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ASANTE: I would definitely
characterize myself
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as a survivor.
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KANIKA: I do see myself
as a victim of R. Kelly.
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LISA:
I was a victim.
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JERHONDA: I don't
consider myself a victim.
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LISA:
I am a survivor.
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JERHONDA:
I lived it
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and I survived it.
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INTERVIEWER: Why do you want
to tell your story now?
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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
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00:01:03,715 --> 00:01:05,152
for him to treat me that way.
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I want my story to be heard
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00:01:06,979 --> 00:01:09,634
so people could take
this situation seriously.
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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.
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KANIKA:
And it was just...
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It just kept going
and going and going.
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I just wanted to know
that it's not...
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You know, you're not alone.
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They're not alone.
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KANIKA:
It just made me...
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furious.
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I decided
that enough was enough.
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[sighs]
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INTERVIEWER:
Can you describe
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00:01:34,746 --> 00:01:36,531
the physical abuse?
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[mumbles]
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[crying]
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I think I can't really talk
about being abused.
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It's-it's, like...
it brings back memories,
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and it's, it's very painful
to have to talk about it again.
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-I'm sorry.
-INTERVIEWER: It's okay.
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[crying continues]
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♪
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WOMAN:
I met R. Kelly when I was 14.
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WOMAN 2: When I met him,
I was 17 years old.
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WOMAN 3:
I wanted to be a singer.
40
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WOMAN 4:
I wanted to be a dancer.
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WOMAN 5: We thought
we were gonna be stars.
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MAN:
I think my daughter's
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00:03:00,441 --> 00:03:01,833
going through prison right now.
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00:03:01,877 --> 00:03:03,487
We got a tip that she's here.
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00:03:03,531 --> 00:03:05,750
♪ Oh, say
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00:03:05,794 --> 00:03:08,579
♪ Can you see...
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In the middle of all
of these allegations,
48
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R. Kelly's just dropping music.
49
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His songs were a huge part
of the soundtrack of our lives.
50
00:03:17,936 --> 00:03:21,418
♪ I believe I can fly.
51
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Songs like "Ignition."
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♪ It's the remix to "Ignition"
53
00:03:25,944 --> 00:03:27,946
♪ Hot and fresh
out the kitchen. ♪
54
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"I Wish."
55
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♪ I'll see you again some day
56
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♪ I wish, I wish, I wish.♪
57
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He had a voice
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that was incredible.
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LESLIE SEGAR:
Women loved the way he looked,
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00:03:41,830 --> 00:03:42,874
the way he sounded.
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00:03:42,918 --> 00:03:44,659
KANIKA:
People looked at him
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00:03:44,702 --> 00:03:45,703
as the king of R&B.
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00:03:45,747 --> 00:03:47,618
He was the biggest artist
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00:03:47,662 --> 00:03:49,403
in the recording industry
at that time
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00:03:49,446 --> 00:03:51,274
in terms
of actual record sales.
66
00:03:51,318 --> 00:03:53,450
GEM PRATTS: Robert was working
with everyone.
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00:03:53,494 --> 00:03:55,235
Snoop, Céline Dion,
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00:03:55,278 --> 00:03:56,888
Michael Jordan, Janet Jackson.
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00:03:56,932 --> 00:03:58,063
ANN POWERS: He worked with Michael Jackson.
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00:03:58,107 --> 00:03:59,239
He worked with Jay-Z,
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00:03:59,282 --> 00:04:01,806
Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga.
72
00:04:01,850 --> 00:04:04,156
R. Kelly was part
of that superstar milieu.
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00:04:06,333 --> 00:04:08,030
WOMAN:
He was a hero.
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00:04:12,339 --> 00:04:14,645
-Robert, how do you feel?
-Was it you on the tape?
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00:04:14,689 --> 00:04:16,125
MIKE JERRICK:
R&B superstar
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00:04:16,168 --> 00:04:18,301
R. Kelly on trial
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for allegedly
videotaping himself
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00:04:19,998 --> 00:04:22,349
having sex
with an underage girl.
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00:04:22,392 --> 00:04:26,004
NEWSWOMAN: Jurors found him
not guilty on all charges.
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00:04:27,571 --> 00:04:29,965
R. Kelly has a problem.
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00:04:32,184 --> 00:04:34,186
The accusations are now part
of pop culture.
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00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:36,319
TOURE:
South Park touched on it.
83
00:04:36,363 --> 00:04:38,278
Chappelle's Show touched on it.
84
00:04:38,321 --> 00:04:41,281
After R. Kelly got off trial,
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00:04:41,324 --> 00:04:43,152
I'd do the interview.
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00:04:43,195 --> 00:04:44,632
He was very nervous.
87
00:04:44,675 --> 00:04:48,244
Do you like teenage girls?
88
00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:52,335
When you say "teenage,"
how old are we talking?
89
00:04:52,379 --> 00:04:54,294
This is an industry
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00:04:54,337 --> 00:04:56,078
where anything goes.
91
00:04:56,121 --> 00:04:57,035
NELSON GEORGE:
He's a font of money.
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00:04:57,079 --> 00:04:58,123
He was like a bad boy,
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00:04:58,167 --> 00:04:59,560
like an antihero.
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00:04:59,603 --> 00:05:00,996
MISS INFO:
You know that he's dirty,
95
00:05:01,039 --> 00:05:02,824
which is so delusional
96
00:05:02,867 --> 00:05:04,652
for us to kind of feel like,
97
00:05:04,695 --> 00:05:05,783
"Oh, it's all good now."
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00:05:06,958 --> 00:05:08,482
MAN:
R. Kelly has power
99
00:05:08,525 --> 00:05:11,049
over these young girls.
100
00:05:11,093 --> 00:05:12,399
WOMAN:
I had to wait for permission
101
00:05:12,442 --> 00:05:14,749
to be able to use the bathroom.
102
00:05:14,792 --> 00:05:16,141
-It's okay. Okay.
-[sobbing]
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00:05:16,185 --> 00:05:18,318
Your dad says
he loves you so much.
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00:05:18,361 --> 00:05:20,232
CRAIG WILLIAMS:
What the heck is he doing
105
00:05:20,276 --> 00:05:22,234
hanging around the high school?
106
00:05:22,278 --> 00:05:24,585
R. Kelly believes he can fly
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and that he is untouchable.
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00:05:26,413 --> 00:05:28,284
-PROTESTER: Shame on you!
-PROTESTERS: Shame on you!
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00:05:28,328 --> 00:05:30,286
-Shame on you!
-Shame on you!
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00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:34,072
-Mute R. Kelly!
-Mute R. Kelly!
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00:05:40,340 --> 00:05:43,778
POWERS: His performances were increasingly pornographic.
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00:05:48,783 --> 00:05:50,872
[indistinct chatter]
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-You understand me?
-Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
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00:05:52,961 --> 00:05:55,746
Drop your [bleep], big dog.
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00:05:55,790 --> 00:05:57,531
That's right.
116
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I am handcuffed,
like a lot of you mother[bleep].
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I'm handcuffed by my destiny.
It's too late.
118
00:06:02,927 --> 00:06:05,365
They should've did this [bleep]
30 years ago.
119
00:06:05,408 --> 00:06:07,279
-It's too late.
-Tell 'em, R.
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00:06:12,023 --> 00:06:13,851
[children chattering]
121
00:06:22,599 --> 00:06:25,994
My family grew up in Altgeld
Gardens housing projects.
122
00:06:26,037 --> 00:06:29,432
[children continue chattering]
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00:06:29,476 --> 00:06:31,869
My name is Carey Kelly,
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00:06:31,913 --> 00:06:34,568
and I'm R. Kelly's
baby brother.
125
00:06:36,744 --> 00:06:39,050
Theresa's the oldest.
126
00:06:39,094 --> 00:06:41,705
Bruce is the second oldest.
127
00:06:41,749 --> 00:06:45,796
Robert, and then myself.
128
00:06:49,104 --> 00:06:51,411
KATHY CHANEY:
R. Kelly did face hardships
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00:06:51,454 --> 00:06:53,325
with his family.
130
00:06:55,458 --> 00:06:58,026
Like many other,
you know, households
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00:06:58,069 --> 00:07:01,377
in the inner city.
132
00:07:01,421 --> 00:07:03,292
You may not know where your next meal was coming from.
133
00:07:03,335 --> 00:07:04,685
People living check to check.
134
00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:11,256
CAREY: Even though we grew up
living in the projects,
135
00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:15,478
Robert is not cut from a cloth
of being street.
136
00:07:16,784 --> 00:07:20,048
He was mild-mannered, afraid.
137
00:07:22,006 --> 00:07:24,444
He didn't come outside.
He stayed
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00:07:24,487 --> 00:07:27,185
in the house and played
with his keyboard.
139
00:07:32,539 --> 00:07:34,889
My name's Bruce Kelly.
140
00:07:34,932 --> 00:07:38,240
In my earliest
childhood memories,
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00:07:38,283 --> 00:07:41,243
Robert was shy and very timid,
you know.
142
00:07:41,286 --> 00:07:45,377
If you'd stare at him
in his face, he'd start crying.
143
00:07:45,421 --> 00:07:48,424
We would have
to urge him on to sing
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00:07:48,468 --> 00:07:50,165
'cause he was really shy,
145
00:07:50,208 --> 00:07:52,341
and he would sing
with his back turned to people
146
00:07:52,384 --> 00:07:55,039
so he wouldn't have
to look them in the face.
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00:07:57,738 --> 00:08:00,131
CAREY:
Everybody have a mother.
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00:08:00,175 --> 00:08:02,003
They have a father.
149
00:08:04,527 --> 00:08:07,225
But our father had-had,
you know, just left
150
00:08:07,269 --> 00:08:09,750
and said forget us.
151
00:08:12,056 --> 00:08:16,234
It was a struggle,
but we never went hungry.
