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I would definitely
characterize myself
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as a survivor.
3
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I do see myself
as a victim of R. Kelly.
4
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I was a victim.
5
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I don't
consider myself a victim.
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I am a survivor.
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I lived it
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and I survived it.
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Why do you want
to tell your story now?
10
00:00:51,819 --> 00:00:57,289
I felt like my silence
allowed it to continue.
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I worked up the courage to come
forward and tell my story.
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A part of me always felt
like maybe I did something
13
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for him to treat me that way.
14
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I want my story to be heard
15
00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:08,967
so people could take
this situation seriously.
16
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But when I found out
it wasn't just me...
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I just don't want it
to get any worse.
18
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And it was just...
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It just kept going
and going and going.
20
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I just wanted to know
that it's not...
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You know, you're not alone.
22
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They're not alone.
23
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It just made me...
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Furious.
25
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I decided
that enough was enough.
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Can you describe
27
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the physical abuse?
28
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I think I can't really talk
about being abused.
29
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It's-it's, like...
It brings back memories,
30
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and it's, it's very painful
to have to talk about it again.
31
00:02:07,895 --> 00:02:10,796
I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
32
00:02:17,238 --> 00:02:19,304
? ?
33
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I met R. Kelly when I was 14.
34
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When I met him,
I was 17 years old.
35
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I wanted to be a singer.
36
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I wanted to be a dancer.
37
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We thought
we were gonna be stars.
38
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I think my daughter's
39
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going through prison right now.
40
00:03:01,248 --> 00:03:02,981
We got a tip that she's here.
41
00:03:03,083 --> 00:03:05,217
? Say ?
42
00:03:05,252 --> 00:03:08,253
? Can you see... ?
43
00:03:09,456 --> 00:03:11,423
In the middle of all
of these allegations,
44
00:03:11,458 --> 00:03:13,759
R. Kelly's just dropping music.
45
00:03:13,794 --> 00:03:17,296
His songs were a huge part
of the soundtrack of our lives.
46
00:03:17,331 --> 00:03:20,866
? I believe I can fly. ?
47
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Songs like "ignition."
48
00:03:21,969 --> 00:03:25,237
? It's the remix to "ignition" ?
49
00:03:25,272 --> 00:03:27,406
? Hot and fresh
out the kitchen. ?
50
00:03:27,441 --> 00:03:29,241
"I wish."
51
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? I'll see you again some day ?
52
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? I wish, I wish, I wish. ?
53
00:03:36,150 --> 00:03:37,449
He had a voice
54
00:03:37,484 --> 00:03:39,418
that was incredible.
55
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Women loved the way he looked,
56
00:03:41,322 --> 00:03:42,187
the way he sounded.
57
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People looked at him
58
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as the king of R&B.
59
00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:46,959
He was the biggest artist
60
00:03:46,994 --> 00:03:48,794
in the recording industry
at that time
61
00:03:48,829 --> 00:03:50,629
in terms
of actual record sales.
62
00:03:50,664 --> 00:03:52,898
Robert was working
with everyone.
63
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:54,633
Snoop, c?Line Dion,
64
00:03:54,668 --> 00:03:56,234
Michael Jordan, Janet Jackson.
65
00:03:56,337 --> 00:03:57,502
He worked with Michael Jackson.
66
00:03:57,538 --> 00:03:58,637
He worked with Jay-Z,
67
00:03:58,672 --> 00:04:01,139
Whitney Houston, lady gaga.
68
00:04:01,175 --> 00:04:03,809
R. Kelly was part
of that superstar milieu.
69
00:04:05,679 --> 00:04:07,613
He was a hero.
70
00:04:11,652 --> 00:04:14,052
Robert, how do you feel?
-Was it you on the tape?
71
00:04:14,154 --> 00:04:15,520
R&B superstar
72
00:04:15,556 --> 00:04:17,623
R. Kelly on trial
73
00:04:17,658 --> 00:04:19,291
for allegedly
videotaping himself
74
00:04:19,326 --> 00:04:21,593
having sex
with an underage girl.
75
00:04:21,695 --> 00:04:25,631
Jurors found him
not guilty on all charges.
76
00:04:27,001 --> 00:04:29,601
R. Kelly has a problem.
77
00:04:31,505 --> 00:04:33,538
The accusations are now part
of pop culture.
78
00:04:33,574 --> 00:04:35,674
South park touched on it.
79
00:04:35,709 --> 00:04:37,643
Chappelle's show touched on it.
80
00:04:37,678 --> 00:04:40,679
After R. Kelly got off trial,
81
00:04:40,714 --> 00:04:42,614
I'd do the interview.
82
00:04:42,716 --> 00:04:44,049
He was very nervous.
83
00:04:44,084 --> 00:04:47,486
Do you like teenage girls?
84
00:04:47,521 --> 00:04:51,790
When you say "teenage,"
how old are we talking?
85
00:04:51,892 --> 00:04:53,659
This is an industry
86
00:04:53,694 --> 00:04:55,360
where anything goes.
87
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He's a font of money.
88
00:04:56,563 --> 00:04:57,496
He was like a bad boy,
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like an antihero.
90
00:04:58,899 --> 00:05:00,365
You know that he's dirty,
91
00:05:00,401 --> 00:05:02,167
which is so delusional
92
00:05:02,202 --> 00:05:04,036
for US to kind of feel like,
93
00:05:04,071 --> 00:05:05,404
"it's all good now."
94
00:05:06,373 --> 00:05:07,939
R. Kelly has power
95
00:05:08,042 --> 00:05:10,375
over these young girls.
96
00:05:10,411 --> 00:05:11,843
I had to wait for permission
97
00:05:11,879 --> 00:05:14,179
to be able to use the bathroom.
98
00:05:14,214 --> 00:05:15,514
It's okay. Okay.
99
00:05:15,549 --> 00:05:17,649
Your dad says
he loves you so much.
100
00:05:17,751 --> 00:05:19,651
What the heck is he doing
101
00:05:19,753 --> 00:05:21,653
hanging around the high school?
102
00:05:21,755 --> 00:05:24,022
R. Kelly believes he can fly
103
00:05:24,058 --> 00:05:25,657
and that he is untouchable.
104
00:05:25,759 --> 00:05:27,592
Shame on you!
-Shame on you!
105
00:05:27,628 --> 00:05:29,594
Shame on you!
-Shame on you!
106
00:05:29,630 --> 00:05:33,665
Mute R. Kelly!
-Mute R. Kelly!
107
00:05:39,573 --> 00:05:43,375
His performances
were increasingly pornographic.
108
00:05:50,284 --> 00:05:52,350
You understand me?
-Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
109
00:05:52,453 --> 00:05:55,220
Drop your , big dog.
110
00:05:55,255 --> 00:05:56,888
That's right.
111
00:05:56,924 --> 00:05:59,224
I am handcuffed,
like a lot of you mother.
112
00:05:59,259 --> 00:06:02,227
I'm handcuffed by my destiny.
It's too late.
113
00:06:02,262 --> 00:06:04,763
They should've did this
30 years ago.
114
00:06:04,798 --> 00:06:06,898
It's too late.
-Tell 'em, r.
115
00:06:21,949 --> 00:06:25,383
My family grew up in altgeld
gardens housing projects.
116
00:06:28,956 --> 00:06:31,223
My name is Carey Kelly,
117
00:06:31,325 --> 00:06:34,226
and I'm R. Kelly's
baby brother.
118
00:06:36,196 --> 00:06:38,463
Theresa's the oldest.
119
00:06:38,499 --> 00:06:41,133
Bruce is the second oldest.
120
00:06:41,168 --> 00:06:45,937
Robert, and then myself.
121
00:06:45,973 --> 00:06:49,908
Even though we grew up
living in the projects,
122
00:06:50,010 --> 00:06:54,479
Robert is not cut from a cloth
of being street.
123
00:06:55,482 --> 00:06:59,017
He was mild-mannered, afraid.
124
00:07:00,687 --> 00:07:03,088
He didn't come outside.
He stayed
125
00:07:03,190 --> 00:07:06,158
in the house and played
with his keyboard.
126
00:07:10,531 --> 00:07:12,831
My name's Bruce Kelly.
