The Allegations Against R. Kelly: An Abridged History

R. Kelly is no stranger to unsettling allegations.

The R&B superstar born Robert Kelly has ushered in the new year dogged by a slew of damaging headlines — in this case, prompted by TV’s Surviving R. Kelly. But the roots of the broad case laid out by the six-part Lifetime docuseries, filled as it is with claims of abuse and statutory rape, date back about a quarter-century at least.

What follows is an attempt to explain how 25 years of controversy led to this moment. Not every notable date is included in this timeline. In particular, the many lawsuits against Kelly — beginning in the mid-1990s and continuing through the present day — have been left out for the sake of clarity.

Aug. 31, 1994: R. Kelly, then 27 years old, marries Aaliyah, then 15

Dec. 21, 2000: Chicago Sun-Times prints the first allegations of sex with minors

Feb. 8, 2002: Chicago police reveal investigation into alleged child pornography

June 5, 2002: Kelly indicted on 21 counts of child pornography

May 9, 2008: Trial begins in Kelly’s case in Chicago

June 13, 2008: Kelly is acquitted on all counts

July 17, 2017: BuzzFeed publishes stories of women in Kelly’s alleged “sex cult”

July 23, 2018: Kelly releases 19-minute song, “I Admit”

Oct. 4, 2018: Kelly’s ex-wife accuses him of physical abuse

Jan. 3, 2019: Lifetime begins airing Surviving R. Kelly docuseries

Kelly has been the subject of investigations, indictments, lawsuits and disavowals — and through it all, he has asserted that he did not commit any wrongdoing.

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

View the full story