152
00:08:16,278 --> 00:08:18,323
CHANEY:
R. Kelly grew up
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00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:20,151
in the church.
His mother sang in the church.
154
00:08:21,936 --> 00:08:25,113
BRUCE: My mother was
the lead singer of the choir.
155
00:08:25,156 --> 00:08:28,508
She would make people catch
the spirits, as they call them.
156
00:08:28,551 --> 00:08:31,511
She was a very big fan
of Aretha Franklin,
157
00:08:31,554 --> 00:08:34,470
Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan.
158
00:08:34,514 --> 00:08:36,428
When she would do
Gladys Knight,
159
00:08:36,472 --> 00:08:39,170
we would be her Pips.
160
00:08:39,214 --> 00:08:40,911
So it just grew.
We just, we loved music
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just as much as she did.
162
00:08:44,828 --> 00:08:47,222
Robert had problems reading
and writing.
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00:08:49,485 --> 00:08:52,357
He did apply hisself.
He-he took tutoring
164
00:08:52,401 --> 00:08:55,578
and-and things of that nature.
165
00:08:55,622 --> 00:08:58,494
He just couldn't...
he couldn't grasp a hold to it.
166
00:08:58,538 --> 00:09:00,583
One day I came home,
167
00:09:00,627 --> 00:09:01,932
Robert was locked
in the bathroom.
168
00:09:01,976 --> 00:09:03,673
He was in there crying.
169
00:09:03,717 --> 00:09:05,893
And I... I'm listening.
170
00:09:05,936 --> 00:09:08,809
I hear him in there...
just crying.
171
00:09:08,852 --> 00:09:11,072
I knock on the door. "Robert."
172
00:09:11,115 --> 00:09:13,248
He tried to straight... "Yeah."
173
00:09:13,291 --> 00:09:15,598
I said,
"What's wrong with you, man?"
174
00:09:15,642 --> 00:09:19,254
Broke down,
started crying again.
175
00:09:19,297 --> 00:09:22,126
"I'm just tired
of these kids always teasing me
176
00:09:22,170 --> 00:09:24,520
'cause I can't read."
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00:09:24,564 --> 00:09:27,523
I'm like, "Man, look,
let me tell you something.
178
00:09:27,567 --> 00:09:31,875
"It gonna be the same kids
that's gonna be crying
179
00:09:31,919 --> 00:09:36,532
because you're famous."
180
00:09:36,576 --> 00:09:38,490
He taught hisself
to play by ear.
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00:09:38,534 --> 00:09:41,711
What he hear...
If he hear a beat in his head,
182
00:09:41,755 --> 00:09:43,539
he'd pick it until he...
183
00:09:43,583 --> 00:09:45,672
until that beat come alive.
184
00:09:45,715 --> 00:09:47,108
He would hum it and sing it,
185
00:09:47,151 --> 00:09:49,284
versus having
to write it musically
186
00:09:49,327 --> 00:09:51,112
or, you know,
write or read music.
187
00:09:51,155 --> 00:09:53,244
He actually gravitated
to it like...
188
00:09:53,288 --> 00:09:54,985
It's-it's like he knew
189
00:09:55,029 --> 00:09:56,857
that-that was his purpose.
190
00:10:02,906 --> 00:10:06,388
My name is Craig Williams.
I've known Rob about...
191
00:10:06,431 --> 00:10:09,434
30 years, I guess.
I met him back in the late '80s.
192
00:10:09,478 --> 00:10:13,656
I was at-at the recording
studio Chicago Trax.
193
00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:16,267
Gavin Christopher was an artist in Chicago.
194
00:10:16,311 --> 00:10:17,660
He came to the studio,
195
00:10:17,704 --> 00:10:21,185
and he brought this kid
with him.
196
00:10:21,229 --> 00:10:24,449
And the kid was Rob.
197
00:10:24,493 --> 00:10:27,583
He had a little
white Casio piano.
198
00:10:27,627 --> 00:10:30,020
Gavin says, "You got to check this kid out.
199
00:10:30,064 --> 00:10:31,282
He can really sing."
200
00:10:31,326 --> 00:10:32,675
He said, "Sing for him."
201
00:10:32,719 --> 00:10:35,069
Rob turned on his piano,
202
00:10:35,112 --> 00:10:37,767
and he started singing a song
about roses
203
00:10:37,811 --> 00:10:40,596
or something like that.
204
00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,208
He had a voice
that was incredible.
205
00:10:44,252 --> 00:10:47,168
It sounded like a hit song
already, so I was thinking
206
00:10:47,211 --> 00:10:49,649
he was playing something
that was already written,
207
00:10:49,692 --> 00:10:53,565
but this was a song
that he had written himself.
208
00:10:53,609 --> 00:10:56,743
At that point, I knew
that this kid was something.
209
00:10:56,786 --> 00:11:00,094
He really reminded me
of Marvin Gaye
210
00:11:00,137 --> 00:11:02,487
was the first thing,
and a Sam Cooke,
211
00:11:02,531 --> 00:11:04,228
a legend.
212
00:11:04,272 --> 00:11:06,796
He was amazing.
213
00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,972
CAREY: Robert pretty much stayed busy.
214
00:11:09,016 --> 00:11:10,365
He pretty much went
to the studio.
215
00:11:10,408 --> 00:11:12,367
He pretty much
became more creative.
216
00:11:12,410 --> 00:11:15,065
He became obsessed
with doing music
217
00:11:15,109 --> 00:11:16,676
because that was his outlet,
218
00:11:16,719 --> 00:11:20,549
because it took his mind away
from reality...
219
00:11:20,592 --> 00:11:22,507
which was kind of rough.
220
00:11:22,551 --> 00:11:24,422
[train passing]
221
00:11:32,213 --> 00:11:34,781
R. KELLY: Like anything else
when you're a child,
222
00:11:34,824 --> 00:11:38,088
whatever you're taught, um...
223
00:11:38,132 --> 00:11:40,134
it goes with you.
224
00:11:42,963 --> 00:11:47,097
CAREY: Once we moved
out the projects...
225
00:11:47,141 --> 00:11:50,318
a lot of things changed
for the worse.
226
00:11:54,409 --> 00:11:57,020
I recently saw the interview,
227
00:11:57,064 --> 00:12:00,807
uh, that R. Kelly did
with Tavis Smiley...
228
00:12:02,547 --> 00:12:04,462
...which was striking.
229
00:12:04,506 --> 00:12:06,377
SMILEY: At eight or nine years
of age, you talk in the book
230
00:12:06,421 --> 00:12:09,337
about how exposed you were
to sex.
231
00:12:09,380 --> 00:12:12,253
You saw it. There were adults
232
00:12:12,296 --> 00:12:14,342
who should not have been
but were coming on to you
233
00:12:14,385 --> 00:12:15,865
even when you were a child.
234
00:12:15,909 --> 00:12:18,259
What'd that do to you
to be exposed to sex
235
00:12:18,302 --> 00:12:20,696
at that early age?
236
00:12:20,740 --> 00:12:23,438
[sighs]
237
00:12:23,481 --> 00:12:25,527
Well...
238
00:12:25,570 --> 00:12:28,835
um, I'm not gonna throw
any of my people
239
00:12:28,878 --> 00:12:31,925
or... my family under a bus,
240
00:12:31,968 --> 00:12:35,537
but I feel I owe my fans, um...
241
00:12:37,887 --> 00:12:40,803
...at least enough for them
to have an understanding
242
00:12:40,847 --> 00:12:48,898
as to what I went through.
243
00:12:48,942 --> 00:12:50,726
R. KELLY: I was molested when I was sevenAnd, yes
244
00:12:50,770 --> 00:12:54,295
on to maybe 13, 14,
something like that,
245
00:12:54,338 --> 00:12:57,298
uh, by people in my family.
246
00:12:59,039 --> 00:13:02,956
Sexually,
it woke up my hormones
247
00:13:02,999 --> 00:13:05,045
a lot earlier than it...
248
00:13:05,088 --> 00:13:06,829
they were supposed
to be awakened.
249
00:13:11,616 --> 00:13:15,316
When you're a child,
you don't really know.
250
00:13:15,359 --> 00:13:17,579
You only see,
251
00:13:17,622 --> 00:13:20,756
and you learn,
and you try to figure it out.
252
00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,108
It enhances your curiosity
before its time.
253
00:13:25,152 --> 00:13:27,458
You're not supposed
to be curious about sex,
254
00:13:27,502 --> 00:13:29,765
because you're not supposed
to see sex right now.
255
00:13:35,727 --> 00:13:38,600
I believe that-that Robert...
that it's possible.
256
00:13:38,643 --> 00:13:41,168
I don't think that he...
If he's saying that,
257
00:13:41,211 --> 00:13:43,126
I don't think that he's lying.
258
00:13:43,170 --> 00:13:46,608
Because it happened to me.
It happened to me.
259
00:13:46,651 --> 00:13:50,699
You know, I really don't talk to people about a lot of things
260
00:13:50,742 --> 00:13:53,006
that... that I
have been going through.
261
00:13:53,049 --> 00:13:55,356
I just...
I just keep it and hold it.
262
00:13:57,184 --> 00:13:59,534
I was molested
by a family member,
263
00:13:59,577 --> 00:14:02,145
and that...
264
00:14:02,189 --> 00:14:05,366
shook my world, you know,
'cause I-I didn't understand it.
265
00:14:05,409 --> 00:14:07,455
Um, I knew it wasn't right,
266
00:14:07,498 --> 00:14:10,545
even though I was
six years old at that time.
267
00:14:10,588 --> 00:14:14,027
I knew it wasn't right,
but it was happening to me.
268
00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:18,031
I was afraid
to tell my mom, um...
269
00:14:18,074 --> 00:14:21,208
um, because of the person,
who they were.
270
00:14:21,251 --> 00:14:22,731
I-I didn't...
271
00:14:22,774 --> 00:14:25,647
I didn't know
if she was gonna...