127
00:07:12,866 --> 00:07:16,168
In my earliest
childhood memories,
128
00:07:16,203 --> 00:07:19,137
Robert was shy and very timid,
you know.
129
00:07:19,173 --> 00:07:23,308
If you'd stare at him
in his face, he'd start crying.
130
00:07:23,343 --> 00:07:26,444
We would have
to urge him on to sing
131
00:07:26,547 --> 00:07:28,079
'cause he was really shy,
132
00:07:28,182 --> 00:07:30,215
and he would sing
with his back turned to people
133
00:07:30,250 --> 00:07:31,750
so he wouldn't have
to look them in the face.
134
00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:33,752
R. Kelly grew up
135
00:07:33,787 --> 00:07:35,954
in the church.
His mother sang in the church.
136
00:07:37,457 --> 00:07:40,525
My mother was
the lead singer of the choir.
137
00:07:40,561 --> 00:07:43,929
She would make people catch
the spirits, as they call them.
138
00:07:43,964 --> 00:07:47,065
She was a very big fan
of aretha Franklin,
139
00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:50,001
Gladys knight, chaka Khan.
140
00:07:50,137 --> 00:07:52,003
When she would do
Gladys knight,
141
00:07:52,139 --> 00:07:54,673
we would be her pips.
142
00:07:54,808 --> 00:07:56,541
So it just grew.
We just, we loved music
143
00:07:56,577 --> 00:07:57,843
just as much as she did.
144
00:08:00,414 --> 00:08:03,014
Robert had problems reading
and writing.
145
00:08:04,985 --> 00:08:07,919
He did apply hisself.
He-he took tutoring
146
00:08:07,955 --> 00:08:10,956
and-and things of that nature.
147
00:08:10,991 --> 00:08:14,059
He just couldn't...
He couldn't grasp a hold to it.
148
00:08:14,094 --> 00:08:16,094
One day I came home,
149
00:08:16,129 --> 00:08:17,295
Robert was locked
in the bathroom.
150
00:08:17,331 --> 00:08:20,232
He wing.
151
00:08:20,367 --> 00:08:22,467
I knock on the door. "Robert."
152
00:08:22,502 --> 00:08:24,569
He tried to straight... "Yeah."
153
00:08:24,705 --> 00:08:27,005
I said,
"what's wrong with you, man?"
154
00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,575
Broke down,
started crying again.
155
00:08:30,711 --> 00:08:33,578
"I'm just tired
of these kids always teasing me
156
00:08:33,714 --> 00:08:35,814
'cause I can't read."
157
00:08:35,849 --> 00:08:38,817
I'm like, "man, look,
let me tell you something.
158
00:08:38,852 --> 00:08:43,421
"It gonna be the same kids
that's gonna be crying
159
00:08:43,490 --> 00:08:47,859
because you're famous."
160
00:08:47,895 --> 00:08:49,761
He taught hisself
to play by ear.
161
00:08:49,897 --> 00:08:53,164
What he hear...
If he hear a beat in his head,
162
00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,933
he'd pick it until he...
163
00:08:55,068 --> 00:08:57,102
Until that beat come alive.
164
00:08:57,237 --> 00:08:58,436
He would hum it and sing it,
165
00:08:58,572 --> 00:09:00,672
versus having
to write it musically
166
00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:02,440
or, you know,
write or read music.
167
00:09:02,576 --> 00:09:04,676
He actually gravitated
to it like...
168
00:09:04,711 --> 00:09:06,378
It's-it's like he knew
169
00:09:06,413 --> 00:09:08,480
that-that was his purpose.
170
00:09:14,221 --> 00:09:17,689
My name is Craig Williams.
I've known Rob about...
171
00:09:17,724 --> 00:09:20,792
30 years, I guess.
I met him back in the late '80s.
172
00:09:20,861 --> 00:09:25,063
I was at-at the recording
studio Chicago trax.
173
00:09:25,098 --> 00:09:27,699
Gavin Christopher was an artist
in Chicago.
174
00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:29,067
He came to the studio,
175
00:09:29,102 --> 00:09:32,637
and he brought this kid
with him.
176
00:09:32,773 --> 00:09:35,807
And the kid was Rob.
177
00:09:35,943 --> 00:09:38,843
He had a little
white casio piano.
178
00:09:38,879 --> 00:09:41,479
Gavin says,
"you got to check this kid out.
179
00:09:41,615 --> 00:09:42,681
He can really sing."
180
00:09:42,716 --> 00:09:44,082
He said, "sing for him."
181
00:09:44,117 --> 00:09:46,418
Rob turned on his piano,
182
00:09:46,453 --> 00:09:49,187
and he started singing a song
about roses
183
00:09:49,222 --> 00:09:51,990
or something like that.
184
00:09:52,125 --> 00:09:55,527
He had a voice
that was incredible.
185
00:10:04,738 --> 00:10:07,372
Like anything else
when you're a child,
186
00:10:07,407 --> 00:10:10,709
whatever you're taught, um...
187
00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:12,978
It goes with you.
188
00:10:15,449 --> 00:10:19,584
Once we moved
out the projects...
189
00:10:19,619 --> 00:10:23,054
A lot of things changed
for the worse.
190
00:10:26,927 --> 00:10:29,494
I recently saw the interview,
191
00:10:29,596 --> 00:10:33,598
that R. Kelly did
with tavis smiley...
192
00:10:35,135 --> 00:10:36,901
...which was striking.
193
00:10:37,004 --> 00:10:38,937
At eight or nine years
of age, you talk in the book
194
00:10:38,972 --> 00:10:41,873
about how exposed you were
to sex.
195
00:10:42,009 --> 00:10:44,743
You saw it. There were adults
196
00:10:44,845 --> 00:10:46,878
who should not have been
but were coming on to you
197
00:10:47,014 --> 00:10:48,413
even when you were a child.
198
00:10:48,515 --> 00:10:50,882
What'd that do to you
to be exposed to sex
199
00:10:51,018 --> 00:10:53,318
at that early age?
200
00:10:56,189 --> 00:10:57,956
Well...
201
00:10:57,991 --> 00:11:01,393
Um, I'm not gonna throw
any of my people
202
00:11:01,528 --> 00:11:04,429
or... my family under a bus,
203
00:11:04,464 --> 00:11:08,299
but I feel I owe my fans, um...
204
00:11:10,303 --> 00:11:13,304
...at least enough for them
to have an understanding
205
00:11:13,340 --> 00:11:15,006
as to what I went through.
206
00:11:15,042 --> 00:11:16,941
And, yes,
207
00:11:16,977 --> 00:11:19,911
I was molested when I was a...
208
00:11:20,047 --> 00:11:23,615
From seven on to maybe 13, 14,
209
00:11:23,650 --> 00:11:27,552
something like that,
by people in my family.
210
00:11:37,264 --> 00:11:39,097
I was molested when I was seven
211
00:11:39,132 --> 00:11:42,700
on to maybe 13, 14,
something like that,
212
00:11:42,736 --> 00:11:45,937
by people in my family.
213
00:11:47,407 --> 00:11:51,342
Sexually,
it woke up my hormones
214
00:11:51,378 --> 00:11:53,378
a lot earlier than it...
215
00:11:53,413 --> 00:11:55,447
They were supposed
to be awakened.
216
00:11:59,953 --> 00:12:03,721
When you're a child,
you don't really know.
217
00:12:03,757 --> 00:12:05,857
You only see,
218
00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:09,027
and you learn,
and you try to figure it out.
219
00:12:09,129 --> 00:12:13,465
It enhances your curiosity
before its time.
220
00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:15,700
You're not supposed
to be curious about sex,
221
00:12:15,735 --> 00:12:18,403
because you're not supposed
to see sex right now.
222
00:12:24,010 --> 00:12:26,911
I believe that-that Robert...
That it's possible.
223
00:12:26,947 --> 00:12:29,614
I don't think that he...
If he's saying that,
224
00:12:29,649 --> 00:12:31,449
I don't think that he's lying.
225
00:12:31,485 --> 00:12:34,786
Because it happened to me.
It happened to me.
226
00:12:34,821 --> 00:12:39,023
You know, I really don't talk
to people about a lot of things
227
00:12:39,126 --> 00:12:41,326
that... that I
have been going through.
228
00:12:41,361 --> 00:12:43,962
I just...
I just keep it and hold it.
