One of those relatives, singer Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified Thursday that she had introduced the alleged victim to Kelly, and that the girl called him her "Godfather." The woman, who is now in her 30s and had been identified by singer Sparkle as her niece, had refused to testify against R. Kelly in his 2008 trial, which resulted in his acquittal. Sparkle was born Stephanie Edwards on May 13, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. Sparkle was horrified when she discovered that it was her niece at the center of Kelly's 2002 child pornography indictment. Advancing the culture and building bridges. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 'You just know your family. She said that his acquittal then affected her view of the #MeToo movement a decade later. Sparkle has always admitted to introducing her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly, a decision she has said she's haunted by. At the time, Sparkle was largely ignored by the media. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. Trust me. In a contentious court battle, Edwards testified against Kelly in 2008, according to ET Online. ET. What is the relationship between the two singers? Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly . . The woman who is known as an early protg of Kelly in the 1990s and goes by the stage name Sparkle had previously testified in Kelly's 2008 trial and the 'Surviving R. Kelly' documentary as she had identified her niece as the girl in a porn video that circulated in Chicago. R. Kellys new case may end differently than his last. "But until our investigation is . Whats your take on it? Sparkle testified at trial in 2008 that the man in the video was Mr. Kelly, and that the girl was her 14-year-old niece. ", Sparkle wasn't the only witness to get emotional on the stand Thursday. Chicago police have not charged Kelly, and will only say that their investigation is continuing. The now 37-year-old woman who is identified only as "Jane," told jurors that she was first introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt Sparkle in the mid-1990s when she was 13 years old. All Rights Reserved. According to the niece that is identified as Jane Doe, her aunt said,That I should rub his head and ask him to take that role in my life. as the young teens Godfather. Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. Three sisters form a singing group in 1950s Harlem, but success threatens to ruin their relationship forever. Bop Shop: Songs From J-Hope And J. 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Stay tuned to Thirsty for more updates. Latest dancehall and hip hop news and music at your fingertips. During an Instagram broadcast, she decided to put a few things in context.. Since the alleged R. Kelly sex tapes first hit the media two months ago, the primary question has been if the girl featured on the 27-minute tape, currently under investigation by the Chicago police, was actually underage, since her identity had been kept hidden. Surviving R.Kelly: The Final Chapter Sheds Light On Singers Alleged Feces Force-Feeding Ritual And Intimate Footage Of Aaliyah, Jailhouse Drop: Streaming Platforms Remove R. Kelly I Admit It Album, Singer Calls The Pied Piper Prison Production A Bootleg, More Punishment Pending: Pied Piper R. Kelly Found Guilty On Six Counts In Federal Child Pornography Trial, testimony did not sit well with Sparkle, who reacted to her neices claims online after someone asked her, Are you the aunt who had that child rub R. Kellys head? The singer's niece, who's allegedly the 14-year-old girl on the infamous 2008 sex tape, recently claimed Sparkle encouraged her to ask Kelly to be her godfather by enticing him. Nope, Sparkle didn't take a payout meanwhile R sending them on trips and paying for their houses. Prosecutors turned over to Kelly's defense team a DVD that alleges to show Kelly having sex with an underage girl in the 1990s. No -- it was part of a shouting match during a contentious cross-examination between R. Kelly's defense attorney Ed Genson and the prosecution's star witness, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Singer Sparkle testified back then that it was her niece on the video but her niece nor anyone else in the family would corroborate her identity on the video tape. You cant stifle me. She was my heart.". Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. "She's like a robot." Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. I went at it alone. She's being exposed to the world. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. While the survivors have now found justice, Sparkle said she still feels guilty for introducing her niece to Kelly in 1997. At the time, Sparkle identified the child in the video as her niece. ", Sparkle said that she regrets not being a better protector of her niece. I was ashamed.. "She's doing exactly what he told her to do. Sparkle first introduced her then-12-year-old niece to Kelly in 1997 a decision that still haunts her to this day. ", Though it's causing division within her family, Sparkle said that she's aiding the Chicago police investigation. The victim in the video did notcooperate with prosecutors in the original case, but finally agreed to workwith the government after Kelly was arrested in 2019. According to a report in The New York Times, the young girl who appeared in the infamous tape that showed the R&B singer performing sex acts and urinating on the then-14-year-old is now cooperating with prosecutors. Sparkle said in disgust. Sparkle did, however, testify against Kelly when he was on trial for child porn that featured her