272
00:14:25,690 --> 00:14:29,694
believe me,
so I was afraid to tell her.
273
00:14:29,738 --> 00:14:31,653
Robert,
him being my big brother,
274
00:14:31,696 --> 00:14:33,350
I brought that to him
275
00:14:33,394 --> 00:14:36,005
and told-told him
what happened to me.
276
00:14:36,049 --> 00:14:38,181
And when I told him
what happened to me,
277
00:14:38,225 --> 00:14:41,141
um...
278
00:14:41,184 --> 00:14:44,666
he didn't,
he didn't really respond to it
279
00:14:44,709 --> 00:14:47,321
like I felt that he should.
280
00:14:47,364 --> 00:14:48,626
When-when I told him, he said,
281
00:14:48,670 --> 00:14:49,889
"No, that didn't,
that didn't happen,
282
00:14:49,932 --> 00:14:51,368
that didn't happen to you."
283
00:14:51,412 --> 00:14:53,109
And I said, "Yes, it did."
284
00:14:53,153 --> 00:14:54,894
You know, Robert said,
"No, it didn't."
285
00:14:54,937 --> 00:14:56,547
Then I left it alone.
286
00:14:56,591 --> 00:14:58,549
I really knew not to take it
to my mom then.
287
00:14:58,593 --> 00:15:00,551
My brothers was the test.
288
00:15:00,595 --> 00:15:04,294
If they believed me, then maybe
I could've took it to an adult.
289
00:15:06,775 --> 00:15:10,518
Child sexual abuse confuses
power and control with sex.
290
00:15:10,561 --> 00:15:13,303
And so...
291
00:15:13,347 --> 00:15:16,263
children may want to say, like,
292
00:15:16,306 --> 00:15:19,309
"I want to be the one that's
in that power position," right?
293
00:15:19,353 --> 00:15:21,268
"I never want to be
a victim again.
294
00:15:21,311 --> 00:15:23,531
"I want to the person
that's in the power
295
00:15:23,574 --> 00:15:24,793
in a sexual relationship."
296
00:15:24,836 --> 00:15:26,186
And so, as they get older,
297
00:15:26,229 --> 00:15:27,927
they want to make sure
298
00:15:27,970 --> 00:15:31,060
that they're always
in that power position.
299
00:15:31,104 --> 00:15:34,020
And there's really
no more powerful position
300
00:15:34,063 --> 00:15:39,416
in a sexual relationship than
to be the abuser to the child.
301
00:15:42,028 --> 00:15:43,943
♪
302
00:15:46,032 --> 00:15:47,816
I met Robert
at Kenwood High School.
303
00:15:47,859 --> 00:15:49,644
We were in the choir together.
304
00:15:49,687 --> 00:15:51,559
Under Dr. Lena McLin.
305
00:15:51,602 --> 00:15:54,736
JAMILAH LEMIEUX:
One of the crown jewels
306
00:15:54,779 --> 00:15:57,826
in Kenwood Academy's,
you know, reputation
307
00:15:57,869 --> 00:16:00,960
is their concert choir under
the direction of Dr. Lena McLin.
308
00:16:02,744 --> 00:16:05,529
GEM:
She was truly like...
309
00:16:05,573 --> 00:16:08,402
Rob's surrogate mother.
310
00:16:08,445 --> 00:16:11,709
She loved that boy,
took him under her wing,
311
00:16:11,753 --> 00:16:14,016
and...
312
00:16:14,060 --> 00:16:15,931
really made him and honed him
313
00:16:15,975 --> 00:16:19,108
into being the singer
that he is today.
314
00:16:19,152 --> 00:16:23,156
My grandma taught at Kenwood
Academy as a music teacher.
315
00:16:23,199 --> 00:16:26,159
So don't nobody think I'm hard,
'cause I'm really very nice.
316
00:16:26,202 --> 00:16:29,423
She was more than just a music
teacher to a lot of people.
317
00:16:29,466 --> 00:16:33,079
She was a mother to a lot
of people, and still is.
318
00:16:33,122 --> 00:16:35,255
My grandma's taught
so many students,
319
00:16:35,298 --> 00:16:37,822
and... of the notable students,
320
00:16:37,866 --> 00:16:39,476
Mandy Patinkin,
321
00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:40,825
Da Brat,
322
00:16:40,869 --> 00:16:42,218
Jennifer Hudson,
323
00:16:42,262 --> 00:16:43,698
Chaka Khan,
324
00:16:43,741 --> 00:16:44,829
just to name a few.
325
00:16:46,266 --> 00:16:48,311
LENA:
I was impressed,
326
00:16:48,355 --> 00:16:50,792
and I was amazed,
327
00:16:50,835 --> 00:16:53,534
because he was musically...
328
00:16:53,577 --> 00:16:56,493
uh, genius material.
329
00:16:56,537 --> 00:16:58,234
INTERVIEWER: Did he ever talk
about his home life?
330
00:16:58,278 --> 00:17:01,281
No, he didn't talk about that,
331
00:17:01,324 --> 00:17:05,415
but you knew about it, because
it came out in the music...
332
00:17:05,459 --> 00:17:08,375
in what-what they express,
you know.
333
00:17:08,418 --> 00:17:11,030
Children express
what they fear,
334
00:17:11,073 --> 00:17:14,207
they love,
that's around them, you know.
335
00:17:16,644 --> 00:17:19,473
And he was very...
336
00:17:19,516 --> 00:17:22,432
very aggressive.
337
00:17:22,476 --> 00:17:23,825
[laughs]
338
00:17:23,868 --> 00:17:26,088
What do you mean by aggressive?
339
00:17:26,132 --> 00:17:30,788
Well, yeah, aggressive in some
of his sexual language, too.
340
00:17:30,832 --> 00:17:33,400
Which we had to discuss
341
00:17:33,443 --> 00:17:37,491
and say that it wouldn't be
appropriate to school.
342
00:17:37,534 --> 00:17:41,451
It wouldn't really be...
really be appropriate, period.
343
00:17:43,279 --> 00:17:45,368
GEM:
He dropped out senior year.
344
00:17:45,412 --> 00:17:47,153
You saw his confidence...
345
00:17:47,196 --> 00:17:50,112
kind of swell
346
00:17:50,156 --> 00:17:52,462
once he realized he had a gift,
347
00:17:52,506 --> 00:17:54,725
you know,
when it came to, uh, singing.
348
00:17:54,769 --> 00:17:59,817
And it went from him
being shy to confident.
349
00:17:59,861 --> 00:18:02,864
It was really,
uh, an evolution.
350
00:18:02,907 --> 00:18:06,128
He just honed in
on his craft and just...
351
00:18:06,172 --> 00:18:07,956
he made himself
352
00:18:07,999 --> 00:18:10,828
into a great singer.
353
00:18:10,872 --> 00:18:14,093
CAREY:
He got noticed...
354
00:18:14,136 --> 00:18:18,967
basically, when he actually went
to Natalie Cole's Big Break.
355
00:18:19,010 --> 00:18:20,403
Robert said,
"I'm gonna win the show.
356
00:18:20,447 --> 00:18:22,188
I'm gonna win the show."
357
00:18:22,231 --> 00:18:25,452
You had the best talent,
you know, in the, in the nation,
358
00:18:25,495 --> 00:18:27,932
and it whittled down
to two groups.
359
00:18:27,976 --> 00:18:30,021
Okay, for R. Kelly and MGM,
360
00:18:30,065 --> 00:18:32,546
-they received 280 points.
-[cheering]
361
00:18:32,589 --> 00:18:35,679
R. Kelly and MGM is
the champion!
362
00:18:35,723 --> 00:18:38,247
A hundred thousand dollars!
363
00:18:38,291 --> 00:18:39,814
Hello!
364
00:18:39,857 --> 00:18:42,730
♪
365
00:18:44,471 --> 00:18:48,301
CAREY: That's when
all the labels start calling,
366
00:18:48,344 --> 00:18:50,129
and that's when he took off.
367
00:18:50,172 --> 00:18:54,611
Once he signed to Jive Records,
it was a wrap.
368
00:18:57,658 --> 00:18:59,573
♪
369
00:19:03,142 --> 00:19:05,405
I was traveling
through Hyde Park at one time,
370
00:19:05,448 --> 00:19:08,277
and I stopped at a store,
and Rob was driving by,
371
00:19:08,321 --> 00:19:10,714
and he was on his way
to Kenwood High School.
372
00:19:10,758 --> 00:19:13,195
And I heard a lot
about Rob going
373
00:19:13,239 --> 00:19:15,937
to Kenwood High School
to, to hang out,
374
00:19:15,980 --> 00:19:18,418
and I always wondered,
what the heck is he doing
375
00:19:18,461 --> 00:19:20,333
hanging around the high school?
376
00:19:20,376 --> 00:19:24,293
He's... left high school
many years ago.
377
00:19:24,337 --> 00:19:25,860
And, uh...
378
00:19:27,427 --> 00:19:29,342
That's all I can say
on that one,
379
00:19:29,385 --> 00:19:32,083
'cause I don't know,
but I heard that, you know,
380
00:19:32,127 --> 00:19:35,565
he was picking up a lot of...
a lot of kids from the school.
381
00:19:35,609 --> 00:19:37,524
♪
382
00:19:42,964 --> 00:19:44,444
My name is Jovante Cunningham.
383
00:19:44,487 --> 00:19:47,403
I have known Robert Kelly
since 1991.
384
00:19:47,447 --> 00:19:50,450
At that time, I was about 14.
385
00:19:50,493 --> 00:19:52,408
I met him through
a dear friend of mine,
386
00:19:52,452 --> 00:19:53,670
Tiffany.
387
00:19:53,714 --> 00:19:56,673
She was also, uh, yeah, 14.
388
00:19:56,717 --> 00:19:58,762
He was an upcoming artist.
389
00:19:58,806 --> 00:20:02,070
She knew him
prior to me meeting her.
