A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). Sparkle explains that she testified against Kelly in court, although he allegedly tried to bribe her. 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. One of those relatives, singer Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified Thursday that she had introduced the alleged victim to Kelly, and that the girl called him her "Godfather." [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. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldn't be more thrilled about it. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. 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). 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. She added that there is a family feud, and the victims testimony is a clear plan to try to take her down.. Photo Credit: Gary Miller for Getty Images). 8771 1829 linktr.ee/sparklelivemusic Posts Reels Tagged Show More Posts from sparklelivemusic Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Now that her niece has finished testifying, Sparkle is speaking out again - and what she's saying is EXPLOSIVE. READ: Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors. 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].. Blog. As news of Janes testimony went public, Sparkle took to social media to refute the claims. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places. 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. Apple Music Film, TV & Stage. It's very upsetting. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. Its not clear to what extent shes working with investigators, but her attorney, Christopher L. Brown, confirmed that she is indeed cooperating. Sparkle Live Music (@sparklelivemusic) Instagram photos and videos sparklelivemusic 731 posts 1,870 followers 467 following Sparkle Live Music Musician/band We play your dream music soundtrack Put a Sparkle in your big day. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. Those suspicions were heightened after a now-infamous video, which shows Kelly intimately engaging. Following the allegations made in court, Sparkle took to social media to issue a video statement denying the claims. On Friday, Sparkle took to social media to denounce some of the claims made by her niece on the stand. "Of course not. Latest dancehall and hip hop news and music at your fingertips. 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. No," she said. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. He did say, however, that not all the evidence had been revealed (see [article id="1453299"]"R. Kelly Settles Civil Suit, Defends Himself On Radio"[/article]). Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly. The victim in the video did notcooperate with prosecutors in the original case, but finally agreed to workwith the government after Kelly was arrested in 2019. Please say its not you, the user said. "Never. Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly . In court, Sparkles now-37-year-old victim niece told the court R Kelly starting having sex with her when she was only 14, claiming they had sex hundreds of times before she turned 18. Robert didnt allow pretty much anyone to speak to me, Edwards alleges in the new show. he asked. 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. 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. She would go on to release a successful self-titled album in 1998, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. Mar. 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. For the past 20 years, Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, has been trying to convince the world that Kelly sexually abused her teenage niece. The girl I knew was always bubbly, but she seems like a robot in that video. The co-defendants in the case are Derrel McDavid, a former business manager who faces child pornography and obstruction charges, and Milton June Brown, Kellys former assistant, who faces one count of conspiracy to receive child pornography. 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 . Though his attorney argued that he was not a flight risk and had appeared at all of his court appointments on time, a judge denied bond calling the case extraordinarily serious.. 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. 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. Offset Changes Instagram Avatar to Takeoff Photo After His Death. The federal charges are separate from the 10 counts of sexual abuse Kelly received in February in Chicago and different from the other 11- sexual misconduct counts he was slapped with in May in that same city. Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. 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. A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You cant stifle me. Surviving R.Kelly: The Final Chapter Sheds Light On Singers Alleged Feces Force-Feeding Ritual And Intimate Footage Of Aaliyah, Jailhouse Drop: Streaming Platforms Remove R. Kelly I Admit It Album, Singer Calls The Pied Piper Prison Production A Bootleg, More Punishment Pending: Pied Piper R. Kelly Found Guilty On Six Counts In Federal Child Pornography Trial, testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? 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. Last week, Kellywas arrested for an additional 13 counts of federal sex trafficking and child pornography charges. Last week in court R. Kellys original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. Sparkles niece ended up in court before the side settle, and Sparkle who said she rode for her niece, fell out with Robert Kelly, however her family turned their back on her in the fallout out of everything. When I learned that, I would go out of my way to speak to people just to tick him off. Like she said on "Surviving R. Kelly," Sparkle reiterated that she was naive at the . She also attested to having sexual encounters with the singer hundreds of times since the age of 14. 