R&B star R Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for sex trafficking and subjecting young fans to systematic sexual abuse
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, 55, was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking last year at a trial that gave voice to accusers who had once wondered if their stories were being ignored because they were Black women.
He was also ordered to pay a $US100,000 fine.
US District Judge Ann Donnelly imposed the sentence after hearing from several survivors who attested to how Kelly’s exploitation had changed their lives.
R. Kelly’s accusers told the court he had preyed on them and misled his fans as the fallen R&B star listened with downcast eyes.
“You made me do things that broke my spirit. I literally wished I would die because of how low you made me feel,” one woman told the Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling singer.
“Do you remember that?”
Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, did not address the court.
Kelly’s lawyers had argued he should get no more than 10 years in prison because he had a traumatic childhood “involving severe, prolonged childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and violence”.
His lawyers painted Kelly as an adult with “literacy deficiencies,” the star was “repeatedly defrauded and financially abused, often by the people he paid to protect him”.
The Brooklyn federal court jury convicted him after hearing that he used his entourage of managers and aides to meet girls and keep them obedient.
Australia’s multimillion-dollar campaign to attract Hollywood productions to its shores appears to be paying off.
The allure of Australia lies not only in its picturesque locations but also in its competitive financial incentives.
The government offers generous rebates and tax breaks to international productions, making it an attractive proposition for filmmakers looking to maximise their budgets.
Despite the recent intake of Hollywood productions down under such as ‘The Fall Guy’ and ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’, Aussie independents are still finding the space to carve their own creative path.
Rob Fantozzi joined the program to discuss the latest in Hollywood, and showcased his own upcoming project – ‘Omerta‘. #featured
An international video portal has been forced to shut down after an OnlyFans model reportedly flashed passersby from across the globe.
On this episode of Ahron and Mike Live – Which would you prefer; pay rise or work perks, an international portal closes, the military reveal a submarine stingray and are you on a top or bottom burger bun?
Ticker’s Ahron Young & Mike Loder discuss. #featured #trending
American home prices are rising at faster pace now than in the last 20-years.
A recent analysis reveals a jaw dropping surge in the cost of American homes.
Since the start of 2020, U.S. home prices have surged 47% easily outstripping the gains seen in recent decades.
On top of that, home price growth so far this decade is on the verge of surpassing all the growth seen in the 2000s.
Many experts believe this decade’s housing market frenzy was ignited by a perfect storm — the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic triggering an unprecedented rush among buyers.
Tom Hutchens, the Executive Vice President of Production at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions joins Veronica Dudo to discuss.
#IN AMERICA TODAY #economy #housing #housingmarket #homeprices #homesales #inflation #trending