times when it is blatant it isn't prosecuted! I'm not even sure of what R.Kelly is charged with but from what I've heard the "pornography" charges are more serious - I don't know what the age of consent is in Illinois.

Re: He disgusts me....
 

Good points! Really those are the basic questions that most 18/19 should know.

I have a real problem with Sparkle and others like her. If he was doing this on a regular basis then his friends knew about it. Why now is everyone pointing out how he's so wrong? When they knew what he was doing and said nothing for years. As long as it was profitable to them they kept they mouths closed.

I dont think Aaliyah is relevant b/c she lied about her age too. And she did NOT look 15, but that is all water under the bridge. I still would like to know Sparkle's motive, and I still think Robert, the girl and her parents are ALL to blame in this situation..

Aaliyah looked 15 to me. He knew she was 15. he was producing her album and what made the album special is the fact that she was so young. He was hanging with her family. I know at some point they had to say something about her age. If he didn't know she was 15, why would they have to get married in secret in the first place. He's probably like Michael Jackson, they have a childlike mind. They can only indentify with children.

Those young girls are not responsilbe for what happened to them. As teenagers they know right from wrong, but at that age people tend to be very impressionable. They don't have enough life experiences to tell them when someone is using or abusing them. Their not stupid they just don't know what is really going on. R. Kelly is a grown man he knew better.

News Special...
 

VH1 aired a news special about the R. Kelly case last night. Has anyone seen it? I'm not sure if that was the first time airing the special - you know how these stations like to play things like a hundred times.

:eek:

While I am not BLAMING the young girls (I tend to blame their upbringing, if anything), I also do not think they are as naive as you believe they are. If, at 15, you do not know that sex with a 30+ year old man is something you should not be doing then there is a problem. When I was 15, I knew about sex (although I did not fully understand the emotional ramifications of the act), and I would have figured that if a 30 year old man wanted to have sex with me, there was probably something shady going on.

Actually that is their problem too! R. Kelly is a national superstar. At 15 if he would have appoached me I'm not so sure what I would have done. I'm not perfect and I even at this age don't always make the right decisions. Think about all the self esteem problems young girls have and then to have someone like him pay you some attention. I think it would be hard to just say no.

I also do not think they are as naive as you believe they are....
That is exactly my point! If you realllly think that some of these young girls are not as scandalous as you think they are you are sadly mistaken. A girl in the 7th grade got caught giving h**d in the stairwell to several boys. It tripped me out. You would think that they would go elsewhere....but that's the problem they don't think! Yes it's easy to say ...he knew better...but can you imagine meeting so many people that you just think to yourself oh that's cool I'll do him tonite because I won't see them again. Poor judgement yes But this our society today. Sex is just sex to some. I am not saying because he is a celeb spank his hand I'm saying that it could happen to the best of us. We are in a sue society. The dollar rules and we don't teach morals and values like we should. We have a responsibility to our community but some simply just don't care.....:( :eek:

R.Kelly knew those girls were underage(Aaliyah included). He wouldn't have been picking up girls at high schools if he didn't.A lot of people also state that the girls could easily be swayed because they are young. The girls were young but weren't innocent.I know kids under the age of 10 that are having sex so I doubt the girls were naive.Both parties were fully aware and Kelly has to pay the consequences.

I REALLY hate to bring this topic back to the top (I mean REALLY), but I just had to ask y'all something. Has anyone heard Kelly's song he just released in response to the charges he's facing? It's entitled "Heaven I Need a Hug" and it's ummmmm ........ a little bizarre to say the least. I tried to see if I could find the lyrics somewhere, but to no avail. Basically he says that:

1. He needs a hug.
2. Women need to quit trying to use him and get their own isht.
3. Everybody in his camp is out to get him. They used to wish him well, now they want to see him fail.
4. Judge lest ye be judged.
5. He's given 13 years of his life to the industry, so how can people now turn against him? :rolleyes:
6. He asks if Jesus loves him, why did he leave his side. (Um, Kelly I think think you're the one who jetted).
7. He's asking for prayers for him and his family. (Ohhhhh, NOW you wanna be a family man?)
8. He's fighting many demons (dreams of being dead), but the devil is a liar.
9. HE NEEDS A HUG!http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/aktion/aktion031.gif

The refrain is: Heaven I need a hug, is there anybody out there willing to embrace a thug?

For some reason, I was just shocked when I heard the song and I'm not really sure why. I guess I just find it a strange response to the allegations against him. What do y'all think? Why this song? Why now?

still trying to make moolah!
 