229
00:12:45,465 --> 00:12:47,899
I was molested
by a family member,
230
00:12:47,934 --> 00:12:50,401
and that...
231
00:12:50,504 --> 00:12:53,738
Shook my world, you know,
'cause I-I didn't understand it.
232
00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:55,773
Um, I knew it wasn't right,
233
00:12:55,809 --> 00:12:58,843
even though I was
six years old at that time.
234
00:12:58,879 --> 00:13:02,413
I knew it wasn't right,
but it was happening to me.
235
00:13:02,516 --> 00:13:06,384
I was afraid
to tell my mom, um...
236
00:13:06,486 --> 00:13:09,687
Um, because of the person,
who they were.
237
00:13:09,723 --> 00:13:11,089
I-I didn't...
238
00:13:11,191 --> 00:13:13,925
I didn't know
if she was gonna...
239
00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,996
Believe me,
so I was afraid to tell her.
240
00:13:18,031 --> 00:13:20,031
Robert,
him being my big brother,
241
00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:21,633
I brought that to him
242
00:13:21,668 --> 00:13:24,302
and told-told him
what happened to me.
243
00:13:24,337 --> 00:13:26,638
And when I told him
what happened to me,
244
00:13:26,673 --> 00:13:29,440
um...
245
00:13:29,543 --> 00:13:32,977
He didn't,
he didn't really respond to it
246
00:13:33,013 --> 00:13:35,647
like I felt that he should.
247
00:13:35,682 --> 00:13:37,015
When-when I told him, he said,
248
00:13:37,050 --> 00:13:38,283
"no, that didn't,
that didn't happen,
249
00:13:38,385 --> 00:13:39,784
that didn't happen to you."
250
00:13:39,886 --> 00:13:41,519
And I said, "yes, it did."
251
00:13:41,555 --> 00:13:43,354
You know, Robert said,
"no, it didn't."
252
00:13:43,390 --> 00:13:44,856
Then I left it alone.
253
00:13:44,891 --> 00:13:46,958
I really knew not to take it
to my mom then.
254
00:13:46,993 --> 00:13:48,793
My brothers was the test.
255
00:13:48,895 --> 00:13:52,931
If they believed me, then maybe
I could've took it to an adult.
256
00:13:55,068 --> 00:13:58,970
Child sexual abuse confuses
power and control with sex.
257
00:13:59,072 --> 00:14:01,706
And so...
258
00:14:01,741 --> 00:14:04,475
Children may want to say, like,
259
00:14:04,511 --> 00:14:08,079
"I want to be the one that's
in that power position," right?
260
00:14:08,181 --> 00:14:10,181
? ?
261
00:14:12,018 --> 00:14:13,818
I met Robert
at kenwood high school.
262
00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:15,687
We were in the choir together.
263
00:14:15,722 --> 00:14:17,455
Under Dr. Lena mclin.
264
00:14:17,490 --> 00:14:20,625
One of the crown jewels
265
00:14:20,727 --> 00:14:23,695
in kenwood academy's,
you know, reputation
266
00:14:23,730 --> 00:14:27,198
is their concert choir under
the direction of Dr. Lena mclin.
267
00:14:28,668 --> 00:14:31,569
She was truly like...
268
00:14:31,605 --> 00:14:34,272
Rob's surrogate mother.
269
00:14:34,407 --> 00:14:37,809
She loved that boy,
took him under her wing,
270
00:14:37,911 --> 00:14:40,011
and...
271
00:14:40,046 --> 00:14:41,879
Really made him and honed him
272
00:14:41,915 --> 00:14:45,049
into being the singer
that he is today.
273
00:14:45,085 --> 00:14:48,987
My grandma taught at kenwood
academy as a music teacher.
274
00:14:49,022 --> 00:14:52,023
So don't nobody think I'm hard,
'cause I'm really very nice.
275
00:14:52,058 --> 00:14:55,393
She was more than just a music
teacher to a lot of people.
276
00:14:55,428 --> 00:14:58,963
She was a mother to a lot
of people, and still is.
277
00:14:59,099 --> 00:15:01,232
My grandma's taught
so many students,
278
00:15:01,268 --> 00:15:03,835
and... of the notable students,
279
00:15:03,937 --> 00:15:05,536
Mandy patinkin,
280
00:15:05,572 --> 00:15:06,838
da brat,
281
00:15:06,940 --> 00:15:08,306
Jennifer Hudson,
282
00:15:08,408 --> 00:15:09,707
chaka Khan,
283
00:15:09,743 --> 00:15:11,009
just to name a few.
284
00:15:12,245 --> 00:15:14,345
I was impressed,
285
00:15:14,447 --> 00:15:16,748
and I was amazed,
286
00:15:16,783 --> 00:15:19,584
because he was musically...
287
00:15:19,619 --> 00:15:22,353
Genius material.
288
00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:24,255
Did he ever talk
about his home life?
289
00:15:24,291 --> 00:15:27,158
No, he didn't talk about that,
290
00:15:27,294 --> 00:15:31,396
but you knew about it, because
it came out in the music...
291
00:15:31,431 --> 00:15:34,365
In what-what they express,
you know.
292
00:15:34,467 --> 00:15:36,934
Children express
what they fear,
293
00:15:36,970 --> 00:15:40,471
they love,
that's around them, you know.
294
00:15:42,642 --> 00:15:45,510
And he was very...
295
00:15:45,612 --> 00:15:48,513
Very aggressive.
296
00:15:49,816 --> 00:15:51,883
What do you mean by aggressive?
297
00:15:51,918 --> 00:15:56,721
Well, yeah, aggressive in some
of his sexual language, too.
298
00:15:56,756 --> 00:15:59,223
Which we had to discuss
299
00:15:59,259 --> 00:16:03,394
and say that it wouldn't be
appropriate to school.
300
00:16:03,496 --> 00:16:07,699
It wouldn't really be...
Really be appropriate, period.
301
00:16:09,336 --> 00:16:11,402
He dropped out senior year.
302
00:16:11,504 --> 00:16:13,271
You saw his confidence...
303
00:16:13,306 --> 00:16:16,074
Kind of swell
304
00:16:16,109 --> 00:16:18,409
once he realized he had a gift,
305
00:16:18,511 --> 00:16:19,844
you know,
when it came to, singing.
306
00:16:19,879 --> 00:16:22,914
He got noticed...
307
00:16:23,016 --> 00:16:27,952
Basically, when he actually went
to Natalie Cole's big break.
308
00:16:28,054 --> 00:16:29,520
Robert said,
"I'm gonna win the show.
309
00:16:29,556 --> 00:16:31,122
I'm gonna win the show."
310
00:16:31,224 --> 00:16:34,459
You had the best talent,
you know, in the, in the nation,
311
00:16:34,561 --> 00:16:36,961
and it whittled down
to two groups.
312
00:16:37,063 --> 00:16:38,996
Okay, for R. Kelly and mgm,
313
00:16:39,032 --> 00:16:41,532
they received 280 points.
314
00:16:41,568 --> 00:16:44,669
R. Kelly and mgm is
the champion!
315
00:16:44,704 --> 00:16:47,338
A hundred thousand dollars!
316
00:16:47,374 --> 00:16:48,906
Hello!
317
00:16:48,942 --> 00:16:51,943
? ?
318
00:16:53,413 --> 00:16:57,315
That's when
all the labels start calling,
319
00:16:57,417 --> 00:16:59,016
and that's when he took off.
320
00:16:59,052 --> 00:17:03,855
Once he signed to jive records,
it was a wrap.
321
00:17:06,793 --> 00:17:08,426
? ?
322
00:17:08,461 --> 00:17:10,862
And I heard a lot
about Rob going
323
00:17:10,964 --> 00:17:13,531
to kenwood high school
to, to hang out,
324
00:17:13,633 --> 00:17:16,100
and I always wondered,
what the heck is he doing
325
00:17:16,136 --> 00:17:18,002
hanging around the high school?
326
00:17:18,104 --> 00:17:23,474
He's... left high school
many years ago.
327
00:17:23,576 --> 00:17:25,576
? ?
328
00:17:30,750 --> 00:17:32,216
My name is jovante Cunningham.
329
00:17:32,252 --> 00:17:35,253
I have known Robert Kelly
since 1991.
