What We Know About R. Kelly Being On Suicide Watch
Very few stars have fallen from grace harder than R. Kelly. Throughout his career, Kelly has been subject to numerous sexual abuse allegations amidst a plethora of other egregious behaviors surrounding women. In 1994, Kelly married late R&B singer and then-15-year-old Aaliyah, raising a number of red flags and serving as a premonition for his future to come.
The marriage was annulled in 1995, but the buck didn't stop there. Kelly continued his abusive ways thereafter, allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old just two days after that marriage, according to The Daily Beast. In the years that followed, more sexual assault cases built up, and in 2002, Kelly was even charged with producing child pornography with an underaged female. He was ultimately acquitted in 2008.
In September, after decades of grooming and illegal sexual relations with minors, Kelly was found guilty in New York on a number of charges (via NPR), including racketeering, bribery, sex trafficking, and sexual exploitation of a child. Following his conviction, Kelly was placed on suicide watch.
Being placed on suicide watch is more common than you may think
After decades of ducking and dodging the justice system, R. Kelly was finally caught and convicted for his actions. Rising to popularity in the 1990s with hits such as "Bump n' Grind" and "I Believe I Can Fly," Kelly's status as a sex offender was public knowledge, though it was often swept under the rug in lieu of his celebrity status.
From marrying an underage Aaliyah to allegedly producing a child pornography tape (which he was acquitted of in 2008), Kelly's sexually devious and horrendous ways were arguably well-known to the public. However, in September, he was convicted for his actions and was ultimately placed on suicide watch. Attorney Steve Greenberg spoke to a federal judge, per The Chicago Tribune, and noted that while placing recently convicted prisoners on suicide watch is commonplace, Kelly did not actually have any intentions of self-harm. "Greenberg did not say that Kelly had expressed any actual desire to harm himself," the outlet wrote.
The outlet further noted that Kelly faces up to 10 years to life in prison come May 4, his day of sentencing in New York. He also has a pending case in Chicago that, if it goes to trial, will focus on the production of sex tapes including minors — one of which involved his then-14-year-old goddaughter — and the payments to silence another's victim's family.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).