R. Kelly's Old Hits Set To Pull Him Out Of $500K Restitution Bill
By Afouda Bamidele on August 24, 2023 at 5:15 PM EDT
R. Kelly's sexual abuse victims are set to receive compensation from the disgraced singer.
A United States judge in Brooklyn, New York, has ruled that royalties exceeding $500,000 owned by the "Trapped in the Closet" hitmaker and held by Universal Music Group [UMG] must be given to his victims to fulfill unpaid restitution and fines.
The ruling comes months after Kelly was convicted of multiple charges of sex trafficking, child pornography, and sexual exploitation of a minor. He was moved to a federal prison in North Carolina to begin his 20-year sentence.
R. Kelly Has More Than Enough Money To Settle With His VictimsÂ
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly issued an order on Wednesday, August 23, instructing Universal Music Group to release the funds. This decision follows a directive from Donnelly that required Kelly to use nearly $28,000 from his prison inmate account to pay off outstanding fines.
According to docs obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, the convicted sexual offender's remaining restitution balance is $506,950.26. Interestingly, UMG currently holds $567,444.19 in royalties, which conveniently exceeds the amount required to clear the debt.
In case you missed it, the singer was sentenced to 19 years in addition to time already served for the crimes he committed against four individuals, three of whom were underage. Prosecutors had recommended an additional 25 years on top of his existing sentence.
In this case, Kelly faced child pornography charges due to his involvement with minors. He was found guilty on six out of 13 child porn charges while being acquitted on conspiracy and enticement charges.
The U.S. Attorney leading the case, Jon Lausch, mentioned during the sentencing that the King of R&B's time in prison could range from 10 to 90 years, making the current 20-year sentence seem comparatively lenient.
It is also worth noting that he faced a conviction of 30 years in prison in New York City in June 2022. He was charged with nine federal counts, encompassing sex crimes and human trafficking.
During the month-long trial, Kelly's legal team presented current and former employees as witnesses to vouch for his character and assert that they had never witnessed him engaging in abusive behavior.
The witnesses, including managers, bodyguards, and assistants, aimed to positively portray the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer. As cited by The Blast in February, one of his victims had taken the stand during this trial and expressed:
"I have lost my dignity due to Robert Kelly. I have lost my dreams due to Robert Kelly. I have lost my teenage years to Robert Kelly."
She also described the "You Are Not Alone" songwriter as "abusive and dominating," adding that she believed her stigma in life "is forever be the girl that R Kelly peed on."
The 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me' Author Received Support
Amid the legal storm trailing Kelly's music legacy, his buddy and fellow music heavyweight, Timbaland, spoke up in his defense. Per a report from The Blast in May, the record producer, whose real name is Timothy Zachery Mosley, expressed his opinion that R. Kelly's music should not be tied to his legal issues, claiming that he remained unmatched in his genre.
The "If We Ever Meet Again" hitmaker referred to his pal as the king of R&B and highlighted his stature in the industry. The enlightening perspective, which came during a conversation on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast with Shannon Sharpe, saw Timbaland sharing:
"Everybody jump when you say R. Kelly. I'm like, so we just gonna ignore the music that he gave us, that we all jam to?"
Maintaining his stance on the matter, the accomplished producer stressed that listeners should recognize how good music can rise above the personal challenges of its creator. To that, he stated:
"No, we can't do that. His art is his art; I ain't going to bash the man's art. Don't mix music up with personal…. don't bring drama into music. Leave that outside."
While Timbaland has unashamedly supported Kelly, other prominent entertainment figures, including Jada Pinkett Smith and Neyo,, openly disapproved of his actions. They even advocated for the "I Wish" performer's music to be removed from streaming platforms, following the #MuteKelly Campaign on Instagram in 2019, which gained traction after the release of the Lifetime docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly."
