Sparkle said in disgust. Sparkle has responded in a video (see below) to her nieces testimony: Absolutely NOT!! 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 did, however, testify against Kelly when he was on trial for child porn that featured her niece. EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea Kelly & Lisa VA Have S E X Tape! We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. All Rights Reserved. Sparkle testified against Kelly in 2008 but, as we all know, he was found not guilty. It's very upsetting. When she watched the recording, she said, she recognized her niece, "You know your blood," Sparkle said. he asked. 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. They would pretty much drop me off and then leave, she said about her parents and the introduction by her aunt. ", Sparkle said that she regrets not being a better protector of her niece. She pointed out that during this time period, she ran into Kelly at a family bowling event, and he gave her his number and invited her to come down to the studio, to illustrate that there was no bad blood between them, however much Genson tried to imply it. 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. 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. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. Singer Sparkle, who formerly recorded with Kelly, says Landfair is her niece. Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle, is an American R&B singer. Its not clear to what extent shes working with investigators, but her attorney, Christopher L. Brown, confirmed that she is indeed cooperating. She previously told the Cut that, when Kelly was producing her first album in the late '90s, she thought the singer could also help her niece, an aspiring rapper, launch a career. Creator of Bridget EEs Bloghouse, a A Place Where Real Music Is Previewed and Reviewed. R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. The woman disclosed that her aunt and her parents knew about her being around Kelly. I cant help the lies told on me & under oath at all & cause ya momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify, she said. The young girl who was recorded in the infamous and wide-spread tape of R. Kelly engaging in sexual acts is going back on years of precedence and cooperating with investigators in the child pornography case against the R&B singer. Sparkle first introduced her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly in 1997 a decision that still haunts her to this day. 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. "You have no idea whether this was put together by someone trying to get money from Robert, do you?" Bossip Video 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. [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. But after the meeting, "There was one side and another side," she said. Please say its not you, the user said. Sparkle added that her niece, sister and brother-in-law all reported that nothing was going on, however. Sparkle, who is reportedly the aunt of the 14-year-old who testified that she was introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt, who encouraged her to ask the singer to be his god-daughter and entice him by rubbing his head and sitting on his lap, is disputing the claim. 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. I've been blackmailed for the last four years, and I didn't give in, and I'm still not gonna give in. 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. With Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps. Meanwhile, Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, has come out in her own defence and claims that her niece has lied on the stand as she did not push her to be involved with Kelly. Earlier this week, Kelly who wore ankle shackles along with his orange jumpsuit, pled not guilty to the charges. 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. Blog. She says her. Sparkle also heard the news of her niece's testimony and took to Instagram to discuss the allegations. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. Singer Sparkle found herself in the middle of R. Kellys federal child pornography trial. While the survivors have now found justice, Sparkle said she still feels guilty for introducing her niece to Kelly in 1997. The prosecution has not responded to the claim. Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! No -- it was part of a shouting match during a contentious cross-examination between R. Kelly's defense attorney Ed Genson and the prosecution's star witness, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. Sparkle Addresses Niece's Testimony Against R. Kelly The singer used social media to "put a few things in context." By DeMicia Inman August 22, 2022 4:12pm Singer R. Kelly leaves the. Sparkle said that she had discussions with Hankerson, who was also Aaliyah's uncle, about signing to his Blackground record label about two weeks before Aaliyah's death in 2001, but that discussions fell apart. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. SEPTEMBER 17: Singer R. Kelly appears standing beside his attorney, Steven Greenberg during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. His response thus far has been that the tapes are fabricated and that he's been blackmailed. 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].. But I didnt know that a bomb was coming.. Genson suggested that Sparkle next tried to conspire with former Kelly manager Barry Hankerson "about doing something bad to Robert. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. About. (Several other people have also identified the girl and Kelly on the tape during testimony. Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building following a hearing on June 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. But things have changed since 2008. 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. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. Whats your take on it? Activity. 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 . 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. Advancing the culture and building bridges. ET. Kelly got emotional during the sit-down and alleged that he is "fighting for his . Sparkle stated that her niece was "doing the will of her mom," who she says has allegiance to R. Kelly. Those suspicions were heightened after a now-infamous video, which shows Kelly intimately engaging. The decades-long crusade cost the 46-year-old her closest relationships and stifled her own music career. The girl I knew was always bubbly, but she seems like a robot in that video. Find a review of [article id="1587729"]the major players in the R. Kelly trial here[/article]. Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! because you deserve it! Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! You cant stifle me. 6 2019, Updated 5:51 a.m. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. One of the disgraced singers former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. For full coverage of the ongoing R. Kelly case, see The R. Kelly Trial Reports. One of the disgraced singer's former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. 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. We were very cordial.". 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. 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. Though Kelly has talked to local Chicago media about the scandal, he hasn't addressed a lot of the questions people have about the tapes. Best known by her stage name, Sparkle rose to prominence as a member of R. Kelly's Rockland Records and was the first artist to release a single on the label. Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. I went at it alone. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. . Who wouldn't be [disgusted]? 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). We later found out that the alleged little girl was the niece of R&B singer Sparkle best know for her smash hit slow cut Be Careful with R. Kelly himself. 3 min read Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as "Jane" in R.. The woman claimed that Kelly agreed to serve as her godfather and that her parents had given their blessing. Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. 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. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. "I wanted this to go away. ), "I watched a few seconds of it, and I refused to watch the rest," Adra Gengler testified. 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. She was my heart.". It's so very sad.". Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Home. Her testimony sliced her family into factions, relegating her to years of . But let me chill. Several witnesses identified the singer and the girl to authorities afterward, but Kelly was still acquitted of 14 child pornography charges on June 13, 2008. It's very upsetting to my family. There's no denying it. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Please say its not you., Sparkle replied, Absolutely NOT! Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. If you are in your 40's you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). "It's hurtful to my sister, to my brother-in-law and to my niece, especially, because it's all her. She added that there is a family feud, and the victims testimony is a clear plan to try to take her down.. The partnership between the two dissipated over creative differences, leading her to amicably ask for release from the label, according to MTV. 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. While the witness is addressed in court as Jane, her story included identifying details, including that she is Sparkles niece. In the recent federal indictment, he was accused of paying off the girl and her family so they would lie for him and not cooperate with investigators. No," she said. In "Surviving R. Kelly," Edwards discusses Kelly's behavior toward her while they worked together. If you are in your 40s you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Sparkle was horrified when she discovered that it was her niece at the center of Kelly's 2002 child pornography indictment. Sparkle thinks that allegiance to Robert still exists. Flavor Of Love Reality Star Deelishis' Niece Reportedly Killed in Mass Shooting; Baddies West Season 3 Fights: Stunna Girl vs. Everybody; 50 Cent Inks Non-Exclusive Broadcast Deal With Fox; Cardi B & Offset Meal Launches at McDonald's on Valentine's Day; Leilani Capalot - T Shirt Music Video & BTS | Video Zone The singer, real name Stephanie Edwards, alleges that the girl on this videotape was her 14-year-old niece, whom she had introduced to Kelly along with other members of her family, including her . 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. The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and first met Kelly in 1989. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. "She shared how she didn't see me as a survivor but she wanted to celebrate me for being the first one to stand up and bring to light what was going [on].". Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? ", "No," she said. 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 Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. According to reports, Sparkle was allegedly suggested by the niece. Among things hes already been convicted of, prosecutors accuse him of abusing young girls for decades and filming their encounters. She writes for Thirsty for News, covering world news and entertainment. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. 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. R Kellys Sister Says Hes The Victim of Lies & Racism, C-Murder On A Hunger Strike Protesting Prison Conditions, Meet Kym Sellers Family First Storm Shyanne Sellers [VIDEO], Maryland Mayor Arrested On 56 Counts Of Child Pornography. Celebrate (From "Sparkle") Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks. BridgetEE: A Music and Entertainment blogger/ Historian / Global Grind Freelance Writer 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Sparkle's niece who was 14 years old was alleged to be the young girl in the video tape that went viral on the streets before going viral was such a thing. According to The New York Times, the girl in the video is now working with investigators after the disgraced singer was arrested last week on a slew of federal charges, including sex trafficking, child pornography and obstruction of justice. Sparkle went on to sign with Motown Records and released a second album, titled "Told You So," in 2000. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), singer began grooming the 14-year-old victim and began having sex with her at just 15 years, Prosecutors are pushing for another conviction, R. Kelly being sentenced to 30 years in prison, R. Kelly and Joycelyn Savages Father Denies She Gave Birth To His Baby, R. Kellys Unauthorized Album I Did It Removed From Streaming Services, DJ Envy, Lil Mama, Erica Mena Calls Out Angela Yee Over Breakfast Club Claims, Nicki Minaj Launches Own Record Label, Skeng Among First Signees, Popcaan and Squash 6ixx Boss Clash On IG Igniting Beef, Nicki Minaj New Song Red Ruby Da Sleeze Debut At No. He rose to fame after singing as an eight-year-old in church before winning a $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated US television talent show, "Big Break," hosted by Natalie Cole. We later found out that the alleged little girl was the niece of R&B singer Sparkle best know for her smash hit slow cut 'Be Careful' with R. Kelly himself. So I feel a responsibility for that also, although I'm not responsible for his actions, I feel responsible for even taking her there. 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. Sparkle, however, disputed the witness account after a social media user questioned her about it. "Surviving R.Kelly," a Lifetime docu-series that's airing in six parts on three nights about musician R. Kelly, has reinvigorated the public's interest in the long list of accusations made against the controversial singer. Genson accused Sparkle of being bitter and characterized the end of her working relationship with Kelly as a firing. Genson pointed out that the girl is seen receiving money on the tape. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. She says "There have been too many girls to count. Three sisters form a singing group in 1950s Harlem, but success threatens to ruin their relationship forever. Singer Sparkle testified back then that it was her niece on the video but her niece nor anyone else in the family would corroborate her identity on the video tape. But now people are seeing.". Following the allegations made in court, Sparkle took to social media to issue a video statement denying the claims. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. Sparkle is claiming that the victims mother was also upset at her, and the victims testimony was aimed at getting back at her for going against Kelly. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. "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. "It's crazy and torn up, in every way imaginable," she said. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. Absolutely NOT! Yesterday, R. Kelly sat down with Gayle King for his first interview since new allegations of sexual abuse against the singer have been revealed, most due in part to Lifetime's docu-series, Surviving R. Kelly. An exchange between two ex-lovers? I was ashamed.. Before Fame. 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. That's it.". 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. We talked about business. She also attested to having sexual encounters with the singer hundreds of times since the age of 14. In 2001, the singer Sparkle (seen above in the 2019 Lifetime series Surviving R Kelly), whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, went public with allegations that R Kelly sexually assaulted her niece . The woman, who is now in her 30s and had been identified by singer Sparkle as her niece, had refused to testify against R. Kelly in his 2008 trial, which resulted in his acquittal. His whole M.O., he stated this to me not long ago, is he likes them when they are ripe and young because he can mold them into what he wants them to be and control their minds and make them do what women 'should' do. 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. The Times. Kids edition - Orlando And Sparkle. Sparkle has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. This encounter disheartened Sparkle and caused her to step back from her career in entertainment. Whitten Sabbatini for . @lifetimetv SRK For Girls/Women linktr.ee/isparklei Posts Reels Videos Tagged Mar. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. There are a lot of people who are very jealous of me right now and they're trying to destroy me.". 5 Infamous Murder Cases Involving Athletes, Deadly Day for Rappers XXXTentacion and Wopo. Sparkle niece is still with R kelly - YouTube Sparkle niece is still with R kelly Capricorn Queen 1.74K subscribers Subscribe 424 Share 169K views 4 years ago #SurvivingRkelly.