390
00:20:02,113 --> 00:20:04,420
I believe they met
at Kenwood High School,
391
00:20:04,464 --> 00:20:06,553
and she asked,
392
00:20:06,596 --> 00:20:08,555
"You want to go down
and meet so and so?"
393
00:20:08,598 --> 00:20:09,730
And I'm like, "Who is that?"
394
00:20:09,773 --> 00:20:11,253
And we went.
395
00:20:11,297 --> 00:20:13,255
And that's how it started.
396
00:20:15,910 --> 00:20:17,738
Ooh.
397
00:20:17,781 --> 00:20:20,088
Wasn't something that
was talked about, you know.
398
00:20:20,131 --> 00:20:21,568
I don't remember
actually saying,
399
00:20:21,611 --> 00:20:23,613
"Hey, by the way,
how old are you?"
400
00:20:23,657 --> 00:20:27,269
We were doing
the background vocals
401
00:20:27,313 --> 00:20:29,619
for theBorn into the 90's
album.
402
00:20:29,663 --> 00:20:32,927
He would just ask us
to come into the studio,
403
00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:35,146
and, "You sing this,
you sing this,
404
00:20:35,190 --> 00:20:37,366
you sing that,
y'all sing it together."
405
00:20:37,410 --> 00:20:40,195
And that's how it would go.
406
00:20:40,239 --> 00:20:44,025
I wanted to be
a professional singer.
407
00:20:44,068 --> 00:20:46,854
You're up close and personal
with, um, someone
408
00:20:46,897 --> 00:20:49,160
who is potentially
going to be...
409
00:20:49,204 --> 00:20:51,467
seen in the... in the world,
410
00:20:51,511 --> 00:20:54,688
and... you're young, you know?
411
00:20:54,731 --> 00:20:56,733
You're excited.
You think, "Wow," you know?
412
00:20:56,777 --> 00:20:58,822
"Who's this person?"
and "What do you got going on?"
413
00:20:58,866 --> 00:21:00,868
and "Can I hear your music?"
414
00:21:00,911 --> 00:21:02,261
And that was the first time
I heard "Honey Love,"
415
00:21:02,304 --> 00:21:04,263
and I was like, "Wow!"
416
00:21:04,306 --> 00:21:07,440
♪ 'Cause there is
something' that ♪
417
00:21:07,483 --> 00:21:09,485
♪ I want from you...
418
00:21:09,529 --> 00:21:11,748
A very talented
young man, and...
419
00:21:11,792 --> 00:21:14,969
his ability to create music
is ingenious.
420
00:21:15,012 --> 00:21:17,319
It really is.
He's truly a talent.
421
00:21:17,363 --> 00:21:19,974
♪
422
00:21:20,017 --> 00:21:21,323
JACQUES CONWAY:
Right across the street
423
00:21:21,367 --> 00:21:23,194
from Kenwood High School,
424
00:21:23,238 --> 00:21:26,459
I would see R. Kelly there
425
00:21:26,502 --> 00:21:29,418
on a regular basis, and these
were high school girls,
426
00:21:29,462 --> 00:21:31,638
freshmen, sophomores,
I couldn't tell exactly.
427
00:21:31,681 --> 00:21:34,205
But I know they were students
at the, at the high school.
428
00:21:34,249 --> 00:21:36,686
His nickname
is not Pied Piper for nothing.
429
00:21:36,730 --> 00:21:40,386
Pied Piper's whole purpose is to
bring the young people to him,
430
00:21:40,429 --> 00:21:43,476
to follow him, to admire him,
to listen to him.
431
00:21:43,519 --> 00:21:45,434
And so, he's good at it.
432
00:21:47,131 --> 00:21:49,003
MIKKI KENDALL:
The first time I saw R. Kelly,
433
00:21:49,046 --> 00:21:52,963
I was probably around 12,
maybe 13.
434
00:21:53,007 --> 00:21:55,357
We would hang out
435
00:21:55,401 --> 00:21:57,968
at the McDonald's in Hyde Park.
436
00:21:58,012 --> 00:22:00,275
I was 14 years old.
437
00:22:00,319 --> 00:22:02,886
And we'd always see him
come in by himself
438
00:22:02,930 --> 00:22:05,585
but leave with,
with some student.
439
00:22:05,628 --> 00:22:06,890
DEMETRIUS SMITH:
We'd meet girls.
440
00:22:06,934 --> 00:22:09,023
Robert would, um...
441
00:22:09,066 --> 00:22:11,634
Iwould...
442
00:22:11,678 --> 00:22:14,420
a lot of times, make people
know that R. Kelly's here.
443
00:22:14,463 --> 00:22:17,597
KENDALL: You would see
the Ford Explorer pull up.
444
00:22:19,555 --> 00:22:21,557
There were a bunch of girls
in Kenwood jackets,
445
00:22:21,601 --> 00:22:23,037
in high school clothes.
446
00:22:24,821 --> 00:22:27,258
You would see him
and his group of guys
447
00:22:27,302 --> 00:22:28,738
come in and kind of hang out.
448
00:22:28,782 --> 00:22:30,218
"Mr. Kelly wants to meet you."
449
00:22:30,261 --> 00:22:32,394
♪
450
00:22:32,438 --> 00:22:34,701
And you'd look over, and there
was like a little nod.
451
00:22:34,744 --> 00:22:36,790
If you're the girl
that smiles back,
452
00:22:36,833 --> 00:22:39,270
that's when he
starts talking to you.
453
00:22:39,314 --> 00:22:40,750
CHANEY:
Public Announcement,
454
00:22:40,794 --> 00:22:44,101
R. Kelly,Born into the 90's.
455
00:22:44,145 --> 00:22:46,321
He was on the rise.
He knew that
456
00:22:46,365 --> 00:22:48,845
he had the singing career,
and he was blowing up,
457
00:22:48,889 --> 00:22:51,631
and who wouldn't want to be
with a superstar?
458
00:22:51,674 --> 00:22:53,981
He liked high school girls.
459
00:22:54,024 --> 00:22:56,636
He could influence them more.
460
00:22:56,679 --> 00:22:59,465
They were more impressionable.
461
00:22:59,508 --> 00:23:01,423
He tries to slide in
in that space
462
00:23:01,467 --> 00:23:03,338
where girls
don't know better yet,
463
00:23:03,382 --> 00:23:07,734
where they can't necessarily
spot a predator.
464
00:23:07,777 --> 00:23:11,041
People will say, "Well,
why didn't anyone notice?"
465
00:23:12,869 --> 00:23:14,436
The answer is
that we all noticed;
466
00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,612
no one cared
because we were black girls.
467
00:23:21,312 --> 00:23:23,402
JOVANTE: I would hear different
things, but I didn't realize
468
00:23:23,445 --> 00:23:25,621
what was going on at the time.
469
00:23:25,665 --> 00:23:29,451
I know when we were around,
as children ourselves,
470
00:23:29,495 --> 00:23:31,410
as teenagers,
471
00:23:31,453 --> 00:23:33,760
[laughs]: it was,
"Go out, find me some girls,"
472
00:23:33,803 --> 00:23:35,936
to recruit, in a sense.
473
00:23:35,979 --> 00:23:38,721
I mean, and at that time you didn't think of it as that.
474
00:23:38,765 --> 00:23:40,810
At that time you're thinking,
"Go get me some girls"?
475
00:23:40,854 --> 00:23:43,857
I mean, we weren't looking
for underage women.
476
00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:46,468
In our minds we were just looking for girls.
477
00:23:46,512 --> 00:23:49,036
We were so stupid.
478
00:23:49,079 --> 00:23:51,038
Just so...
479
00:23:51,081 --> 00:23:52,779
naive.
480
00:23:52,822 --> 00:23:56,435
♪
481
00:23:56,478 --> 00:23:58,959
The first time I witnessed
a sexual act in the studio
482
00:23:59,002 --> 00:24:00,830
was during the recording
483
00:24:00,874 --> 00:24:02,963
of "Slow Dance," the remix.
484
00:24:03,006 --> 00:24:06,445
He had one of my teenage friends
in the booth with him bent over.
485
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:13,408
And we were all right there.
486
00:24:13,452 --> 00:24:15,802
♪
487
00:24:15,845 --> 00:24:18,500
I will not say with whom,
488
00:24:18,544 --> 00:24:20,502
but none of us were of age.
489
00:24:20,546 --> 00:24:22,461
None of us.
490
00:24:35,996 --> 00:24:37,911
Um...
491
00:24:39,565 --> 00:24:42,002
We went through a lot.
492
00:24:42,045 --> 00:24:44,134
We experienced a lot.
493
00:24:44,178 --> 00:24:46,049
We saw a lot. Um...
494
00:24:48,312 --> 00:24:52,839
It was a period of time when...
495
00:24:52,882 --> 00:24:56,103
um...
496
00:24:56,146 --> 00:24:58,409
we were just trying to make it.
497
00:24:58,453 --> 00:25:00,586
We had... we had big dreams,
498
00:25:00,629 --> 00:25:04,938
and we thought
we were gonna be somebody.
499
00:25:12,511 --> 00:25:14,121
"And don't give me
that bull[bleep] about it.
500
00:25:14,164 --> 00:25:16,515
You should not meet 'em."
501
00:25:16,558 --> 00:25:19,909
And that was my language
to him consistently.
502
00:25:19,953 --> 00:25:22,433
He has no business around them.
503
00:25:22,477 --> 00:25:25,436
They were too young for him.
504
00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,352
I told him, "Go on, live your
life the way you want to live,
505
00:25:28,396 --> 00:25:30,398
but don't bring down
somebody else's life."
506
00:25:35,621 --> 00:25:37,971
LEMIEUX:
So, 1993,
507
00:25:38,014 --> 00:25:41,496
we get 12 Play,which is,
508
00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:45,587
in my opinion, what really
establishes R. Kelly as
509
00:25:45,631 --> 00:25:47,676
one of the most influential,
510
00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:51,680
if not themost influential
R&B artist of his generation.