330
00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:38,222
At that time, I was about 14.
331
00:17:38,258 --> 00:17:40,358
I met him through
a dear friend of mine,
332
00:17:40,460 --> 00:17:41,526
Tiffany.
333
00:17:41,628 --> 00:17:44,529
She was also, yeah, 14.
334
00:17:44,631 --> 00:17:46,497
He was an upcoming artist.
335
00:17:46,633 --> 00:17:49,767
She knew him
prior to me meeting her.
336
00:17:49,803 --> 00:17:52,303
I believe they met
at kenwood high school,
337
00:17:52,338 --> 00:17:54,272
and she asked,
338
00:17:54,307 --> 00:17:56,374
"you want to go down
and meet so and so?"
339
00:17:56,476 --> 00:17:57,608
And I'm like, "who is that?"
340
00:17:57,644 --> 00:17:59,043
And we went.
341
00:17:59,145 --> 00:18:01,312
And that's how it started.
342
00:18:03,750 --> 00:18:05,450
Ooh.
343
00:18:05,485 --> 00:18:07,952
Wasn't something that
was talked about, you know.
344
00:18:07,987 --> 00:18:09,387
I don't remember
actually saying,
345
00:18:09,489 --> 00:18:11,389
"hey, by the way,
how old are you?"
346
00:18:11,424 --> 00:18:15,126
We were doing
the background vocals
347
00:18:15,161 --> 00:18:17,395
for the born into the 90's
album.
348
00:18:17,497 --> 00:18:20,731
He would just ask US
to come into the studio,
349
00:18:20,834 --> 00:18:22,967
and, "you sing this,
you sing this,
350
00:18:23,002 --> 00:18:25,236
you sing that,
y'all sing it together."
351
00:18:25,338 --> 00:18:27,789
And that's how it would go.
352
00:18:27,824 --> 00:18:31,592
I wanted to be
a professional singer.
353
00:18:31,694 --> 00:18:34,495
You're up close and personal
with, um, someone
354
00:18:34,531 --> 00:18:36,831
who is potentially
going to be...
355
00:18:36,866 --> 00:18:39,167
Seen in the... in the world,
356
00:18:39,202 --> 00:18:42,303
and... you're young, you know?
357
00:18:42,405 --> 00:18:44,305
You're excited.
You think, "wow," you know?
358
00:18:44,407 --> 00:18:46,507
"Who's this person?"
And "what do you got going on?"
359
00:18:46,543 --> 00:18:48,442
And "can I hear your music?"
360
00:18:48,545 --> 00:18:50,011
And that was the first time
I heard "honey love,"
361
00:18:50,046 --> 00:18:51,946
and I was like, "wow!"
362
00:18:52,048 --> 00:18:55,249
? 'Cause there is
something' that ?
363
00:18:55,285 --> 00:18:57,185
? I want from you... ?
364
00:18:57,220 --> 00:18:59,420
A very talented
young man, and...
365
00:18:59,455 --> 00:19:02,657
His ability to create music
is ingenious.
366
00:19:02,759 --> 00:19:05,126
It really is.
He's truly a talent.
367
00:19:05,228 --> 00:19:07,628
? ?
368
00:19:07,730 --> 00:19:09,030
Right across the street
369
00:19:09,065 --> 00:19:10,865
from kenwood high school,
370
00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:14,035
I would see R. Kelly there
371
00:19:14,070 --> 00:19:16,971
on a regular basis, and these
were high school girls,
372
00:19:17,106 --> 00:19:19,140
freshmen, sophomores,
I couldn't tell exactly.
373
00:19:19,275 --> 00:19:21,809
But I know they were students
at the, at the high school.
374
00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:24,178
His nickname
is not pied Piper for nothing.
375
00:19:24,214 --> 00:19:28,015
Pied Piper's whole purpose is to
bring the young people to him,
376
00:19:28,117 --> 00:19:31,219
to follow him, to admire him,
to listen to him.
377
00:19:31,254 --> 00:19:33,421
And so, he's good at it.
378
00:19:34,791 --> 00:19:36,691
The first time I saw R. Kelly,
379
00:19:36,793 --> 00:19:40,695
I was probably around 12,
maybe 13.
380
00:19:40,797 --> 00:19:43,097
We would hang out
381
00:19:43,132 --> 00:19:45,700
at the McDonald's in Hyde park.
382
00:19:45,802 --> 00:19:47,902
I was 14 years old.
383
00:19:47,937 --> 00:19:50,538
And we'd always see him
come in by himself
384
00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,340
but leave with,
with some student.
385
00:19:52,442 --> 00:19:55,843
You would see
the Ford explorer pull up.
386
00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,614
There were a bunch of girls
in kenwood jackets,
387
00:19:59,649 --> 00:20:01,282
in high school clothes.
388
00:20:02,785 --> 00:20:05,253
You would see him
and his group of guys
389
00:20:05,288 --> 00:20:06,787
come in and kind of hang out.
390
00:20:06,823 --> 00:20:08,356
"MR. Kelly wants to meet you."
391
00:20:08,458 --> 00:20:10,258
? ?
392
00:20:10,293 --> 00:20:12,693
And you'd look over, and there
was like a little nod.
393
00:20:12,795 --> 00:20:14,795
If you're the girl
that smiles back,
394
00:20:14,831 --> 00:20:17,231
that's when he
starts talking to you.
395
00:20:17,267 --> 00:20:18,799
Public announcement,
396
00:20:18,835 --> 00:20:22,069
R. Kelly, born into the 90's.
397
00:20:22,171 --> 00:20:24,205
He was on the rise.
He knew that
398
00:20:24,340 --> 00:20:26,774
he had the singing career,
and he was blowing up,
399
00:20:26,809 --> 00:20:29,644
and who wouldn't want to be
with a superstar?
400
00:20:29,679 --> 00:20:31,946
He liked high school girls.
401
00:20:31,981 --> 00:20:34,649
He could influence them more.
402
00:20:34,684 --> 00:20:37,451
They were more impressionable.
403
00:20:37,487 --> 00:20:39,420
He tries to slide in
in that space
404
00:20:39,522 --> 00:20:41,255
where girls
don't know better yet,
405
00:20:41,357 --> 00:20:45,693
where they can't necessarily
spot a predator.
406
00:20:45,728 --> 00:20:49,330
People will say, "well,
why didn't anyone notice?"
407
00:20:50,867 --> 00:20:52,400
The answer is
that we all noticed;
408
00:20:52,502 --> 00:20:54,902
no one cared
because we were black girls.
409
00:20:59,175 --> 00:21:01,442
I would hear different
things, but I didn't realize
410
00:21:01,544 --> 00:21:03,511
what was going on at the time.
411
00:21:03,546 --> 00:21:07,548
I know when we were around,
as children ourselves,
412
00:21:07,583 --> 00:21:09,350
as teenagers,
413
00:21:09,385 --> 00:21:11,786
it was,
"go out, find me some girls,"
414
00:21:11,821 --> 00:21:13,854
to recruit, in a sense.
415
00:21:13,890 --> 00:21:16,624
I mean, and at that time
you didn't think of it as that.
416
00:21:16,726 --> 00:21:18,726
At that time you're thinking,
"go get me some girls"?
417
00:21:18,761 --> 00:21:21,796
I mean, we weren't looking
for underage women.
418
00:21:21,898 --> 00:21:24,532
In our minds
we were just looking for girls.
419
00:21:24,567 --> 00:21:27,168
We were so stupid.
420
00:21:27,203 --> 00:21:29,170
Just so...
421
00:21:29,205 --> 00:21:30,938
Naive.
422
00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,342
? ?
423
00:21:34,377 --> 00:21:37,078
The first time I witnessed
a sexual act in the studio
424
00:21:37,113 --> 00:21:38,879
was during the recording
425
00:21:38,915 --> 00:21:40,915
of "slow dance," the remix.
426
00:21:40,950 --> 00:21:44,752
He had one of my teenage friends
in the booth with him bent over.
427
00:21:49,425 --> 00:21:51,492
And we were all right there.
428
00:21:51,594 --> 00:21:53,828
? ?
429
00:21:53,930 --> 00:21:56,564
I will not say with whom,
430
00:21:56,599 --> 00:21:58,599
but none of US were of age.