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. People in Kelly's circle interviewed in "Surviving R. Kelly" claim to have seen the woman on the singer's property multiple times in recent years. She attributed details of her nieces testimony to misguidance and the inability to think independently. Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as Jane in R. Kellys criminal trial, where he faces charges for child pornography. Custom Content Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand . Kellys federal trial in Chicago began last week and he is faced with charges of producing and receiving child pornography, enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, and obstruction charges. Whitten Sabbatini for . For full coverage of the ongoing R. Kelly case, see The R. Kelly Trial Reports. Sparkle says she became suspicious of R. Kelly's involvement with her teenage niece in 2001. 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. He is accused of perpetrating these acts against 12 women, at least eight of which were underage at the time he was sexually involved with them. Earlier this week, Kelly who wore ankle shackles along with his orange jumpsuit, pled not guilty to the charges. "She's doing exactly what he told her to do. They would pretty much drop me off and then leave, she said about her parents and the introduction by her aunt. 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. 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. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. 6 2019, Updated 5:51 a.m. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. A new development in the case has resulted from the Sparkles nieces recent admission of the truth. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. The long-running criminal case of R. Kelly consistently takes strange turns that leaves fans perplexed and for which the case becomes more complicated. There's no denying it,' she says on the stand. ", Sparkle wasn't the only witness to get emotional on the stand Thursday. Sparkle was the first and only successful artist to release an album on Kelly's Rockland label.Sparkle's dbut album, the self-titled Sparkle, was released on May 19, 1998.The album debuted at No. It's messed up. We were still cool." At the time, she and her family denied her appearance in the video and refused to testify. Sparkle did try and make up for her mistake, and I don't believe her niece in saying rub his head, I believe the niece is permanently damaged by Robert and her parents and her parents told her to say that to take the blame off of them. Trivia As of now, Sparkles niece and her attorney have yet to respond to Sparkles claim she lied on the stand. Who wouldn't be [disgusted]? "I'm beyond pleased to finally hear the mountain I've tirelessly worked on moving over the. Sparkles niece recently confronted something against her aunt and as a result, Sparkle claimed that her niece had lied about her. You just know your family. 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, 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. Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. 3 min read Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as "Jane" in R.. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. 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. Of course Im in full unwavering support of them and their act of courage!, Kim Kardashian Lands Olympic Partnership Deal, Shapewear Line To Be Worn By Team USA Athletes, She Tried It: Inahsi Naturals Aloe Hibiscus Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler, She Tried It: Ivy Park Drip 2 and 2.2 Black Pack, Prioritize Your Skincare With These Tips For Melanin-Rich Complexions, Burts Bees Skincare Works Harder, Not Harsher, 11 Black Celebrities Who Say They're Not African American, 'Bernie Mac Show' Stars Camille Winbush And Dee Dee Davis Get Chewed Out For Joining OnlyFans, 8 Famous Lesbian Women Who Were Married To Men. Sparkle thinks that allegiance to Robert still exists. That's it.". With Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps. She got . She said that his acquittal then affected her view of the #MeToo movement a decade later. In another video she released, Sparkle claimed that the claim was an absolute f**king lie. She added she had indeed introduced Kelly to the victim and her mother and father, but it was not her intention for her to become involved with the singer. Sparkle went on to sign with Motown Records and released a second album, titled "Told You So," in 2000. 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. Picture Perfect Poster Girl: Taylour Paige Stars As "Boogie's" Leading Lady, UPDATE: Jesseca Dupart Denies That LisaRaye Found Out About Da Brat's Pregnancy Via Social Media, Your Weekly Helping Of Tidday Meats & Treats On The Gram, Cougar Chronicles! The Times. 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. The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. 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. Chicago police have not charged Kelly, and will only say that their investigation is continuing. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. 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. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. According to a report in The New York Times, the young girl who appeared in the infamous tape that showed the R&B singer performing sex acts and urinating on the then-14-year-old is now cooperating with prosecutors. 