511
00:25:51,724 --> 00:25:54,727
"Bump n' Grind" is
his first big song.
512
00:25:54,770 --> 00:25:56,555
♪ With a little
bump and grind ♪
513
00:25:56,598 --> 00:25:58,600
♪ With a little bump
and grind... ♪
514
00:25:58,644 --> 00:26:00,689
It's kind of slow,
like a ballad,
515
00:26:00,733 --> 00:26:03,039
but then it's like,
516
00:26:03,083 --> 00:26:06,869
there's nothing wrong
with being physical and sexual.
517
00:26:06,913 --> 00:26:10,612
And so, it's sort of that
classic R&B message of, like,
518
00:26:10,656 --> 00:26:13,049
sexuality's okay, like, it's okay to be physical.
519
00:26:13,093 --> 00:26:15,791
LEMIEUX: In the beginning, with
12 Play, we get to this point
520
00:26:15,835 --> 00:26:18,098
where it's less about having
521
00:26:18,141 --> 00:26:21,318
beautiful lyrics, or a beautiful
melody and a great voice,
522
00:26:21,362 --> 00:26:23,494
and almost about this kind
of shock and awe,
523
00:26:23,538 --> 00:26:25,453
and this raunch
and this raw sexuality.
524
00:26:25,496 --> 00:26:27,629
You know, "Sex Me."
525
00:26:27,673 --> 00:26:30,458
TOURE: I mean, a lot of these
songs are great, you know.
526
00:26:30,501 --> 00:26:32,895
It's just that, when you start
to think about the sort of
527
00:26:32,939 --> 00:26:34,767
person behind them,
you start to go, like...
528
00:26:34,810 --> 00:26:36,203
[Touré sucks in through teeth]
529
00:26:36,246 --> 00:26:37,639
[grunts]
530
00:26:37,683 --> 00:26:40,599
CRAIG:
I remember Rob from nothing
531
00:26:40,642 --> 00:26:44,646
and sleeping in his car...
532
00:26:44,690 --> 00:26:46,561
to stardom just that fast.
533
00:26:47,997 --> 00:26:49,999
I can only imagine that
534
00:26:50,043 --> 00:26:53,524
he got caught up
and lost himself
535
00:26:53,568 --> 00:26:55,570
in the fame and the fortune.
536
00:26:59,182 --> 00:27:02,011
And then Rob met Aaliyah
537
00:27:02,055 --> 00:27:05,711
through his manager, which...
538
00:27:05,754 --> 00:27:08,191
Aaliyah was
Barry Hankerson's niece.
539
00:27:16,504 --> 00:27:18,071
R. KELLY:
Right now I'm producing
540
00:27:18,114 --> 00:27:20,769
a very talented young lady,
Aaliyah.
541
00:27:20,813 --> 00:27:24,686
Uh, she's real sweet.
She just be chillin'.
542
00:27:24,730 --> 00:27:26,601
-Hey, Aaliyah?
-AALIYAH: Yo.
543
00:27:26,645 --> 00:27:28,516
-That first verse is funky,
right?
-Mm-hmm.
544
00:27:28,559 --> 00:27:31,432
What I want you to do is...
I want you to try to get into it
545
00:27:31,475 --> 00:27:33,303
-just a little bit more for me.
-Okay.
546
00:27:33,347 --> 00:27:35,566
Just get into it a little more,
make it a little more street.
547
00:27:35,610 --> 00:27:37,090
-All right?
-All right.
548
00:27:37,133 --> 00:27:38,482
-You sound good, though, baby.
-All right.
549
00:27:40,789 --> 00:27:43,792
Uh... very shy kid,
very tomboyish.
550
00:27:43,836 --> 00:27:45,881
Glasses, braces.
551
00:27:45,925 --> 00:27:49,145
No-no swag.
552
00:27:49,189 --> 00:27:51,539
She's truly
an angelic individual.
553
00:27:51,582 --> 00:27:54,585
She was truly
a beautiful young lady.
554
00:27:54,629 --> 00:27:56,718
Aaliyah just needed a look.
555
00:27:56,762 --> 00:27:58,764
That's all.
She just needed a little...
556
00:27:58,807 --> 00:28:00,679
a little something
to spice it up.
557
00:28:00,722 --> 00:28:02,855
She was still very young.
She was 12 years old.
558
00:28:02,898 --> 00:28:06,902
We taught her her street thing, we gave her her vibe.
559
00:28:06,946 --> 00:28:08,643
She went from wearing
560
00:28:08,687 --> 00:28:10,863
fitted clothes
to the baggy jeans
561
00:28:10,906 --> 00:28:15,606
with the half shirts,
with the baseball caps.
562
00:28:15,650 --> 00:28:18,784
We taught her how
to be an artist in the sense
563
00:28:18,827 --> 00:28:21,090
of having a stage presence.
564
00:28:21,134 --> 00:28:23,353
We would sneak Aaliyah
out of the hotel...[laughs]
565
00:28:23,397 --> 00:28:26,269
...and take her
all over the place.
566
00:28:26,313 --> 00:28:27,923
It was fun.
567
00:28:29,577 --> 00:28:32,101
We used to take her
to my dad's house, and...
568
00:28:32,145 --> 00:28:34,277
we'd dance and sing
in the living room.
569
00:28:36,976 --> 00:28:40,109
Aaliyah became very close
with Tia and myself.
570
00:28:40,153 --> 00:28:42,242
We were all very close.
571
00:28:42,285 --> 00:28:44,026
She and myself had
a very close-knit relationship
572
00:28:44,070 --> 00:28:45,593
and friendship.
573
00:28:45,636 --> 00:28:47,595
Those were the good old days.
574
00:28:47,638 --> 00:28:50,598
But those are the things
that also... make you cry.
575
00:28:54,820 --> 00:28:56,909
TOURE:
Aaliyah's first album
576
00:28:56,952 --> 00:28:58,737
is made by R. Kelly,
577
00:28:58,780 --> 00:29:00,695
and it's called Age Ain't Nothing but a Number.
578
00:29:00,739 --> 00:29:04,568
And that main...
the title song, is about
579
00:29:04,612 --> 00:29:07,789
a young girl
who's trying to get an older guy
580
00:29:07,833 --> 00:29:10,574
to go all the way with her.
581
00:29:10,618 --> 00:29:12,881
I mean...
582
00:29:12,925 --> 00:29:16,276
it's, it's-it's frightening
and it's disgusting.
583
00:29:16,319 --> 00:29:19,192
♪ Boy, be brave
584
00:29:19,235 --> 00:29:22,064
♪ Don't be afraid
585
00:29:22,108 --> 00:29:27,504
♪ 'Cause tonight
we're gonna go all the way ♪
586
00:29:27,548 --> 00:29:29,724
♪ Age ain't nothin'
but a number ♪
587
00:29:29,768 --> 00:29:34,120
♪ Throwin' down
ain't nothin' but a thing. ♪
588
00:29:34,163 --> 00:29:39,516
There's this young girl who's
obviously not even, you know,
589
00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,475
barely in puberty, right?
590
00:29:41,518 --> 00:29:44,565
But there's a... there's a kind of sexuality to her
591
00:29:44,608 --> 00:29:47,350
that is part of why it worked,
592
00:29:47,394 --> 00:29:49,570
and R. Kelly used that.
593
00:29:49,613 --> 00:29:51,485
And calling it... age is just
but a, you know, but a number--
594
00:29:51,528 --> 00:29:53,792
he's playing on all of that
right away, and that's a...
595
00:29:53,835 --> 00:29:55,706
"Age ain't nothing but a number"
is a thing
596
00:29:55,750 --> 00:29:58,057
in the black community I've
heard since I was a little boy,
597
00:29:58,100 --> 00:30:00,233
when a, when a hot young girl
walks by,
598
00:30:00,276 --> 00:30:01,887
and a guy
in a barbershop says that.
599
00:30:01,930 --> 00:30:05,412
"Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"
is definitely
600
00:30:05,455 --> 00:30:07,936
a perfect song
601
00:30:07,980 --> 00:30:11,897
for hiding in plain sight.
602
00:30:11,940 --> 00:30:15,422
DEMETRIUS: Robert brought
a beauty out of her voice
603
00:30:15,465 --> 00:30:20,340
to where she became the star
that she was.
604
00:30:20,383 --> 00:30:22,559
He said he wanted her
to have the best of everything.
605
00:30:22,603 --> 00:30:24,431
He said, "Man, I want
to make her the biggest star
606
00:30:24,474 --> 00:30:26,215
in the world, man.
Look at her. She's so..."
607
00:30:26,259 --> 00:30:27,956
She was so beautiful to him.
608
00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:29,958
And she always had him laughing.
They would...
609
00:30:30,002 --> 00:30:31,873
I'm gonna just tell you.
We'd go get ice cream,
610
00:30:31,917 --> 00:30:34,006
and I'm in the back, and I'm
walking behind 'em all the time.
611
00:30:34,049 --> 00:30:36,486
And they...
They're just so silly, man.
612
00:30:36,530 --> 00:30:38,140
[laughs]
You know, they were silly.
613
00:30:40,403 --> 00:30:44,538
CRAIG: I met Aaliyah once
at the studio at CRC.
614
00:30:44,581 --> 00:30:49,543
At that point, I didn't see
anything, uh, unusual,
615
00:30:49,586 --> 00:30:54,200
um... except a producer
working with an artist.
616
00:30:54,243 --> 00:30:58,552
LEMIEUX: It wasn't until
I was maybe a teenager myself
617
00:30:58,595 --> 00:31:01,076
that it really bothered me
618
00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,079
just how much older
he was than her.
619
00:31:04,123 --> 00:31:06,865
At the time I remember
thinking, "That's not right.
620
00:31:06,908 --> 00:31:09,693
I don't have
no grown man friends." Right?
