In this file photo, singer R. Kelly is seen at the Daley Center in Chicago for a child support hearing on March 13, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Thursday marked the fourth day of R. Kelly‘s federal child pornography trial in Chicago, and R. Kelly’s former goddaughter took the stand to testify in the courtroom.
According to WGN9, the woman that took the stand to testify against Kelly is the same teen girl that was allegedly featured in his infamous sex tape that was the center of his 2008 child pornography trial. The woman, who is now 37, and identified as “Jane,” took to the stand to share that she was introduced to the singer through her aunt in the mid-1990s when she was 13 years old. Her aunt, who was also a music artist, was also connected to Kelly romantically.
“Jane” shared that at the time, her aunt said she should ask R. Kelly to be her godfather, and she testified that weeks later is when he started making sexual advances at her. She shared that phone sex with the troubled singer soon turned physical. She claims that she engaged in sexual acts with Kelly “hundreds” of times between the ages of 15 and 18.
According to Jason Meisner of the Chicago Tribune, when asked why she engaged in sexual activity with Kelly, “Jane” said,
“It was out of intimidation. He was an authoritative figure. I didn’t know how to respond. I didn’t know how to say no. I just went along with things and it somewhat became normal.”
As the trial continued, “Jane” continued to share that at the time, she thought she was in love and being submissive to the singer, stating,
“I wanted to give him what he wanted and I didn’t want to make him feel like I wasn’t cooperative.”
She also shared that when they started having sex with each other, she kept it a secret because he told her to.
When asked if he ever recorded any of their sexual acts, she said yes, and it started when she was only 14 years old.
Prosecutors shared that jurors will be shown three clips that allegedly show Kelly engaging in sexual activity with “Jane.” She is one of several witnesses under a pseudonym.
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94