11 Songs. "He made her do [those sexual acts]," she said. While the survivors have now found justice, Sparkle said she still feels guilty for introducing her niece to Kelly in 1997. The woman claimed that Kelly agreed to serve as her godfather and that her parents had given their blessing. She says "There have been too many girls to count. Career. The decision, many believe, ultimately resulted in the jury acquitting the singer. Though she hadn't witnessed anything between Kelly and her niece that could be considered inappropriate, Sparkle said she saw hints of things that she didn't want to acknowledge at the time, "little hints of something, little touches," that in hindsight concerned her. What, exactly, is the relationship between Kelly and Sparkle, and what are the claims being made against the infamous artist? She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Celebrate (From "Sparkle") Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks. 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. When R. Kelly was acquitted on child pornography charges in 2008, jurors reportedly said it was because the 14-year-old girl he was accused of sexually assaulting on video refused to testify. Featured On. 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 Kelly's 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. Muskan Sharma is a law student at Calcutta University. Sparkle testified at trial in 2008 that the man in the video was Mr. Kelly, and that the girl was her 14-year-old niece. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and first met Kelly in 1989. "Anger? She said she regretted bringing her niece to Kelly's studio and later his home -- "my mistake," Sparkle said. Singer Sparkle found herself in the middle of R. Kellys federal child pornography trial. The "Better Be Careful" singer was one of the first people to go public about . Kelly would ultimately be acquitted on charges pertaining to the tape. Sparkle: Directed by Sam O'Steen. . Kids edition - Orlando And Sparkle. Since the alleged R. Kelly sex tapes first hit the media two months ago, the primary question has been if the girl featured on the 27-minute tape, currently under investigation by the Chicago police, was actually underage, since her identity had been kept hidden. Bop Shop: Songs From J-Hope And J. 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Im letting those who know and support me that this is a family feud, she says at the beginning of her video, reading notes from her mobile device. The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. She also spoke out in September 2021 after the singerwas convictedof nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. One of the disgraced singer's former artists has stepped forward to defend herself in the ongoing R. Kelly trial. FAQ + Create an Account / Login. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Stephanie 'Sparkle' Edwards Although she praised her niece for finally cooperating with prosecutors, the singer says that she is at the center of a "family feud." "You couldn't break the chain with us. Ivie is a Nigerian-American, native New Yorker, and journalist covering, Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years For Child Sex Crimes, R. Kelly Silenced Aaliyah & Her Family With Non-Disclosure Agreement After 1995 Marriage Annulment, Watch the Trailer For Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter. She's being exposed to the world. Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. "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. I wish they were backing [me] when I was coming up and had a story to tell, but nobody believed. The prosecution has not responded to the claim. In this courtroom sketch, a woman who goes by pseudonym Jane, left, testifies in R. Kellys trial in federal court, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Chicago. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events. Kelly is now facing state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering. The girl's mother -- Sparkle's sister -- didn't want to see the tape and didn't want to talk about it, she said. In the indictment, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts, money before and after the trial in exchange for her lying to investigators, being unavailable for interviews and refusing to testify against him. CHICAGO -- "Sweetie, I'm not trying to get any money for this!". (Genson tripped her up on cross, when she said she was never in possession of the tape, even though her brother and his ex-wife had testified that she was.) 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. Uh Oh! R. Kellys new case may end differently than his last. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. "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. According to . She says her. She shared that she feels these are lies organized by her sister as a method of sabotage. Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. While the witness is addressed in court as Jane, her story included identifying details, including that she is Sparkles niece. R. Kelly was later acquitted of all charges. TikTok video from Samke Ndlovu INdlovu (@samkeindlovukaz): "#Aunty and Niece Challenge ". Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. 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 . "Like she's a prostitute!" Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldnt be more thrilled about it. Sparkle has responded in a video (see below) to her nieces testimony: Absolutely NOT!! Kelly faces 14 counts of child pornography -- seven for directing, seven for producing. Now lets observe what transpires in the court. Her family eventually began to allow her to visit with Kelly without an adult present. 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. 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.