621
00:31:09,737 --> 00:31:12,348
Like, I just can't wrap my brain
around, like,
622
00:31:12,392 --> 00:31:15,743
having a grown-up,
period, as a friend.
623
00:31:15,786 --> 00:31:17,919
You know, a babysitter
or a friend of the family,
624
00:31:17,963 --> 00:31:20,661
but never being left alone
in the care of a male,
625
00:31:20,704 --> 00:31:22,489
aside from my father.
626
00:31:25,231 --> 00:31:27,320
Her parents trusted.
627
00:31:27,363 --> 00:31:30,279
They trusted me.
They trusted us.
628
00:31:34,153 --> 00:31:37,460
I thought
they were getting closer.
629
00:31:37,504 --> 00:31:39,462
I was beginning to suspect
things but didn't want to.
630
00:31:39,506 --> 00:31:40,986
So I asked Robert.
I said, "Robert, man,
631
00:31:41,029 --> 00:31:42,509
what's going on, man?
You ain't messing..."
632
00:31:42,552 --> 00:31:44,641
"Hell no, man.
I'm not messing with Aaliyah."
633
00:31:51,561 --> 00:31:53,694
It was under talks
for a long time
634
00:31:53,737 --> 00:31:56,131
about having them come up
to the show.
635
00:31:56,175 --> 00:31:59,439
It was kind of like, they don't want you to talk about the age.
636
00:31:59,482 --> 00:32:01,702
They don't want you to talk
about any of this stuff.
637
00:32:01,745 --> 00:32:03,617
But as a journalist,
638
00:32:03,660 --> 00:32:06,663
you kind of have to decide,
are you gonna take this risk
639
00:32:06,707 --> 00:32:09,057
while this platform is
in front of you
640
00:32:09,101 --> 00:32:11,190
and ask the questions
that the people want to know?
641
00:32:11,233 --> 00:32:12,713
Okay, let's clear something up,
'cause, you know,
642
00:32:12,756 --> 00:32:13,932
I have been getting
the rundown on the street.
643
00:32:13,975 --> 00:32:15,542
Everybody seems to think
644
00:32:15,585 --> 00:32:17,457
that y'all are either
girlfriend and boyfriend,
645
00:32:17,500 --> 00:32:19,546
-or cousins, or friends.
-KELLY [laughs]: Look at my man.
646
00:32:19,589 --> 00:32:22,201
Just let's... let's just
get the record straight.
647
00:32:22,244 --> 00:32:23,637
We're just very close.
He's my best friend.
648
00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,465
R. KELLY: Yeah, cool.
In the whole wide world.
649
00:32:25,508 --> 00:32:28,033
-SEGAR: Now who found who?
-In the whole wide world.
650
00:32:28,076 --> 00:32:31,166
TOURE: They are asked
direct questions.
651
00:32:31,210 --> 00:32:34,604
"Are you guys dating?" And they
would not give direct answers.
652
00:32:34,648 --> 00:32:36,911
They would both give
these vague answers
653
00:32:36,955 --> 00:32:38,695
that left it all up in the air.
654
00:32:38,739 --> 00:32:40,697
So they knew this wasn't right.
655
00:32:40,741 --> 00:32:43,222
SEGAR: And for the record,
you are how old?
656
00:32:43,265 --> 00:32:44,745
-That's a secret. Shh.
-Uh-oh.
657
00:32:44,788 --> 00:32:47,008
A woman doesn't disclose
her age, y'all.
658
00:32:47,052 --> 00:32:48,923
[laughter]
659
00:32:48,967 --> 00:32:51,534
-Keeping it under wraps.
-AALIYAH: That's right.
660
00:32:51,578 --> 00:32:54,015
SEGAR:
Seeing them dressed alike
661
00:32:54,059 --> 00:32:58,237
was really kind of like dangling
candy in front of a baby.
662
00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,414
Like, this is promotion,
this is a media machine.
663
00:33:01,457 --> 00:33:03,155
We're gonna work this
to our benefit,
664
00:33:03,198 --> 00:33:05,113
and we're gonna toy with you,
we're gonna play with you,
665
00:33:05,157 --> 00:33:07,289
and we're not gonna give you
any direct answers,
666
00:33:07,333 --> 00:33:09,291
and we're gonna kind of
leave you wondering,
667
00:33:09,335 --> 00:33:10,684
"Well, are they a couple?"
668
00:33:13,295 --> 00:33:15,950
We were out on the road
669
00:33:15,994 --> 00:33:18,605
with Aaliyah.
670
00:33:18,648 --> 00:33:22,478
On a tour bus, there really
aren't any confined spaces.
671
00:33:22,522 --> 00:33:24,915
When you get on the bus,
there are bunks.
672
00:33:24,959 --> 00:33:27,701
And so, these bunks have little curtains you can pull at night
673
00:33:27,744 --> 00:33:29,529
if you don't want anybody
to see you sleeping.
674
00:33:29,572 --> 00:33:31,052
So it just so happened
675
00:33:31,096 --> 00:33:34,055
we were all laying in our bunks.
676
00:33:34,099 --> 00:33:36,666
It was... And curtains are open.
677
00:33:36,710 --> 00:33:38,364
Everybody's communicating,
laughing.
678
00:33:38,407 --> 00:33:40,018
We used to play different pranks
on each other.
679
00:33:40,061 --> 00:33:42,063
And, uh...
680
00:33:42,107 --> 00:33:45,023
I think it was intended to...
prank time,
681
00:33:45,066 --> 00:33:48,939
when the door flew open
on the bus.
682
00:33:51,551 --> 00:33:53,205
Robert was having sex
with Aaliyah.
683
00:34:13,312 --> 00:34:15,314
I feel protective of Aaliyah
right now,
684
00:34:15,357 --> 00:34:19,709
which is why
I can't get my mouth to say...
685
00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:25,933
He destroyed a lot of people.
686
00:34:28,153 --> 00:34:30,546
Destroyed a lot of people.
687
00:34:30,590 --> 00:34:34,159
A lot of people who loved
and adored him, and...
688
00:34:37,858 --> 00:34:41,296
I can't stress
to you enough how...
689
00:34:41,340 --> 00:34:43,342
people are still suffering
690
00:34:43,385 --> 00:34:47,955
behind things
that went on 20 years ago.
691
00:34:54,396 --> 00:34:56,746
After that,
it kind of started the breakup
692
00:34:56,790 --> 00:34:59,097
of everything and everybody.
693
00:34:59,140 --> 00:35:00,663
A lot of people...
694
00:35:00,707 --> 00:35:04,363
People's emotions
were challenged.
695
00:35:04,406 --> 00:35:08,323
Our whole family
just kind of ripped up.
696
00:35:12,936 --> 00:35:15,025
DEMETRIUS: Robert came to me.
We were in Miami.
697
00:35:17,245 --> 00:35:21,467
Robert said, "Man,
we got Aaliyah in trouble."
698
00:35:23,295 --> 00:35:26,036
And, um, "Aaliyah in trouble?
What do you mean?"
699
00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:27,908
"Man, we got to get to Chicago."
700
00:35:27,951 --> 00:35:31,694
I said, "Well, I'm-I'm-a call
Barry and tell Barry."
701
00:35:31,738 --> 00:35:33,522
"No, man, we can't tell Barry."
702
00:35:36,699 --> 00:35:41,182
Robert mentioned to me that,
um, "I think she's pregnant."
703
00:35:41,226 --> 00:35:44,446
And... that broke my heart
right there.
704
00:35:44,490 --> 00:35:47,145
I was so disappointed in him,
'cause I really believed him
705
00:35:47,188 --> 00:35:48,972
when he said that, you know,
706
00:35:49,016 --> 00:35:50,626
he wasn't doing
and messing with Aaliyah.
707
00:35:50,670 --> 00:35:54,761
'Cause I questioned him,
and, um...
708
00:35:54,804 --> 00:35:57,764
once he told me that,
I was, like...
709
00:35:57,807 --> 00:36:00,593
I just... I was... I was lost
for words, man. Um...
710
00:36:02,247 --> 00:36:04,640
He married Aaliyah.
711
00:36:08,078 --> 00:36:10,733
I was in the room
when they got married.
712
00:36:13,736 --> 00:36:15,956
TOURE: In 1994,
I was working at MTV News
713
00:36:15,999 --> 00:36:18,480
as a writer, not on air,
714
00:36:18,524 --> 00:36:23,006
and the issue of,
"Is he married to Aaliyah?"
715
00:36:23,050 --> 00:36:26,706
was-was wild
and being talked about widely.
716
00:36:26,749 --> 00:36:31,537
Finally, my boss told me, "Call
the Cook County Clerk's Office
717
00:36:31,580 --> 00:36:34,496
and tell them to send you
the marriage certificate."
718
00:36:34,540 --> 00:36:37,673
Hip-hop star R. Kelly
did indeed marry his protégée,
719
00:36:37,717 --> 00:36:39,545
the 15-year-old singer
Aaliyah Haughton.
720
00:36:39,588 --> 00:36:41,111
TOURE:
MTV News was the first
721
00:36:41,155 --> 00:36:42,722
to put out
this marriage certificate
722
00:36:42,765 --> 00:36:44,985
on which Aaliyah had said
that she was 18,
723
00:36:45,028 --> 00:36:47,640
when she's actually 15,
and R. Kelly was 27,
724
00:36:47,683 --> 00:36:49,598
and they were married.
725
00:36:51,470 --> 00:36:54,690
I, uh, went,
and I, um... I, um...
726
00:36:54,734 --> 00:36:56,518
I'm not proud of that.
727
00:36:56,562 --> 00:36:58,999
I forged, I had papers forged
for them.
728
00:37:00,392 --> 00:37:04,265
But Aaliyah was underage.
729
00:37:04,309 --> 00:37:06,920
Got the marriage license,
and we were in a hotel
730
00:37:06,963 --> 00:37:09,749
in, uh, Maywood, Illinois.
