Why did R Kelly have a meltdown in an interview, what’s he accused of and is he in jail?
SINGER R Kelly has been at the centre of sexual misconduct allegations after a bombshell documentary aired in the US.
Here's what you need to know about the accusations and if he's been dropped from his music label.
What are the accusations against R Kelly?
The I believe I can fly singer has faced allegations of sexual misconduct.
He was acquitted in 2008 on charges of making child pornography, despite a videotape of an alleged encounter with a 14 year old girl being shown to prosecutors.
R Kelly has denied recent claims he is "holding young women against their will" in a one-man "sex cult".
Parents reportedly told police that the star, real name Robert Kelly, is keeping six young women at his properties in Atlanta and Chicago, reported .
It’s alleged that they’re only allowed to use mobile phones provided by Kelly, must call him “daddy,” and can only eat, sleep or wash when he lets them.
Kelly also films their sexual encounters, the reports claimed.
One young woman Joycelyn Savage has said she is safe and “in a happy place” after her family claimed she was being held by him at a secret location in Atlanta.
She insisted to TMZ that she was fine but refused to answer if she was free to come and go.
Jerhonda Pace claims she had underage sex with R Kelly at the age of 16 and was "trained" to please him.
She alleges the singer would "physically harm her" and "lock her in a room for days" as punishment.
He was then accused of infecting Faith Rodgers, 19, with an STD on purpose.
She was reportedly in a eight-month relationship with him after meeting him at a concert in San Antonio, Texas, and filed the lawsuit for "wilfully, deliberately and maliciously" infecting her with herpes.
Kelly has firmly denied these allegations.
He said they have left him "heartbroken" and has criticised the media for trying to distort and destroy his legacy with claims that he sexually mistreats women.
In January 2019, the Surviving R Kelly docuseries aired in the US and featured accounts of alleged female victims who waived their right to anonymity to claim they were sexually abused, bullied into threesomes, impregnated, held prisoner and beaten for looking at other men.
In the series, backing singer Jovante Cunningham claims that, like so many of Kelly’s young lovers, she was lured from outside her school to “hang out” at the star’s Chicago music studio where women lay on beds around the property simply waiting for him.
Another backing singer, Lizzette Martinez, met R Kelly when she was 17. After making one of his regular visits to the mall to scout for young girls, she says he took a shine to her.
R Kelly's collaborator Lovell Jones alleged his taste in younger women was "common knowledge in the camp".
He said the singer would ask him to find girls that "looked young" at after-show parties.
What's the latest?
R Kelly has been charged with ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
He then handed himself into police on February 23 and appeared in court later that day.
At the time Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx said Kelly is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing on 10 counts.
She said Kelly faces three to seven years in prison on each count.
Kelly was driven to a Chicago police station in a van with tinted windows before making his way through the gathered media - during which he refused to answer questions.
His lawyer Steven Greenberg said Kelly is "extraordinarily disappointed and depressed" - adding: "He is shell-shocked by this."
R Kelly "really doesn't have any more money", his lawyer claimed.
The Grammy-winning R&B star — who has sold 30million albums — was unable to pay a £77,000 bond after he was held on ten sex abuse charges.
Kelly needed to pay one tenth of the $1million total bail set by a judge in Chicago on Saturday.
Attorney Steve Greenberg argued for a lower figure, claiming his client's "finances are in a mess" after he was dropped by record label Sony in January.
He later suggested others had mismanaged his wealth, although he expects Kelly will be able to come up with the bond money given time.
On March 6, the singer went back to jail over £122,00 in unpaid child support and will not be released until he pays the full amount.
In court in Chicago he was prepared to pay up to £45,560.
What has R Kelly said about the allegations against him?
The 52-year-old singer insisted he is innocent of the allegations that he sexually assaulted four women - including three underage girls.
He furiously dismissed the claims in his first interview after getting charged in February.
An agitated R Kelly banged on his chest as he told interviewer Gayle King: “Stop it, quit playing. I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me. I’m fighting for my f***ing life.”
At one point, it appeared he needed to be physically restrained.
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Has he been dropped from RCA's music label?
While no official comment has been made by either R Kelly or RCA - which is owned by Sony - several reports have been made claiming the music label has cut ties with the singer.
Following the broadcast of the bombshell docuseries, R Kelly no longer features on the list of the label's artists.
Variety, quoting an unidentified source, said Sony Music had decided to "dissolve its working relationship" with Kelly, but that no external announcement would be made.
Billboard reported that the musician and the record company had agreed to part ways, citing unnamed sources.
It said Kelly's catalogue would remain with RCA. His music is still available on digital retailers and streaming services.
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