431
00:21:58,634 --> 00:22:00,701
None of US.
432
00:22:10,580 --> 00:22:12,646
Um...
433
00:22:14,117 --> 00:22:16,550
We went through a lot.
434
00:22:16,586 --> 00:22:18,652
We experienced a lot.
435
00:22:18,788 --> 00:22:20,788
We saw a lot. Um...
436
00:22:22,759 --> 00:22:27,395
It was a period of time when...
437
00:22:27,430 --> 00:22:30,498
Um...
438
00:22:30,633 --> 00:22:32,900
We were just trying to make it.
439
00:22:32,935 --> 00:22:35,002
We had... we had big dreams,
440
00:22:35,071 --> 00:22:39,640
and we thought
we were gonna be somebody.
441
00:22:46,983 --> 00:22:48,682
"And don't give me
that bull about it.
442
00:22:48,751 --> 00:22:50,918
You should not meet 'em."
443
00:22:50,953 --> 00:22:54,355
And that was my language
to him consistently.
444
00:22:54,490 --> 00:22:56,891
He has no business around them.
445
00:22:56,926 --> 00:22:59,760
They were too young for him.
446
00:22:59,796 --> 00:23:02,763
I told him, "go on, live your
life the way you want to live,
447
00:23:02,799 --> 00:23:05,099
but don't bring down
somebody else's life."
448
00:23:10,173 --> 00:23:12,440
So, 1993,
449
00:23:12,475 --> 00:23:15,810
we get 12 play, which is,
450
00:23:15,845 --> 00:23:20,047
in my opinion, what really
establishes R. Kelly as
451
00:23:20,183 --> 00:23:22,049
one of the most influential,
452
00:23:22,118 --> 00:23:26,053
if not the most influential
R&B artist of his generation.
453
00:23:26,189 --> 00:23:29,190
"Bump n' grind" is
his first big song.
454
00:23:29,292 --> 00:23:30,958
? With a little
bump and grind ?
455
00:23:30,993 --> 00:23:33,027
? With a little bump
and grind... ?
456
00:23:33,129 --> 00:23:35,262
It's kind of slow,
like a ballad,
457
00:23:35,298 --> 00:23:37,465
but then it's like,
458
00:23:37,500 --> 00:23:41,235
there's nothing wrong
with being physical and sexual.
459
00:23:41,370 --> 00:23:44,972
And so, it's sort of that
classic R&B message of, like,
460
00:23:45,007 --> 00:23:47,341
sexuality's okay,
like, it's okay to be physical.
461
00:23:47,376 --> 00:23:50,277
In the beginning, with
12 play, we get to this point
462
00:23:50,313 --> 00:23:52,413
where it's less about having
463
00:23:52,548 --> 00:23:55,683
beautiful lyrics, or a beautiful
melody and a great voice,
464
00:23:55,718 --> 00:23:57,852
and almost about this kind
of shock and awe,
465
00:23:57,887 --> 00:23:59,954
and this raunch
and this raw sexuality.
466
00:23:59,989 --> 00:24:01,956
You know, "sex me."
467
00:24:01,991 --> 00:24:04,792
I mean, a lot of these
songs are great, you know.
468
00:24:04,827 --> 00:24:07,294
It's just that, when you start
to think about the sort of
469
00:24:07,330 --> 00:24:09,296
person behind them,
you start to go, like...
470
00:24:12,001 --> 00:24:14,802
And then Rob met Aaliyah
471
00:24:14,837 --> 00:24:18,439
through his manager, which...
472
00:24:18,574 --> 00:24:21,175
Aaliyah was
Barry hankerson's niece.
473
00:24:29,252 --> 00:24:30,818
Right now I'm producing
474
00:24:30,853 --> 00:24:33,454
a very talented young lady,
Aaliyah.
475
00:24:33,589 --> 00:24:37,458
She's real sweet.
She just be chillin'.
476
00:24:37,593 --> 00:24:39,360
Hey, Aaliyah?
-Yo.
477
00:24:39,395 --> 00:24:41,162
That first verse is funky,
right? -
478
00:24:41,197 --> 00:24:44,131
what I want you to do is...
I want you to try to get into it
479
00:24:44,267 --> 00:24:45,933
just a little bit more for me.
-Okay.
480
00:24:46,035 --> 00:24:48,302
Just get into it a little more,
make it a little more street.
481
00:24:48,437 --> 00:24:49,770
All right?
-All right.
482
00:24:49,872 --> 00:24:51,472
You sound good, though, baby.
-All right.
483
00:24:53,543 --> 00:24:56,644
Very shy kid,
very tomboyish.
484
00:24:56,712 --> 00:24:58,746
Glasses, braces.
485
00:24:58,781 --> 00:25:01,882
No-no swag.
486
00:25:01,918 --> 00:25:04,218
She's truly
an angelic individual.
487
00:25:04,253 --> 00:25:07,321
She was truly
a beautiful young lady.
488
00:25:07,456 --> 00:25:09,390
Aaliyah just needed a look.
489
00:25:09,425 --> 00:25:11,592
That's all.
She just needed a little...
490
00:25:11,627 --> 00:25:13,360
A little something
to spice it up.
491
00:25:13,462 --> 00:25:15,529
She was still very young.
She was 12 years old.
492
00:25:15,565 --> 00:25:19,733
We taught her her street thing,
we gave her her vibe.
493
00:25:19,769 --> 00:25:21,368
She went from wearing
494
00:25:21,404 --> 00:25:23,571
fitted clothes
to the baggy jeans
495
00:25:23,606 --> 00:25:28,242
with the half shirts,
with the baseball caps.
496
00:25:28,277 --> 00:25:31,512
We taught her how
to be an artist in the sense
497
00:25:31,647 --> 00:25:33,681
of having a stage presence.
498
00:25:33,816 --> 00:25:36,050
We would sneak Aaliyah
out of the hotel...
499
00:25:36,085 --> 00:25:39,086
...and take her
all over the place.
500
00:25:39,121 --> 00:25:40,921
It was fun.
501
00:25:42,325 --> 00:25:44,858
We used to take her
to my dad's house, and...
502
00:25:44,927 --> 00:25:47,261
We'd dance and sing
in the living room.
503
00:25:49,632 --> 00:25:52,933
Aaliyah became very close
with Tia and myself.
504
00:25:52,969 --> 00:25:54,935
We were all very close.
505
00:25:54,971 --> 00:25:56,904
She and myself had
a very close-knit relationship
506
00:25:57,006 --> 00:25:58,372
and friendship.
507
00:25:58,507 --> 00:26:00,274
Those were the good old days.
508
00:26:00,309 --> 00:26:03,611
But those are the things
that also... make you cry.
509
00:26:07,617 --> 00:26:09,750
Aaliyah's first album
510
00:26:09,785 --> 00:26:11,385
is made by R. Kelly,
511
00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,420
and it's called
age ain't nothing but a number.
512
00:26:13,456 --> 00:26:17,258
And that main...
The title song, is about
513
00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:20,628
a young girl
who's trying to get an older guy
514
00:26:20,663 --> 00:26:23,464
to go all the way with her.
515
00:26:23,499 --> 00:26:25,566
I mean...
516
00:26:25,701 --> 00:26:29,069
It's, it's-it's frightening
and it's disgusting.
517
00:26:29,205 --> 00:26:31,972
? Boy, be brave ?
518
00:26:32,008 --> 00:26:34,842
? Don't be afraid ?
519
00:26:34,877 --> 00:26:40,281
? 'Cause tonight
we're gonna go all the way ?
520
00:26:40,316 --> 00:26:42,449
? Age ain't nothin'
but a number ?
521
00:26:42,485 --> 00:26:46,587
? Throwin' down
ain't nothin' but a thing. ?
522
00:26:46,622 --> 00:26:48,455
"Age ain't nothing but a number"
is a thing
523
00:26:48,491 --> 00:26:50,924
in the black community I've
heard since I was a little boy,
524
00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,093
when a, when a hot young girl
walks by,
525
00:26:53,129 --> 00:26:54,728
and a guy
in a barbershop says that.
526
00:26:54,830 --> 00:26:58,365
"Age ain't nothing but a number"
is definitely
527
00:26:58,467 --> 00:27:00,868
a perfect song
528
00:27:00,970 --> 00:27:04,705
for hiding in plain sight.