731
00:37:09,792 --> 00:37:12,708
It was just
a quick little ceremony.
732
00:37:12,752 --> 00:37:15,189
Nothing elaborate; she didn't
have on a white dress.
733
00:37:15,233 --> 00:37:16,930
Robert didn't have on a tux.
734
00:37:16,973 --> 00:37:18,975
Just everyday wear.
735
00:37:19,019 --> 00:37:22,457
Robert said, "I do."
[laughs]
736
00:37:22,501 --> 00:37:24,590
He said, "I do."
Him and Aaliyah.
737
00:37:28,811 --> 00:37:31,684
Aaliyah looked worried.
738
00:37:31,727 --> 00:37:34,600
Scared.
739
00:37:34,643 --> 00:37:37,124
[sighs]
740
00:37:37,167 --> 00:37:38,995
Worried and scared.
741
00:37:41,259 --> 00:37:44,218
I wanted so much to grab
Aaliyah and talk to her.
742
00:37:44,262 --> 00:37:47,526
I wanted so much
to talk to her.
743
00:37:47,569 --> 00:37:49,223
'Cause she looked at me,
she gave me a look
744
00:37:49,267 --> 00:37:51,704
like she wanted me
to talk to her.
745
00:37:51,747 --> 00:37:54,097
That's why I feel like I left
her-- I-I failed them.
746
00:37:54,141 --> 00:37:56,317
Both of them.
747
00:37:56,361 --> 00:37:59,625
I knew that it had changed
the course of everything.
748
00:38:09,896 --> 00:38:12,594
was not familiar with how the
annulment happened with Aaliyah.
749
00:38:12,638 --> 00:38:15,684
I just know that it did.
750
00:38:15,728 --> 00:38:17,556
Her parents had
the last say-so.
751
00:38:27,914 --> 00:38:29,829
TOURE:
The Aaliyah situation,
752
00:38:29,872 --> 00:38:34,007
a lot of us kind of forgave
but were kind of like,
753
00:38:34,050 --> 00:38:37,445
"That was weird, but okay.
What else you got?"
754
00:38:37,489 --> 00:38:39,534
Well, they're both performers,
755
00:38:39,578 --> 00:38:42,450
and she's old beyond her years.
756
00:38:42,494 --> 00:38:44,931
And they just have
that special connection.
757
00:38:44,974 --> 00:38:47,020
It didn't yet appear like
758
00:38:47,063 --> 00:38:50,328
here's a person
who is a predator.
759
00:38:53,113 --> 00:38:54,680
Where was the outrage?
760
00:38:54,723 --> 00:38:56,377
Where was Essence?
Where was Ebony?
761
00:38:56,421 --> 00:38:58,205
Where was the local news?
Where was anyone?
762
00:38:58,248 --> 00:39:02,644
Like, why was this not,
in that moment, full stop?
763
00:39:02,688 --> 00:39:08,084
Why didn't the culture say
something is wrong?
764
00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:13,829
POWERS:
You had this whole history
765
00:39:13,873 --> 00:39:17,093
of adult male musicians who hung
out with young girls.
766
00:39:17,137 --> 00:39:19,661
Musicians who "mentor"
young girls.
767
00:39:19,705 --> 00:39:22,360
You had the history of musicians
who married young girl fans.
768
00:39:22,403 --> 00:39:26,364
And I think while it was
disturbing to people,
769
00:39:26,407 --> 00:39:28,670
it's very easy
to rationalize things
770
00:39:28,714 --> 00:39:31,238
when you're in the industry
771
00:39:31,281 --> 00:39:32,892
and you see
this flourishing career,
772
00:39:32,935 --> 00:39:35,808
not only of Kelly,
but of Aaliyah.
773
00:39:37,462 --> 00:39:38,811
GEORGE:
If you listen to the history
774
00:39:38,854 --> 00:39:40,290
of American popular music,
775
00:39:40,334 --> 00:39:41,901
particularly rock and roll,
776
00:39:41,944 --> 00:39:44,730
there's a whole thing
about underage girls
777
00:39:44,773 --> 00:39:48,037
that's a big running theme
in-in so much of the songs.
778
00:39:48,081 --> 00:39:50,866
"Sweet Little Sixteen."
779
00:39:50,910 --> 00:39:54,653
There's a body of work
of underage girls
780
00:39:54,696 --> 00:39:56,350
being sexual targets,
781
00:39:56,394 --> 00:39:58,439
being sexually promiscuous,
being celebrated.
782
00:39:58,483 --> 00:40:02,922
POWERS: It's hard to think
of a group or an artist
783
00:40:02,965 --> 00:40:05,272
who didn't pay tribute
to teenage girls
784
00:40:05,315 --> 00:40:07,753
in a way that
we might question today.
785
00:40:07,796 --> 00:40:09,537
Even the Beatles, you know.
786
00:40:09,581 --> 00:40:11,452
"When I Saw Her
Standing There."
787
00:40:11,496 --> 00:40:13,672
"She was just 17,
if you know what I mean."
788
00:40:15,717 --> 00:40:18,764
Jerry Lee Lewis
famously married
789
00:40:18,807 --> 00:40:22,768
his 13-year-old cousin
Myra, um,
790
00:40:22,811 --> 00:40:23,943
and they flaunted
their relationship.
791
00:40:23,986 --> 00:40:24,857
That actually brought down
792
00:40:24,900 --> 00:40:26,641
his career.
793
00:40:26,685 --> 00:40:30,384
Elvis Presley was more subtle
and careful
794
00:40:30,428 --> 00:40:32,908
with his teenage girlfriend
Priscilla,
795
00:40:32,952 --> 00:40:36,738
who he met when he was
a soldier abroad in Germany
796
00:40:36,782 --> 00:40:41,351
and whom he brought to live
with him as a young teenager.
797
00:40:41,395 --> 00:40:45,312
So when you think of girls
who are going to shows,
798
00:40:45,355 --> 00:40:49,229
attending concerts, becoming
completely hysterical, um,
799
00:40:49,272 --> 00:40:51,492
and then meeting their heroes,
800
00:40:51,536 --> 00:40:54,060
these-- this is a situation ripe
801
00:40:54,103 --> 00:40:57,498
for, uh, men taking advantage
of young girls.
802
00:41:00,762 --> 00:41:03,373
JOVANTE: Robert feels
as if he's invincible.
803
00:41:03,417 --> 00:41:05,506
"I can't be touched."
804
00:41:07,465 --> 00:41:09,336
And in hindsight, in society,
805
00:41:09,379 --> 00:41:10,946
we kind of made him feel
that way.
806
00:41:10,990 --> 00:41:13,253
Because he's progressively
done this
807
00:41:13,296 --> 00:41:16,125
for as far back
as I can remember,
808
00:41:16,169 --> 00:41:17,866
and nothing
has been done about it.
809
00:41:20,129 --> 00:41:23,742
POWERS:
R. Kelly created and occupied
810
00:41:23,785 --> 00:41:26,048
a position of outrageousness
811
00:41:26,092 --> 00:41:29,574
that kind of masked everything
812
00:41:29,617 --> 00:41:31,532
that was happening
behind the scenes.
813
00:41:34,361 --> 00:41:35,405
CRAIG: And then, when you get
that type of fame
814
00:41:35,449 --> 00:41:37,059
and that type of power,
815
00:41:37,103 --> 00:41:39,714
and you come from nothing
and you know nothing,
816
00:41:39,758 --> 00:41:42,587
and all you know is that
everyone around you is "yes"
817
00:41:42,630 --> 00:41:45,024
and "okay," "sure,"
818
00:41:45,067 --> 00:41:47,026
and you have everything
at your beck and call,
819
00:41:47,069 --> 00:41:48,897
you kind of lose perspective
of reality.
820
00:41:54,337 --> 00:41:56,557
DR. JODY ADEWALE:
Oftentimes, perpetrators
821
00:41:56,601 --> 00:42:00,082
will be so brave to say,
"I'm gonna let the world know.
822
00:42:00,126 --> 00:42:01,606
"I'm gonna let everyone see
what's going on,
823
00:42:01,649 --> 00:42:03,085
and you'd better not say
anything."
824
00:42:06,741 --> 00:42:09,091
That speaks
to the amount of control
825
00:42:09,135 --> 00:42:13,095
an individual might have
over another person.
826
00:42:13,139 --> 00:42:16,403
CRAIG: I went to a few parties
at Rob's house.
827
00:42:16,446 --> 00:42:18,318
One particular time
I was there,
828
00:42:18,361 --> 00:42:20,581
I went down to the studio.
829
00:42:20,625 --> 00:42:23,062
There was a girl standing next
to Rob,
830
00:42:23,105 --> 00:42:25,325
and she was naked and he was
feeling on her booty.
831
00:42:25,368 --> 00:42:27,849
Um...
832
00:42:30,504 --> 00:42:34,203
You have a big star.
833
00:42:34,247 --> 00:42:38,033
That is part of the lifestyle.
834
00:42:38,077 --> 00:42:42,777
But when you see that there are
girls there that look young,
835
00:42:42,821 --> 00:42:45,432
it becomes
very questionable to me.
836
00:42:45,475 --> 00:42:48,043
And I didn't check IDs
and didn't ask for IDs,
837
00:42:48,087 --> 00:42:52,744
but you can clearly see that
these were babies in my eyes.
838
00:42:52,787 --> 00:42:56,399
And that was something that
I didn't want to be around.
839
00:42:59,272 --> 00:43:02,362
[crowd cheering]
840
00:43:02,405 --> 00:43:04,799
CAREY: When I was out there
on tour with him,
841
00:43:04,843 --> 00:43:07,454
he had a lot of guys that,
you know, would pretty much,
842
00:43:07,497 --> 00:43:10,239
you know, if-if he say,
843
00:43:10,283 --> 00:43:12,067
"Go get some girls
from the mall,"
844
00:43:12,111 --> 00:43:13,634
they'll go get some girls.
