Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Witness testifies that R Kelly performed sex acts on underage Aaliyah

Testimony was part of the case against Kelly who faces multiple sex trafficking charges

Sam Moore
Monday 13 September 2021 18:37 EDT
Comments
R Kelly back in court for hearing

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An R Kelly backing dancer has claimed that she witnessed the singer and Aaliyah in a “sexual situation”.

During Kelly’s trial on sexual abuse charges, the unnamed woman testified that Aaliyah would have been 14 or 15 at the time.

The woman, who was introduced to the court as “Angela”, says she walked in on Kelly and Aaliyah on the former’s tour bus engaging a sex act.

“Angela” is the tenth accuser at the trial which is taking place in New York and says she and another woman were playing a prank when they discovered Kelly.

She said: “Slightly opened the door and saw Robert and Aaliyah in a sexual situation.”

“Angela” continued that she saw Kelly’s head between the underage singer’s legs. She said that she immediately closed the door behind them and never addressed it with the singer.

“Angela” added that she first met Kelly around 1991, when she was between 14 and 15 years old. The singer began to have sex with her while she was underage and a student in high school, she told the court.

She recalled that Kelly often pressured her and several others who worked with him to have sex.

“Angela” also testified that Kelly demanded sex from her after she broke one of the singer’s instructions by leaving the hotel for food.

“Robert told all of us we would have to put out. It was dues time,” she told the court, explaining to jurors that the singer often presented having sex with him as a form of paying their dues.

The testimony came on the 15th day of the trial. So far, five accusers have testified that Kelly had sex with them when they were underage. Kelly has denied all the allegations against him.

R Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building on 26 June 2019 in Chicago, Illinois
R Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building on 26 June 2019 in Chicago, Illinois (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Kelly illegally married Aaliyah in 1994 and “Angela” is the first person to testify that she saw the two in a sexual situation.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in