529
00:27:04,807 --> 00:27:08,275
Robert brought
a beauty out of her voice
530
00:27:08,311 --> 00:27:13,080
to where she became the star
that she was.
531
00:27:13,182 --> 00:27:15,349
He said he wanted her
to have the best of everything.
532
00:27:15,384 --> 00:27:17,217
He said, "man, I want
to make her the biggest star
533
00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,086
in the world, man.
Look at her. She's so..."
534
00:27:19,188 --> 00:27:20,754
She was so beautiful to him.
535
00:27:20,856 --> 00:27:22,756
And she always had him laughing.
They would...
536
00:27:22,858 --> 00:27:24,658
I'm gonna just tell you.
We'd go get ice cream,
537
00:27:24,694 --> 00:27:26,827
and I'm in the back, and i'm
walking behind 'em all the time.
538
00:27:26,862 --> 00:27:29,330
And they...
They're just so silly, man.
539
00:27:29,365 --> 00:27:31,999
You know, they were silly.
540
00:27:32,034 --> 00:27:36,437
It wasn't until
I was maybe a teenager myself
541
00:27:36,539 --> 00:27:38,939
that it really bothered me
542
00:27:39,041 --> 00:27:41,842
just how much older
he was than her.
543
00:27:41,877 --> 00:27:44,611
At the time I remember
thinking, "that's not right.
544
00:27:44,714 --> 00:27:47,448
I don't have
no grown man friends." Right?
545
00:27:47,550 --> 00:27:50,150
Like, I just can't wrap my brain
around, like,
546
00:27:50,186 --> 00:27:53,454
having a grown-up,
period, as a friend.
547
00:27:53,556 --> 00:27:55,689
You know, a babysitter
or a friend of the family,
548
00:27:55,725 --> 00:27:58,525
but never being left alone
in the care of a male,
549
00:27:58,561 --> 00:28:00,561
aside from my father.
550
00:28:03,199 --> 00:28:05,199
Her parents trusted.
551
00:28:05,234 --> 00:28:08,402
They trusted me.
They trusted US.
552
00:28:12,041 --> 00:28:15,242
I thought
they were getting closer.
553
00:28:15,277 --> 00:28:17,277
I was beginning to suspect
things but didn't want to.
554
00:28:17,380 --> 00:28:18,812
So I asked Robert.
I said, "Robert, man,
555
00:28:18,914 --> 00:28:20,314
what's going on, man?
You ain't messing..."
556
00:28:20,416 --> 00:28:22,750
"Hell no, man.
I'm not messing with Aaliyah."
557
00:28:29,392 --> 00:28:31,492
It was under talks
for a long time
558
00:28:31,594 --> 00:28:33,827
about having them come up
to the show.
559
00:28:33,929 --> 00:28:37,164
It was kind of like, they don't
want you to talk about the age.
560
00:28:37,266 --> 00:28:39,566
They don't want you to talk
about any of this stuff.
561
00:28:39,602 --> 00:28:41,368
But as a journalist,
562
00:28:41,404 --> 00:28:44,538
you kind of have to decide,
are you gonna take this risk
563
00:28:44,573 --> 00:28:46,840
while this platform is
in front of you
564
00:28:46,942 --> 00:28:49,042
and ask the questions
that the people want to know?
565
00:28:49,078 --> 00:28:50,544
Okay, let's clear something up,
'cause, you know,
566
00:28:50,579 --> 00:28:51,845
I have been getting
the rundown on the street.
567
00:28:51,947 --> 00:28:53,380
Everybody seems to think
568
00:28:53,416 --> 00:28:55,249
that y'all are either
girlfriend and boyfriend,
569
00:28:55,284 --> 00:28:57,384
or cousins, or friends.
-Look at my man.
570
00:28:57,420 --> 00:29:00,020
Just let's... let's just
get the record straight.
571
00:29:00,122 --> 00:29:01,455
We're just very close.
He's my best friend.
572
00:29:01,490 --> 00:29:03,257
Yeah, cool.
In the whole wide world.
573
00:29:03,292 --> 00:29:05,826
Now who found who?
-In the whole wide world.
574
00:29:05,928 --> 00:29:08,862
They are asked
direct questions.
575
00:29:08,964 --> 00:29:12,433
"Are you guys dating?" And they
would not give direct answers.
576
00:29:12,468 --> 00:29:14,768
They would both give
these vague answers
577
00:29:14,804 --> 00:29:16,537
that left it all up in the air.
578
00:29:16,639 --> 00:29:18,472
So they knew this wasn't right.
579
00:29:18,507 --> 00:29:21,074
And for the record,
you are how old?
580
00:29:21,110 --> 00:29:22,576
That's a secret. Shh.
581
00:29:22,611 --> 00:29:24,945
A woman doesn't disclose
her age, y'all.
582
00:29:26,782 --> 00:29:29,383
Keeping it under wraps.
-That's right.
583
00:29:29,485 --> 00:29:31,819
Seeing them dressed alike
584
00:29:31,854 --> 00:29:36,089
was really kind of like dangling
candy in front of a baby.
585
00:29:36,125 --> 00:29:39,259
Like, this is promotion,
this is a media machine.
586
00:29:39,295 --> 00:29:40,961
We're gonna work this
to our benefit,
587
00:29:40,996 --> 00:29:42,963
and we're gonna toy with you,
we're gonna play with you,
588
00:29:42,998 --> 00:29:45,098
and we're not gonna give you
any direct answers,
589
00:29:45,134 --> 00:29:47,167
and we're gonna kind of
leave you wondering,
590
00:29:47,203 --> 00:29:48,769
"well, are they a couple?"
591
00:29:51,173 --> 00:29:53,841
We were out on the road
592
00:29:53,876 --> 00:29:56,310
with Aaliyah.
593
00:29:56,345 --> 00:30:00,280
On a tour bus, there really
aren't any confined spaces.
594
00:30:00,316 --> 00:30:02,616
When you get on the bus,
there are bunks.
595
00:30:02,651 --> 00:30:05,452
And so, these bunks have little
curtains you can pull at night
596
00:30:05,488 --> 00:30:07,454
if you don't want anybody
to see you sleeping.
597
00:30:07,490 --> 00:30:08,956
So it just so happened
598
00:30:08,991 --> 00:30:11,992
we were all laying in our bunks.
599
00:30:12,027 --> 00:30:14,528
It was... and curtains are open.
600
00:30:14,563 --> 00:30:16,196
Everybody's communicating,
laughing.
601
00:30:16,232 --> 00:30:17,931
We used to play different pranks
on each other.
602
00:30:18,033 --> 00:30:19,900
And...
603
00:30:20,002 --> 00:30:22,836
I think it was intended to...
Prank time,
604
00:30:22,872 --> 00:30:27,040
when the door flew open
on the bus.
605
00:30:29,345 --> 00:30:31,311
Robert was having sex
with Aaliyah.
606
00:30:43,025 --> 00:30:45,325
When the door flew open
on the bus.
607
00:30:47,863 --> 00:30:49,997
Things that
an adult should not be doing
608
00:30:50,032 --> 00:30:51,865
with a child.
609
00:30:51,901 --> 00:30:53,734
Robert was having sex
with Aaliyah.
610
00:31:00,042 --> 00:31:01,975
I feel protective of Aaliyah
right now,
611
00:31:02,011 --> 00:31:06,680
which is why
I can't get my mouth to say...
612
00:31:10,519 --> 00:31:12,886
He destroyed a lot of people.
613
00:31:14,857 --> 00:31:17,190
Destroyed a lot of people.
614
00:31:17,226 --> 00:31:21,094
A lot of people who loved
and adored him, and...
615
00:31:24,567 --> 00:31:28,001
I can't stress
to you enough how...
616
00:31:28,037 --> 00:31:29,970
People are still suffering
617
00:31:30,005 --> 00:31:34,875
behind things
that went on 20 years ago.
618
00:31:41,050 --> 00:31:43,450
After that,
it kind of started the breakup
619
00:31:43,586 --> 00:31:45,852
of everything and everybody.
620
00:31:45,888 --> 00:31:47,354
A lot of people...
621
00:31:47,389 --> 00:31:50,991
People's emotions
were challenged.