845
00:43:13,678 --> 00:43:15,941
You look at the people
around somebody,
846
00:43:15,984 --> 00:43:17,943
and it's very upsetting
847
00:43:17,986 --> 00:43:21,555
that he really didn't have
to do much
848
00:43:21,599 --> 00:43:23,165
to get these young girls.
849
00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:26,429
Oh, we'd always go
to the mall, too.
850
00:43:26,473 --> 00:43:27,996
We'd go in the mall
in every city.
851
00:43:28,040 --> 00:43:29,607
We're just chilling.
852
00:43:29,650 --> 00:43:30,999
We're gonna go to the mall
today.
853
00:43:31,043 --> 00:43:32,087
We're gonna try
to keep it low-key.
854
00:43:32,131 --> 00:43:33,567
We'll see what happens.
855
00:43:41,140 --> 00:43:43,055
LIZZETTE:
My name is Lizzette Martinez,
856
00:43:43,098 --> 00:43:44,883
from Sunny Isles Beach,
Florida.
857
00:43:46,493 --> 00:43:49,278
I was a typical teenager.
858
00:43:49,322 --> 00:43:52,194
I was at Aventura Mall
with some girlfriends,
859
00:43:52,238 --> 00:43:54,762
and, uh, I see someone.
860
00:43:54,806 --> 00:43:57,156
A really tall guy
wearing sunglasses.
861
00:43:57,199 --> 00:44:00,159
So I said to my friend,
862
00:44:00,202 --> 00:44:02,683
"Oh, I think that's R. Kelly."
863
00:44:02,727 --> 00:44:04,685
And she's like,
"Why would he be at the mall?"
864
00:44:04,729 --> 00:44:07,296
And I said, "No, that's him."
865
00:44:07,340 --> 00:44:09,037
And he heard me,
866
00:44:09,081 --> 00:44:11,692
and then he turned around,
867
00:44:11,736 --> 00:44:13,651
and I was kind of starstruck,
you know.
868
00:44:13,694 --> 00:44:15,261
Here's this person
in front of me
869
00:44:15,304 --> 00:44:17,785
that I think is,
like, the world.
870
00:44:17,829 --> 00:44:20,005
And he walked up to me
and gave me a hug,
871
00:44:20,048 --> 00:44:22,877
and I kind of, like, just...
I was kind of frozen.
872
00:44:22,921 --> 00:44:25,967
And then he said he was
recording an album.
873
00:44:26,011 --> 00:44:28,491
I said, "Okay, nice
to meet you." And he left.
874
00:44:28,535 --> 00:44:30,580
But then his bodyguard
came back
875
00:44:30,624 --> 00:44:32,800
and handed me his phone number
876
00:44:32,844 --> 00:44:35,455
and said, "R. Kelly would like
you to call him."
877
00:44:37,152 --> 00:44:39,328
My best friend was with me,
878
00:44:39,372 --> 00:44:41,983
and she said,
"Liz, this is your big break.
879
00:44:42,027 --> 00:44:44,116
Like, you better call,
or I'm gonna call for you."
880
00:44:44,159 --> 00:44:46,727
For me, singing was always
an outlet,
881
00:44:46,771 --> 00:44:48,468
and I planned on having
a career.
882
00:44:48,511 --> 00:44:51,601
So I called and he said,
883
00:44:51,645 --> 00:44:55,518
"Well, I'd like you to come
to dinner with us."
884
00:44:55,562 --> 00:44:58,043
My girlfriend said, "Let's get
your makeup and hair done now.
885
00:44:58,086 --> 00:45:00,436
You know, this is it.
You're gonna make it."
886
00:45:00,480 --> 00:45:03,178
We were so naive.
887
00:45:09,271 --> 00:45:12,274
LIZZETTE: His bodyguard handed
me his phone number and said,
888
00:45:12,318 --> 00:45:13,885
"R. Kelly would like you
to call him."
889
00:45:15,408 --> 00:45:19,804
So we met him at
the steakhouse.
890
00:45:19,847 --> 00:45:22,328
It came up that I was, you know,
an aspiring singer.
891
00:45:22,371 --> 00:45:25,940
Later on, we went
to the recording studio,
892
00:45:25,984 --> 00:45:27,899
and my heart was thumping
when I walked in.
893
00:45:27,942 --> 00:45:31,903
And he starts to play the piano.
894
00:45:31,946 --> 00:45:33,992
He plays a song by Boyz II Men
895
00:45:34,035 --> 00:45:35,602
and asked me to sing along
with it.
896
00:45:35,645 --> 00:45:37,735
And I couldn't believe it.
897
00:45:37,778 --> 00:45:40,955
I mean, I'm sitting
with R. Kelly.
898
00:45:40,999 --> 00:45:45,438
I'm 17, and he's right here,
singing.
899
00:45:45,481 --> 00:45:47,092
I just couldn't believe it.
900
00:45:47,135 --> 00:45:50,791
I don't even know what to say.
901
00:45:50,835 --> 00:45:53,620
And then he just said that, you
know, I sound really great.
902
00:45:53,663 --> 00:45:56,057
Had a great look.
903
00:45:56,101 --> 00:45:59,669
He thought I could make it
and he was gonna help me.
904
00:45:59,713 --> 00:46:02,977
And then he leaned over
and kissed me.
905
00:46:05,327 --> 00:46:08,896
And I was really, uh,
taken aback by that.
906
00:46:08,940 --> 00:46:12,552
I didn't know how to say no.
907
00:46:12,595 --> 00:46:17,122
All of a sudden,
his tongue is in my mouth.
908
00:46:17,165 --> 00:46:19,080
This is my dream.
909
00:46:20,865 --> 00:46:23,824
How do I handle this?
910
00:46:23,868 --> 00:46:26,479
I wanted the dream so bad,
911
00:46:26,522 --> 00:46:30,004
but I knew it was gonna be
something else.
912
00:46:35,444 --> 00:46:38,186
I knew it was gonna be
something else.
913
00:46:46,151 --> 00:46:49,632
JERHONDA: I met R. Kelly
by going to his trial,
914
00:46:49,676 --> 00:46:51,721
and I didn't want to believe
that he was guilty.
915
00:46:51,765 --> 00:46:55,160
LIZZETTE:
Sex with him always felt
916
00:46:55,203 --> 00:46:57,423
not natural.
917
00:46:57,466 --> 00:46:59,817
ANDREA: You fall in love
with the charmer,
918
00:46:59,860 --> 00:47:01,427
and then slowly
919
00:47:01,470 --> 00:47:02,950
he lets the other one creep in.
920
00:47:02,994 --> 00:47:05,431
♪
921
00:47:05,474 --> 00:47:08,826
There's a difference
between R. Kelly and Robert.
922
00:47:08,869 --> 00:47:12,394
R. Kelly's this fun,
laughing, loving guy.
923
00:47:12,438 --> 00:47:14,309
But Robert...
924
00:47:14,353 --> 00:47:17,269
[echoing]: is the devil,
is the devil, is the devil.
925
00:47:17,312 --> 00:47:19,271
LEGEND:
R. Kelly has brought
926
00:47:19,314 --> 00:47:20,838
so much pain to so many people.
927
00:47:20,881 --> 00:47:23,231
This sickness lived within him.
928
00:47:23,275 --> 00:47:24,711
Spotify is saying, basically,
929
00:47:24,754 --> 00:47:26,147
they're gonna, like,
downgrade him.
930
00:47:26,191 --> 00:47:27,888
ANDREA:
He's a control freak.
931
00:47:27,932 --> 00:47:29,629
MISS INFO:
He's the puppet master.
932
00:47:29,672 --> 00:47:31,587
CRAIG:
There's girls in every room.
933
00:47:31,631 --> 00:47:33,198
What the hell is going on?
934
00:47:33,241 --> 00:47:36,244
♪
935
00:47:36,288 --> 00:47:39,900
TARANA BURKE: This is really about an adult man who is using
936
00:47:39,944 --> 00:47:42,685
the power of his fame
and wealth and whatever
937
00:47:42,729 --> 00:47:45,514
to systematically degrade
black girls.
938
00:47:45,558 --> 00:47:48,778
JERHONDA: He became more abusive
and more aggressive.
939
00:47:48,822 --> 00:47:51,259
KANIKA: He just started
kicking me and slapping me.
940
00:47:51,303 --> 00:47:53,783
-[sobbing]
-It's okay, baby. It's okay.
941
00:47:53,827 --> 00:47:55,742
♪
942
00:47:57,570 --> 00:47:59,572
D.A.:
Mr. Kelly has been indicted.
943
00:47:59,615 --> 00:48:01,748
There's been a warrant issued
for his arrest.
944
00:48:01,791 --> 00:48:03,271
A lot of people saw
that pee tape.
945
00:48:03,315 --> 00:48:04,533
It was circulating
in the streets.
946
00:48:04,577 --> 00:48:06,666
She was actually 14.
947
00:48:06,709 --> 00:48:08,929
ORONIKE: And he's urinating
on her in her mouth.
948
00:48:08,973 --> 00:48:11,845
He was not thought of
as guilty,
949
00:48:11,889 --> 00:48:13,891
even though the evidence
was there.
950
00:48:13,934 --> 00:48:16,850
I should have never introduced
her to him.
951
00:48:16,894 --> 00:48:19,897
I should have never introduced
my family to him.
952
00:48:21,811 --> 00:48:23,596
MAN:
There she go.
953
00:48:28,296 --> 00:48:29,297
MICHELLE:
I said, "R. Kelly,
954
00:48:29,341 --> 00:48:30,690
"I want you to remember my name.
955
00:48:30,733 --> 00:48:31,865
Okay?"
956
00:48:36,478 --> 00:48:38,741
"Stay the [bleep] away
from my daughter."
957
00:48:38,785 --> 00:48:42,571
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