niece. I Never, Ever Left My Niece Alone In The Studio: Sparkle Shares What Was Left Out Of "Surviving R. Kelly" Posted on January 16, 2019 - By Veronica Wells MadameNoire Featured Video Please say its not you., Takeoff Shot in Head and Torso, According to Coroner Report, Aaron Carter Pulled Over On Suspicion Of DUI While Driving RV. But I didnt know that a bomb was coming.. Sparkle corrected him and said she had asked to be released from her contract so she could work with other people, such as Steve Huff, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Sparkle testified that she then called a family meeting so her other relatives could see the tape for themselves. Sound it in the comments. Things heated up when Genson accused her of being in on a scheme to either use the tape to extort Kelly or to make money by mass-producing it. Its not clear to what extent shes working with investigators, but her attorney, Christopher L. Brown, confirmed that she is indeed cooperating. We talked about business. She added that there is a family feud, and the victims testimony is a clear plan to try to take her down.. Sparkle added that she and Kelly were never romantically involved as painted by the victim. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Former protégé of R. Kelly makes allegations on Los Angeles radio station. No," she said. [He] cant tell me what I can and cant do. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The woman who previously testified against Kelly in 2008 and was the one who brought the sex tapes to the victims parents knowledge says that she had the greatest of intentions when she spoke up against Kelly, but her life was made hell by the victims mother. (Genson tripped her up on cross, when she said she was never in possession of the tape, even though her brother and his ex-wife had testified that she was.) Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. EXPOSED: PROOF Sparkle PIMPED Her Niece To R Kelly!| Andrea Kelly & Lisa VA Have S E X Tape! "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. He rose to fame after singing as an eight-year-old in church before winning a $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated US television talent show, "Big Break," hosted by Natalie Cole. All Rights Reserved, Follow Us on Snapchat for All Our Breaking News, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, Offset and Quavo Spotted Sitting Apart at NBA Game Following Alleged GRAMMY Argument, Drake Wagers Half a Million Dollars on Jon Jones Victory at UFC 285, Soulja Boy Performs In Front Of Seemingly Low-Energy Crowd At Rolling Loud. "Like she's a prostitute!" Sparkle replied with a strong denial. #SomeoneWhoLovesMusicWayTooMuch Sparkle explained that this is a result of a "family feud," which has led to her being a target of lies from her niece, who Sparkle feels lied about her on the stand out of loyalty to her mother. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. There's no denying it. Sparkle continued, This is another form of the terrible decision-making of her mom and in my opinion, the unfortunate continuing allegiance to Robert.. But in 2001, when she actually witnessed the tape herself, she didn't hesitate to call. In 2002, the singer Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, claimed her niece was the underage girl in an infamous sex video featuring R. Kelly. An R&B singer who was once Kelly's protg, Sparkle testified for more than an hour and a half Thursday afternoon during Kelly's child-pornography trial, describing how she introduced her niece . 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the meantime, Kelly has hired private investigator Jack Palladino to help build his defense, Palladino's office confirmed. Im beyond pleased to finally hear the mountain Ive tirelessly worked on moving over the years is now being assisted with the help of my niece and her parents! Sparkle Live Music (@sparklelivemusic) Instagram photos and videos sparklelivemusic 731 posts 1,870 followers 467 following Sparkle Live Music Musician/band We play your dream music soundtrack Put a Sparkle in your big day. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. She writes for Thirsty for News, covering world news and entertainment. The woman claimed that Kelly agreed to serve as her godfather and that her parents had given their blessing. Who wouldn't be [disgusted]? Ivie is a Nigerian-American, native New Yorker, and journalist covering, Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years For Child Sex Crimes, R. Kelly Silenced Aaliyah & Her Family With Non-Disclosure Agreement After 1995 Marriage Annulment, Watch the Trailer For Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter. Recording artist Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards accused R. Kelly of having sex with her 14-year-old niece at his 2008 trial. Our societys awareness and understanding of sexual assault has increased while Kellys funds have dwindled. She would go on to release a successful self-titled album in 1998, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. 1 on iTunes. Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldnt be more thrilled about it. Heres Why. Trivia For the past 20 years, Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, has been trying to convince the world that Kelly sexually abused her teenage niece. "But until our investigation is complete, we can't confirm or deny that [Sparkle is the girl's aunt]." Sparkle said that she regrets not being a better protector of her niece. Sparkle was also the one to call her family members when she would find out that the niece was alone in the studio with him.