622
00:31:51,026 --> 00:31:55,295
Our whole family
just kind of ripped up.
623
00:31:59,568 --> 00:32:01,935
Robert came to me.
We were in Miami.
624
00:32:03,939 --> 00:32:08,408
Robert said, "man,
we got Aaliyah in trouble."
625
00:32:09,945 --> 00:32:12,746
And, um, "Aaliyah in trouble?
What do you mean?"
626
00:32:12,781 --> 00:32:14,481
"Man, we got to get to Chicago."
627
00:32:14,516 --> 00:32:19,086
Robert mentioned to me that,
um, "I think she's pregnant."
628
00:32:19,188 --> 00:32:22,255
And... that broke my heart
right there.
629
00:32:22,358 --> 00:32:25,092
I was so disappointed in him,
'cause I really believed him
630
00:32:25,194 --> 00:32:26,893
when he said that, you know,
631
00:32:26,996 --> 00:32:28,562
he wasn't doing
and messing with Aaliyah.
632
00:32:28,664 --> 00:32:32,633
'Cause I questioned him,
and, um...
633
00:32:32,668 --> 00:32:35,569
Once he told me that,
I was, like...
634
00:32:35,671 --> 00:32:38,772
I just... I was... I was lost
for words, man. Um...
635
00:32:40,209 --> 00:32:42,809
He married Aaliyah.
636
00:32:45,914 --> 00:32:48,882
I was in the room
when they got married.
637
00:32:51,587 --> 00:32:53,954
In 1994,
I was working at mtv news
638
00:32:54,056 --> 00:32:56,390
as a writer, not on air,
639
00:32:56,425 --> 00:33:00,894
and the issue of,
"is he married to Aaliyah?"
640
00:33:00,929 --> 00:33:04,531
Was-was wild
and being talked about widely.
641
00:33:04,566 --> 00:33:09,403
Finally, my boss told me, "call
the cook county clerk's office
642
00:33:09,438 --> 00:33:12,305
and tell them to send you
the marriage certificate."
643
00:33:12,408 --> 00:33:15,509
Hip-hop star R. Kelly
did indeed marry his prot?G?E,
644
00:33:15,544 --> 00:33:17,444
the 15-year-old singer
Aaliyah haughton.
645
00:33:17,546 --> 00:33:18,945
Mtv news was the first
646
00:33:19,048 --> 00:33:20,580
to put out
this marriage certificate
647
00:33:20,616 --> 00:33:22,816
on which Aaliyah had said
that she was 18,
648
00:33:22,918 --> 00:33:25,585
when she's actually 15,
and R. Kelly was 27,
649
00:33:25,621 --> 00:33:27,754
and they were married.
650
00:33:29,425 --> 00:33:32,659
I, went,
and I, um... I, um...
651
00:33:32,761 --> 00:33:34,394
I'm not proud of that.
652
00:33:34,430 --> 00:33:37,197
I forged, I had papers forged
for them.
653
00:33:38,434 --> 00:33:42,135
But Aaliyah was underage.
654
00:33:42,237 --> 00:33:44,871
Got the marriage license,
and we were in a hotel
655
00:33:44,907 --> 00:33:47,674
in, maywood, Illinois.
656
00:33:47,776 --> 00:33:50,577
It was just
a quick little ceremony.
657
00:33:50,612 --> 00:33:53,113
Nothing elaborate; She didn't
have on a white dress.
658
00:33:53,148 --> 00:33:54,881
Robert didn't have on a tux.
659
00:33:54,917 --> 00:33:56,883
Just everyday wear.
660
00:33:56,919 --> 00:34:00,420
Robert said, "I do."
661
00:34:00,456 --> 00:34:02,756
He said, "I do."
Him and Aaliyah.
662
00:34:06,795 --> 00:34:09,696
Aaliyah looked worried.
663
00:34:09,798 --> 00:34:12,632
Scared.
664
00:34:15,104 --> 00:34:17,204
Worried and scared.
665
00:34:19,108 --> 00:34:22,142
I wanted so much to grab
Aaliyah and talk to her.
666
00:34:22,177 --> 00:34:25,479
I wanted so much
to talk to her.
667
00:34:25,514 --> 00:34:27,147
'Cause she looked at me,
she gave me a look
668
00:34:27,182 --> 00:34:29,549
like she wanted me
to talk to her.
669
00:34:29,651 --> 00:34:32,152
That's why I feel like I left
her-- I-I failed them.
670
00:34:32,187 --> 00:34:34,087
Both of them.
671
00:34:34,123 --> 00:34:37,791
I knew that it had changed
the course of everything.
672
00:34:42,598 --> 00:34:45,398
Lment happened with Aaliyah.
673
00:34:45,434 --> 00:34:48,435
I just know that it did.
674
00:34:48,470 --> 00:34:50,604
Her parents had
the last say-so.
675
00:35:00,682 --> 00:35:02,549
The Aaliyah situation,
676
00:35:02,684 --> 00:35:06,753
a lot of US kind of forgave
but were kind of like,
677
00:35:06,789 --> 00:35:10,257
"that was weird, but okay.
What else you got?"
678
00:35:10,292 --> 00:35:12,292
Well, they're both performers,
679
00:35:12,327 --> 00:35:15,162
and she's old beyond her years.
680
00:35:15,197 --> 00:35:17,764
And they just have
that special connection.
681
00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:19,766
It didn't yet appear like
682
00:35:19,802 --> 00:35:23,370
here's a person
who is a predator.
683
00:35:26,041 --> 00:35:27,440
Where was the outrage?
684
00:35:27,476 --> 00:35:29,109
Where was essence?
Where was ebony?
685
00:35:29,144 --> 00:35:30,911
Where was the local news?
Where was anyone?
686
00:35:30,979 --> 00:35:35,348
Like, why was this not,
in that moment, full stop?
687
00:35:35,384 --> 00:35:41,154
Why didn't the culture say
something is wrong?
688
00:35:43,892 --> 00:35:46,560
You had this whole history
689
00:35:46,662 --> 00:35:49,863
of adult male musicians who hung
out with young girls.
690
00:35:49,898 --> 00:35:52,332
Musicians who "mentor"
young girls.
691
00:35:52,367 --> 00:35:55,035
You had the history of musicians
who married young girl fans.
692
00:35:55,070 --> 00:35:59,022
And I think while it was
disturbing to people,
693
00:35:59,091 --> 00:36:01,391
it's very easy
to rationalize thi
694
00:36:01,426 --> 00:36:03,860
when you're in the industry
695
00:36:03,996 --> 00:36:05,562
and you see
this flourishing career,
696
00:36:05,597 --> 00:36:08,732
not only of Kelly,
but of Aaliyah.
697
00:36:10,102 --> 00:36:11,535
If you listen to the history
698
00:36:11,670 --> 00:36:12,969
of American popular music,
699
00:36:13,005 --> 00:36:14,571
particularly rock and roll,
700
00:36:14,673 --> 00:36:17,374
there's a whole thing
about underage girls
701
00:36:17,509 --> 00:36:20,777
that's a big running theme
in-in so much of the songs.
702
00:36:20,812 --> 00:36:23,547
"Sweet little sixteen."
703
00:36:23,682 --> 00:36:27,450
There's a body of work
of underage girls
704
00:36:27,486 --> 00:36:28,985
being sexual targets,
705
00:36:29,021 --> 00:36:31,087
being sexually promiscuous,
being celebrated.
706
00:36:31,189 --> 00:36:35,559
It's hard to think
of a group or an artist
707
00:36:35,694 --> 00:36:37,727
who didn't pay tribute
to teenage girls
708
00:36:37,763 --> 00:36:40,297
in a way that
we might question today.
709
00:36:40,332 --> 00:36:42,065
Even the Beatles, you know.
710
00:36:42,167 --> 00:36:43,900
"When I saw her
standing there."
711
00:36:43,936 --> 00:36:46,403
"She was just 17,
if you know what I mean."
712
00:36:48,173 --> 00:36:51,207
Jerry Lee Lewis
famously married
713
00:36:51,343 --> 00:36:55,211
his 13-year-old cousin
Myra, um,
714
00:36:55,347 --> 00:36:56,446
and they flaunted
their relationship.
715
00:36:56,481 --> 00:36:57,447
That actually brought down
716
00:36:57,482 --> 00:36:59,082
his career.
