Congressional Black Caucus wives apparently don't see anything wrong with a little "Bump n' Grind."
A minor controversy broke out Friday when some members of the Congressional Black Caucus objected to legally challenged R&B singer R. Kelly as the entertainment for a Washington, D.C., fundraiser.
CBC spouses are responsible for tapping the talent for the annual fundraising event.
The beleaguered Kelly, free on bond since being hit with 21 counts of child pornography-related offenses in 2002, is still awaiting trial in his hometown of Chicago. Seven of the initial 21 charges against the "Ignition" singer have been dismissed, and he has vehemently denied the allegations, but he's hardly regarded as a model citizen for his sex-tape antics.
"I would not have invited R. Kelly," Congressman William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat and CBC Foundation chairman, told the Associated Press Friday. Other CBC members "worry that it will overshadow the event," he said.
But not everyone saw Kelly's presence at the fundraiser as such a big deal.
"We're sorry William Jefferson feels that way," Allan Mayer, a Kelly spokesman, told E! Online Friday. "But the fact is, in this country, people are innocent until proven guilty."
For his part, Kelly said he was simply "privileged and honored to be invited to help such a distinguished group raise money for such a worthy cause." The charity event helped raise money for young urban professionals seeking scholarships to further their education. "I can't think of anything more important to support than education," said Kelly in a Jive Records press release Thursday.
Despite the criticism over his appearance, the singer performed for a crowd of around 2,000 Friday night at the Washington Convention Center.
Kelly's legal woes over the last few years certainly haven't hurt his record sales. The Grammy-winning singer's last two releases, The Chocolate Factory and the just released Happy People/U Saved Me, peaked at number one and two, respectively, on the Billboard 200. Kelly has sold more than 30 million records worldwide since his first release, Born in the 1990s, in 1992.
Next up for Kelly is one of the most anticipated tours of the fall--his Best of Both Worlds tour with hip-hop heavy Jay-Z. Kelly had to ask a judge for permission to go on the road with Jay-Z, and was cleared to do so earlier this summer. Kelly and Jay-Z will hit 40 cities on the tour, which bows in Chicago Sept. 29.
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