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Trivia In 2002, Kelly re-entered Sparkle's life when a video that appeared to depict sex between Kelly and a 14-year-old came to the attention of police. She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Trust me.". Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. Apple Music Film, TV & Stage. This encounter disheartened Sparkle and caused her to step back from her career in entertainment. Stephanie Edwards, a singer known as Sparkle, testified at R. Kelly's 2008 trial. "She kept coming down with me," she told the station, "which was [a] safe [situation] at the time. Sparkle testified at trial in 2008 that the man in the video was Mr. Kelly, and that the girl was her 14-year-old niece. With Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee, Dwan Smith. seek information on a wide variety of topics including African-American hair care, health issues, relationship On the stand, the woman, who is now 37 and identified as just Jane Doe, shared details of how she met Kelly and how they had sex hundreds of times, and he made videos of their encounters which sometimes also involved other minor girls. "But there are others that haven't been spoken of that have been possibly paid off. TikTok video from Samke Ndlovu INdlovu (@samkeindlovukaz): "#Aunty and Niece Challenge ". Though she hadn't witnessed anything between Kelly and her niece that could be considered inappropriate, Sparkle said she saw hints of things that she didn't want to acknowledge at the time, "little hints of something, little touches," that in hindsight concerned her. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Last week in court R. Kelly's original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. She said that his acquittal then affected her view of the #MeToo movement a decade later. The singer expressed hurt and called the testimony a result of their "family feud." In addition, Sparkle revealed that her niece attempting to implicate her in the case is an "absolute will of her mom" and an "unfortunate . Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. Sparkle continued, This is another form of the terrible decision-making of her mom and in my opinion, the unfortunate continuing allegiance to Robert.. One of those relatives, singer Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified Thursday that she had introduced the alleged victim to Kelly, and that the girl called him her "Godfather." At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. One of the first witnesses to take the stand this week was Kellys victim that was featured on the original sex tape that leaked. In another video she released, Sparkle claimed that the claim was an absolute f**king lie. She added she had indeed introduced Kelly to the victim and her mother and father, but it was not her intention for her to become involved with the singer. ", Sparkle said that she regrets not being a better protector of her niece. Sparkle was Kelly's protge in the 90's. The singer agreed to testify in the 2008 trial and identified Kelly as the man in the video and her niece as the girl. Twitter Debates 16-Year Age Gap Between Jaylen Brown & Mouthwatering Meemaw Bernice Burgos, Barbie Gyal Nicki Minaj Returns From Hiatus And Sets Di Road Ablaze At Trinidad Carnival 2023, Rain Pon Meeee: Ashanti Reminds Everyone How Feathered And FINE She Was At Trinidad Carnival 2019, Chaka Khan Shows No Mercy Blasting Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey & Other Names On Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singers' List, Funniest (And Pettiest) Tweets From NBA All-Star Weekend 2023. Experience Celebrating The Life Of De La Souls Trugoy The Dove, Tennessee GOP Representative Sorry After Suggesting Hanging By Tree For Executions, C-Murder Reveals Hunger Strike, Claims Health Has Significantly Declined Due To Prison Conditions, TikTok Celebrates Visionary Voices In Black Creatives For Black History Month, R. Kellys Sisters Believe His 30-Year Sentence Is Rooted In Racism. Sparkle has responded in a video (see below) to her nieces testimony: Absolutely NOT!! She's being exposed to the world. The singer's niece, who's allegedly the 14-year-old girl on the infamous 2008 sex tape, recently claimed Sparkle encouraged her to ask Kelly to be her godfather by enticing him. . At the time, the niece had denied it was her, although she changed her testimony on the stand on Thursday to confirm that it was her in the video. "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. One of the disgraced singer's former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. If convicted, he'd have to register as a sex offender. In one of his few public comments on the issue, Kelly told Chicago radio station WGCI-FM in Chicago on April 4 that he couldn't comment on much of the scandal, per his attorney's advice. A new development in the case has resulted from the Sparkles nieces recent admission of the truth. Sparkle also heard the news of her niece's testimony and took to Instagram to discuss the allegations. ), "I watched a few seconds of it, and I refused to watch the rest," Adra Gengler testified. Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? Though his attorney argued that he was not a flight risk and had appeared at all of his court appointments on time, a judge denied bond calling the case extraordinarily serious.. The alleged victim on the tape is also the niece of the singer Sparkle, whom Kelly mentored as an artist early in her career. But I didnt know that a bomb was coming.. As news of Janes testimony went public, Sparkle took to social media to refute the claims. Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle, is an American R&B singer. Sparkle Live Music (@sparklelivemusic) Instagram photos and videos sparklelivemusic 731 posts 1,870 followers 467 following Sparkle Live Music Musician/band We play your dream music soundtrack Put a Sparkle in your big day. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Sparkle first started singing in her fa Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle is an American RB singer. Sparkle first introduced her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly in 1997 a decision that still haunts her to this day. His Masters Are Missing: New R. Kelly Music, I Admit, Unauthorized, Pulled from Streaming Services, The Man is In Prison: Tevin Campbell Receives Backlash After Stating R. Kelly Could Go Against Usher In a Verzuz Battle. "But until our investigation is . Kellys defense team had argued that the girl and Kelly could not be identified in the tape, and some jurors said the girls refusal to testify made it difficult to convict him. CHICAGO -- "Sweetie, I'm not trying to get any money for this!". Activity. Kelly is now facing state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. She went on to claim that Sparkle was the one who introduced her to Kelly, saying her auntencouraged her to rub Kellys headand sit on his lap. The victims aunt is a singer named Sparkle, who agreed to testify in the 2008 trial and identified Kelly as the man in the video and her niece as the girl. Her family eventually began to allow her to visit with Kelly without an adult present. Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). The federal charges are separate from the 10 counts of sexual abuse Kelly received in February in Chicago and different from the other 11- sexual misconduct counts he was slapped with in May in that same city. Sparkle has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by. I'm happy to see the #MeToo movement and Time's Up movement are backing these women. PredIQtion Markets. Sparkle, the girl in the picture and a few others confirmed it was said niece, but the rest of the nieces family said it was . Chicago police have not charged Kelly, and will only say that their investigation is continuing. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! This ongoing R. Kelly trial has caused one of the disgraced singer's former artists to come forward to defend herself. Sparkle: Directed by Sam O'Steen. "She's doing exactly what he told her to do. Latest dancehall and hip hop news and music at your fingertips. But now people are seeing.". Sparkle, who had a hit with Kelly in 1998 called "Be Careful," told radio DJ Adimu of the Beat (KKBT) on April 3 that her niece was a fledging rapper whom she introduced to Kelly. The long-running criminal case of R. Kelly consistently takes strange turns that leaves fans perplexed and for which the case becomes more complicated. In her traumatic account, she recalled her aunt introducing her to Kelly and encouraging her to build a close relationship with the now-disgraced singer. On Tuesday, after Kelly pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, a Chicago judge ordered him to remain behind bars without bond, where hes being kept away from general population for safety reasons. Sparkle thinks that allegiance to Robert still exists. Here's Where to Find the Best Corned Beef in Cleveland! - YouTube 0:00 / 25:48 Intro EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea Kelly. Kelly got emotional during the sit-down and alleged that he is "fighting for his . While a lot of people thinking that Sparkle was the one who introduced her niece to R Kelly and left her there, she explains that there were many other family members more involved than she was. The "Better Be Careful" singer was one of the first people to go public about . ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. Absolutely NOT! I cant help he lies told on me & under oath at the.. & cause ya Momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify.. [shrug emoji]. put a few things in context,. The victim in the video did notcooperate with prosecutors in the original case, but finally agreed to workwith the government after Kelly was arrested in 2019. Among things hes already been convicted of, prosecutors accuse him of abusing young girls for decades and filming their encounters. In 2002, the singer Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, claimed her niece was the underage girl in an infamous sex video featuring R. Kelly. We were still cool." According to reports, Sparkle was allegedly suggested by the niece. Its not clear to what extent shes working with investigators, but her attorney, Christopher L. Brown, confirmed that she is indeed cooperating. I Never, Ever Left My Niece Alone In The Studio: Sparkle Shares What Was Left Out Of "Surviving R. Kelly" Posted on January 16, 2019 - By Veronica Wells MadameNoire Featured Video It's messed up. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. She also spoke out in September 2021 after the singerwas convictedof nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. Sparkle explained that this is a result of a "family feud," which has led to her being a target of lies from her niece, who Sparkle feels lied about her on the stand out of loyalty to her mother. The woman who previously testified against Kelly in 2008 and was the one who brought the sex tapes to the victims parents knowledge says that she had the greatest of intentions when she spoke up against Kelly, but her life was made hell by the victims mother. An R&B singer who was once Kelly's protg, Sparkle testified for more than an hour and a half Thursday afternoon during Kelly's child-pornography trial, describing how she introduced her niece to Kelly, how she later came to discover that the sex tape existed, and how that drove her family apart. advice and career trends - and MadameNoire provides all of that. It's so very sad.". Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. BridgetEE: A Music and Entertainment blogger/ Historian / Global Grind Freelance Writer Her family also wouldnt be a witness for prosecutors, but things are different now. However, her sister Valerie didn't want to do anything about the tape, and the family became divided. The decades-long crusade cost the 46-year-old her closest relationships and stifled her own music career. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said. It's sickening. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. The singer used social media to "put a few things in context.". No," she said. Genson suggested that Sparkle next tried to conspire with former Kelly manager Barry Hankerson "about doing something bad to Robert. [article id="1587950"]The mother of another friend of the alleged girl on the tape[/article] cried when she talked about seeing the tape for the first time and recognizing her daughter's friend, saying she was "100 percent certain" it was her by her face, her hairstyle and her voice. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. I believe that [the police] have a lot that they are actually going to bring to light.". "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. #SomeoneWhoLovesMusicWayTooMuch The now 37-year-old woman who is identified only as "Jane," told jurors that she was first introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt Sparkle in the mid-1990s when she was 13 years old. The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly. For full coverage of R. Kelly, see "The R. Kelly Reports.". According to the niece that is identified as Jane Doe, her aunt said,That I should rub his head and ask him to take that role in my life. as the young teens Godfather. She said this took place during a time when other members of her family also had a working relationship with the singer (Sparkle's brother-in-law, for instance, played guitar for Kelly, she said). Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. "I had a nasty taste in my mouth after seeing what I saw, and after many people, you know, didn't want me to speak out," Edwards told ET. But in 2001, when she actually witnessed the tape herself, she didn't hesitate to call. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. 1 on iTunes. 2 on the R&B charts and was certified gold soon after . The woman disclosed that her aunt and her parents knew about her being around Kelly. Three sisters form a singing group in 1950s Harlem, but success threatens to ruin their relationship forever. Mar. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly . In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 'You just know your family. At times sniffling and dabbing her eyes and her nose with a tissue, Sparkle appeared to be on the verge of tears but remained composed, although she also became defiant when Genson had his turn and accused the R&B singer of trying to take revenge against Kelly for terminating her record-label contract. The girl's mother -- Sparkle's sister -- didn't want to see the tape and didn't want to talk about it, she said. In the 1960s, three sisters form a girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart. Sparkle did cooperate at the time and testified against Kelly at trial, a step that reportedly led to her estrangement from her family for years. Genson accused Sparkle of being bitter and characterized the end of her working relationship with Kelly as a firing. The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. Sparkle, the aunt of an R Kelly victim, is claiming her niece is lying on the stand as she testifies about her experience with the singer as a 14-year-old. Singer Sparkle, who formerly recorded with Kelly, says Landfair is her niece. Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. Celebrate (From "Sparkle") Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks. (Genson tripped her up on cross, when she said she was never in possession of the tape, even though her brother and his ex-wife had testified that she was.) Earlier this week, Kelly who wore ankle shackles along with his orange jumpsuit, pled not guilty to the charges. Sparkle first started singing in her family's gospel music group. "She's like a robot." Still, she admitted, she hadn't had the same level of success on her sophomore album with Motown as she did with her Kelly-produced debut, and she hadn't received any royalties from Kelly. Surviving R.Kelly: The Final Chapter Sheds Light On Singers Alleged Feces Force-Feeding Ritual And Intimate Footage Of Aaliyah, Jailhouse Drop: Streaming Platforms Remove R. Kelly I Admit It Album, Singer Calls The Pied Piper Prison Production A Bootleg, More Punishment Pending: Pied Piper R. Kelly Found Guilty On Six Counts In Federal Child Pornography Trial, testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? Im beyond pleased to finally hear the mountain Ive tirelessly worked on moving over the years is now being assisted with the help of my niece and her parents, she told The New York Times on Tuesday. Fast forwarding to now, R Kelly pretty much got a life sentence plus he still has more charges to face. Jurors and observers heard the gory details from the 14-year-old, who disclosed that the singer began grooming the 14-year-old victim and began having sex with her at just 15 years old when Kelly was around 30 years old. Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes. The woman who is known as an early protg of Kelly in the 1990s and goes by the stage name Sparkle had previously testified in Kellys 2008 trial and the Surviving R. Kelly documentary as she had identified her niece as the girl in a porn video that circulated in Chicago. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 5 Infamous Murder Cases Involving Athletes, Deadly Day for Rappers XXXTentacion and Wopo. Find a review of [article id="1587729"]the major players in the R. Kelly trial here[/article]. All Rights Reserved, Follow Us on Snapchat for All Our Breaking News, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, Offset and Quavo Spotted Sitting Apart at NBA Game Following Alleged GRAMMY Argument, Drake Wagers Half a Million Dollars on Jon Jones Victory at UFC 285, Soulja Boy Performs In Front Of Seemingly Low-Energy Crowd At Rolling Loud. "I know my family. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. I cant help the lies told on me & under oath at all & cause ya momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Those who have been following the scandal were shocked to hear Sparkles testimony because she has long advocated for R. Kellys imprisonment for what he is accused of doing to her niece. In a contentious court battle, Edwards testified against Kelly in 2008, according to ET Online. Sparkle did try and make up for her mistake, and I don't believe her niece in saying rub his head, I believe the niece is permanently damaged by Robert and her parents and her parents told her to say that to take the blame off of them. "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]." Sparkle said that she regrets not being a better protector of her niece. NBA Bans Donald Sterling For Life after Racist Comments. She. Trust me. Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei) Instagram photos and videos isparklei Follow 180 posts 27.5K followers 395 following Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) Musician Obstacle Course EP - 7/13 Response To The Verdict @thecut Life Feat. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said during the emotional trial, according to MTV. Lets continue to pray for healing in this family. That I should rub his head and ask him to take that role in my life., Sparkle denied any wrongdoing when a social media user questioned her about being the aunt who was mentioned during the testimony. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girls family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. She was my heart.". Sparkles niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. black entertainment news, parenting tips and beauty secrets that are specifically for black women. When I learned that, I would go out of my way to speak to people just to tick him off. Im not that girl. She shared that she feels these are lies organized by her sister as a method of sabotage. According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts and money before and after the trial so she would lie to investigators, avoid questioning, and so she would not testify against him. Sparkle did, however, testify against Kelly when he was on trial for child porn that featured her niece. Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Sparkle corrected him and said she had asked to be released from her contract so she could work with other people, such as Steve Huff, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.