He needs a therapist.

First, paranoia, THEN who in their RIGHT MIND would say that JESUS left them? Evidently Rev. Dr. Whoever that was on BET has not been doing his J-O-B!

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

OH my word! :o

AKA2D, once again, you stole the words out of my mouth.

He is a sick puppy, and needs help, and new lawyers, and an extra "spiritual advisor".

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bamboozled
[B]I REALLY hate to bring this topic back to the top (I mean REALLY), but I just had to ask y'all something. Has anyone heard Kelly's song he just released in response to the charges he's facing? It's entitled "Heaven I Need a Hug" and it's ummmmm ........ a little bizarre to say the least. I tried to see if I could find the lyrics somewhere, but to no avail. Basically he says that:

He's saying that he needs a hug for Heaven, but Heaven was huggin' him all of those years while he was chilling in the cut continuously doing these sinful acts. God had given him tons of opportunities to get his life together. He just couldn't let that young "thickness" go! Tripped out! I'll always love R. Kelly. He's one of the best R & B producers out there. But he has to suffer the consequences for his actions. Those girls did not look that young though. They knew what they were doing just as much as R. Kelly!

From E! Online Entertainment

Kelly Pleads Case...In Song
Thu Jun 20, 5:20 PM ET
By Josh Grossberg

Two weeks following his humiliating arrest on child-pornography charges in his hometown of Chicago, R. Kelly is taking to song to defend himself.

The R&B singer and his label, Jive Records, have released a new tune titled "Heaven, I Need a Hug" to radio stations around the country in attempt to earn some sympathy for the beleagured artist, whose career many believe may be irreparably damaged by the sex-tape scandal.

The track, which debuted Tuesday night on Chicago radio station WGCI-FM, features Kelly singing about his life as a celebrity and seems to directly address the allegations that he videotaped himself engaging in lewd sex acts with a minor.

"I've given 13 years of my life to this industry/Hit song or not, I've given all of me/You smile in my face and tell me you love me/But then before you know the truth you're so quick to judge me," a plaintive Kelly sings.

"It's all because I'm famous/You know what I'm sayin'/I mean if I wasn't famous/then all this wouldn't be happening."

Kelly faces 21 felony counts of child pornography, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. If convicted, Kelly (whose first name is Robert) would also have to register as a sex offender. Kelly says it's not him in the video.

In his new song, Kelly also appeals to fans not to desert him while his name and reputation is dragged through the mud until they hear his side of the story in a court of law.

"It's just him trying to get people to understand who he is," says Marv Dyson, WGCI's president and general manager. "Lyrically it's one of the best things I ever heard. I've never heard such a response in my life."

The song, which will be included in Kelly's next album (due in the fall), has seemed to caught on with listeners.

"We played the single the first time on Tuesday at 7:30. By 9 p.m. on Tuesday that record was number nine. On Wednesday night it was number one on the 'Top 9 at 9' and that has continued since then," says Dyson, who reports the station only getting one negative call about the song. "It's getting requested up the yin-yang. I suppose the controversy around him has something to do with it."

Dyson says Jive has since sent the record to Clear Channel urban stations around the country.

While some radio stations have shied away from playing Kelly songs in recent weeks, WGCI hasn't, which is the reason it was the first to get the new track. (If fact, when the sex tape surfaced in February, Kelly went on the station to defend himself.) "In my eyes he's innnocent until proven guilty and we will continue to play his music," says Dyson.

At this point, the singer would welcome any support he gets. He has found himself increasingly alienated in the R&B and hip-hop communities, shunned by radio stations, fellow artists and record producers, but he's also turned off many fans disgusted by charges. Sales of his last album, a joint project with Jay-Z titled The Best of Both Worlds, have slackened, and Jay-Z has distanced himself from Kelly.

Dyson, who has a 14-year-old daughter himself, says of Kelly: "He's just an artist. A very troubled young man, I would think, but an incredibly talented person."

Kelly remains free on $750,000 bail and is due back in court next Wednesday.



I tried to find a copy of this song on Kazaa, but alas no luck... it sounds HILARIOUS. It's amazing what public scorn can accomplish in people who are repeat offenders of crimes like this.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/145...headlines=true

Four More Alleged R. Kelly Sex Tapes Found
06.27.2002 3:09 PM EDT


Chicago police are investigating
four newly discovered tapes alleged
to depict R. Kelly involved in sexual
activity.