717
00:36:59,117 --> 00:37:02,819
Elvis Presley was more subtle
and careful
718
00:37:02,854 --> 00:37:05,322
with his teenage girlfriend
Priscilla,
719
00:37:05,357 --> 00:37:09,125
who he met when he was
a soldier abroad in Germany
720
00:37:09,161 --> 00:37:13,763
and whom he brought to live
with him as a young teenager.
721
00:37:13,799 --> 00:37:17,667
So when you think of girls
who are going to shows,
722
00:37:17,703 --> 00:37:21,738
attending concerts, becoming
completely hysterical, um,
723
00:37:21,873 --> 00:37:23,940
and then meeting their heroes,
724
00:37:23,976 --> 00:37:26,443
these-- this is a situation ripe
725
00:37:26,478 --> 00:37:30,246
for, men taking advantage
of young girls.
726
00:37:33,151 --> 00:37:35,852
Robert feels
as if he's invincible.
727
00:37:35,887 --> 00:37:38,254
"I can't be touched."
728
00:37:39,992 --> 00:37:41,825
And in hindsight, in society,
729
00:37:41,860 --> 00:37:43,493
we kind of made him feel
that way.
730
00:37:43,528 --> 00:37:45,762
Because he's progressively
done this
731
00:37:45,897 --> 00:37:48,632
for as far back
as I can remember,
732
00:37:48,667 --> 00:37:50,667
and nothing
has been done about it.
733
00:37:52,671 --> 00:37:56,272
R. Kelly created and occupied
734
00:37:56,408 --> 00:37:58,541
a position of outrageousness
735
00:37:58,577 --> 00:38:02,045
that kind of masked everything
736
00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:04,280
that was happening
behind the scenes.
737
00:38:06,718 --> 00:38:07,951
And then, when you get
that type of fame
738
00:38:08,020 --> 00:38:09,486
and that type of power,
739
00:38:09,521 --> 00:38:12,155
and you come from nothing
and you know nothing,
740
00:38:12,190 --> 00:38:15,158
and all you know is that
everyone around you is "yes"
741
00:38:15,193 --> 00:38:17,460
and "okay," "sure,"
742
00:38:17,596 --> 00:38:19,496
and you have everything
at your Beck and call,
743
00:38:19,531 --> 00:38:21,698
you kind of lose perspective
of reality.
744
00:38:26,772 --> 00:38:29,005
Oftentimes, perpetrators
745
00:38:29,107 --> 00:38:32,542
will be so brave to say,
"I'm gonna let the world know.
746
00:38:32,577 --> 00:38:34,177
"I'm gonna let everyone see
what's going on,
747
00:38:34,279 --> 00:38:35,879
and you'd better not say
anything."
748
00:38:39,284 --> 00:38:41,518
That speaks
to the amount of control
749
00:38:41,553 --> 00:38:45,255
an individual might have
over another person.
750
00:38:48,226 --> 00:38:50,660
When I was out there
on tour with him,
751
00:38:50,796 --> 00:38:53,430
he had a lot of guys that,
you know, would pretty much,
752
00:38:53,465 --> 00:38:56,166
you know, if-if he say,
753
00:38:56,301 --> 00:38:58,068
"go get some girls
from the mall,"
754
00:38:58,103 --> 00:38:58,835
they'll go get some girls.
755
00:39:06,178 --> 00:39:08,044
My name is lizzette Martinez,
756
00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:10,180
from sunny isles beach,
Florida.
757
00:39:11,516 --> 00:39:14,184
I was a typical teenager.
758
00:39:14,219 --> 00:39:17,287
I was at aventura mall
with some girlfriends,
759
00:39:17,322 --> 00:39:19,823
and, I see someone.
760
00:39:19,858 --> 00:39:22,225
A really tall guy
wearing sunglasses.
761
00:39:22,260 --> 00:39:25,195
So I said to my friend,
762
00:39:25,230 --> 00:39:27,664
"I think that's R. Kelly."
763
00:39:27,699 --> 00:39:29,699
And she's like,
"why would he be at the mall?"
764
00:39:29,735 --> 00:39:32,402
And I said, "no, that's him."
765
00:39:32,437 --> 00:39:34,137
And he heard me,
766
00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:36,673
and then he turned around,
767
00:39:36,708 --> 00:39:38,641
and I was kind of starstruck,
you know.
768
00:39:38,744 --> 00:39:40,276
Here's this person
in front of me
769
00:39:40,412 --> 00:39:42,779
that I think is,
like, the world.
770
00:39:42,881 --> 00:39:44,948
And he walked up to me
and gave me a hug,
771
00:39:45,050 --> 00:39:47,851
and I kind of, like, just...
I was kind of frozen.
772
00:39:47,886 --> 00:39:50,887
And then he said he was
recording an album.
773
00:39:50,922 --> 00:39:53,490
I said, "okay, nice
to meet you." And he left.
774
00:39:53,592 --> 00:39:55,558
But then his bodyguard
came back
775
00:39:55,594 --> 00:39:57,694
and handed me his phone number
776
00:39:57,729 --> 00:40:00,764
and said, "R. Kelly would like
you to call him."
777
00:40:02,234 --> 00:40:04,334
My best friend was with me,
778
00:40:04,436 --> 00:40:06,936
and she said,
"Liz, this is your big break.
779
00:40:06,972 --> 00:40:09,139
Like, you better call,
or I'm gonna call for you."
780
00:40:09,241 --> 00:40:11,708
For me, singing was always
an outlet,
781
00:40:11,743 --> 00:40:13,576
and I planned on having
a career.
782
00:40:13,612 --> 00:40:16,546
So I called and he said,
783
00:40:16,581 --> 00:40:20,350
"well, I'd like you to come
to dinner with US."
784
00:40:20,385 --> 00:40:23,019
My girlfriend said, "let's get
your makeup and hair done now.
785
00:40:23,121 --> 00:40:25,522
You know, this is it.
You're gonna make it."
786
00:40:25,624 --> 00:40:28,458
We were so naive.
787
00:40:30,362 --> 00:40:33,396
His bodyguard handed
me his phone number and said,
788
00:40:33,532 --> 00:40:35,298
"R. Kelly would like you
to call him."
789
00:40:36,635 --> 00:40:40,970
So we met him at
the steakhouse.
790
00:40:41,006 --> 00:40:43,473
It came up that I was, you know,
an aspiring singer.
791
00:40:43,508 --> 00:40:47,110
Later on, we went
to the recording studio,
792
00:40:47,145 --> 00:40:49,112
and my heart was thumping
when I walked in.
793
00:40:49,147 --> 00:40:53,183
And he starts to play the piano.
794
00:40:53,218 --> 00:40:55,151
He plays a song by boyz ii men
795
00:40:55,187 --> 00:40:56,786
and asked me to sing along
with it.
796
00:40:56,888 --> 00:40:58,855
And I couldn't believe it.
797
00:40:58,890 --> 00:41:02,091
I mean, I'm sitting
with R. Kelly.
798
00:41:02,227 --> 00:41:06,596
I'm 17, and he's right here,
singing.
799
00:41:06,731 --> 00:41:08,264
I just couldn't believe it.
800
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,801
I don't even know what to say.
801
00:41:11,837 --> 00:41:14,838
And then he just said that, you
know, I sound really great.
802
00:41:14,873 --> 00:41:17,140
Had a great look.
803
00:41:17,175 --> 00:41:20,844
He thought I could make it
and he was gonna help me.
804
00:41:20,879 --> 00:41:24,447
And then he leaned over
and kissed me.
805
00:41:26,518 --> 00:41:30,119
And I was really,
taken aback by that.
806
00:41:30,255 --> 00:41:33,690
I didn't know how to say no.
807
00:41:33,725 --> 00:41:38,394
All of a sudden,
his tongue is in my mouth.
808
00:41:38,430 --> 00:41:40,496
This is my dream.
809
00:41:42,033 --> 00:41:45,001
How do I handle this?
810
00:41:45,103 --> 00:41:47,570
I wanted the dream so bad,
811
00:41:47,606 --> 00:41:51,441
but I knew it was gonna be
something else.
812
00:41:56,581 --> 00:41:59,632
I knew it was gonna be
something else.
60416
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