At his arraignment hearing in
Chicago on Wednesday, Kelly
pleaded not guilty to charges of
child pornography (see "R. Kelly
Pleads Not Guilty To Child
Pornography Charges"), but all 21
counts that he's currently facing
stem from one tape in particular
that allegedly depicts the singer
having sex with a 14-year-old.
(Click for a full explanation of the
charges against R. Kelly.) The newly
discovered tapes were given to
Chicago police by authorities in
Florida after Kelly's indictment.

Originally, Kelly had been arrested in Polk County, Florida — where he
rents a home — earlier this month following his indictment (see "R. Kelly
Arrested On 21 Counts Of Child Pornography"). Within a week of his
arrest, police in neighboring Orange County, Florida, obtained the four
latest tapes. Orange County police won't comment on how they procured
the tapes, since they allegedly involve juveniles and sex crimes.

Polk County police confirm that they have served two search warrants on
Kelly's rented home in the town of Davenport, which is in their
jurisdiction. They would not comment on what they found, if anything, and
said that their investigation is continuing.

Meanwhile, Chicago police said they are looking at the four new tapes to
determine the identities of the people depicted and if any are underage.

Kelly's next scheduled court date is August 7.

I guess he hasn't seen these tapes either. :rolleyes:

Usually actors do not like to see their finished product.

LOL

CTFU. CTFU. CTFU.

R. Kelly Denies Latest Sex-Assault Allegations
1 hour, 35 minutes ago


(2/21/03, 7 a.m. ET) -- Singer R. Kelly has released a statement claiming that the latest sex-assault charges against him are false and an attempt to damage his career. The new allegations were made by a 24-year-old woman who said Kelly abused her on Tuesday (February 18) at a recording studio on Chicago's North Side. Police are currently looking into the matter.



Kelly's statement said that the claims are "nothing more than an outrageous and blatant attempt at character assassination," and added that Kelly did not engage in any improper behavior that day or any other day.


Kelly is currently awaiting trial in Illinois's Cook County on 21 counts of child pornography, with the charges relating to a videotape that allegedly shows the singer engaged in sex acts with a minor. He also faces child-pornography charges pending against him in Florida, stemming from photographs authorities say they found on his digital camera.

-- Wendy Hermanson, Los Angeles

R. Kelly's 'Factory' hits No. 1
By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY

A singer accused of child pornography shoves a former crack dealer out of the No. 1 spot. It's not the FBI's most wanted list. It's the Billboard album chart, where misdeeds and rap sheets seem to have little bearing on an artist's commercial clout. :o

R. Kelly, who faces child-pornography charges in two states, lands atop the chart after Chocolate Factory sold 532,000 copies its first week, only 11,000 fewer than his pre-scandal peak of 543,000 for opening sales of TP-2.Com in late 2000. The Best of Both Worlds, Kelly's collaboration with Jay-Z, sold a comparatively meager 223,000 its first week last March, six weeks after reports tied him to a widely bootlegged sex tape. (Related item: Hear audio.)

Kelly's arrival nudges 50 Cent to second place with 520,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The rapper, an ex-pusher with nine bullet wounds, held the No. 1 post for two weeks with major-label debut Get Rich or Die Tryin', which has sold 2.2 million copies in 18 days.

The Both Worlds dud fed a theory that porn charges had repelled fans. Kelly attacked his accusers in last summer's Heaven, I Need a Hug, which flopped. But the R&B crooner's career was re-ignited by libidinous hit single Ignition. And consumers clearly weren't put off by Factory's carnal themes.

Kelly, who was arrested last June, faces 21 counts of child porn in Chicago. A discovery hearing is scheduled for March 7. He was arrested Jan. 22 in Miami on similar allegations based on 12 images found in a rented home near Orlando after his arrest on the Illinois warrant.

"We don't know what the (opening) number might have been if Kelly hadn't been getting the negative attention," says Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts. "Adverse publicity might have more impact on someone like him than on a rapper. It almost seems to help a rapper to have a notorious background."

Some radio stations initially were hesitant to broadcast Kelly's music after charges were filed, but Ignition is enjoying wide airplay.

A guilty verdict won't necessarily ruin Kelly's standing, Mayfield says, noting that the late Tupac Shakur earned notoriety as the first artist to enter the chart at No. 1 while in jail.

Grammy magnet Norah Jones, at No. 3, should rebound mightily next week, along with such Grammy winners and performers as Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, the Dixie Chicks (No. 4 this week) and Kid Rock (No. 5). The Cradle 2 the Grave soundtrack enters at No. 5 with 98,000, followed by Avril Lavigne, the Chicago and Daredevil soundtracks and Grammy Nominees 2003.