R. Kelly sues Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn for placing him on suicide watch
Last week Kelly was sentenced 30 years in jail for sex abuse charges
Just two days since his sentence, R. Kelly has sued the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn for placing him under suicide watch.
The US singer was sentenced to 30 years at the jail after he was found guilty on nine charges of sexual abuse, trafficking, and racketeering.
The 55-year-old singer was first found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering accounts in September 2021. He faced trial where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, which included running a racketeering enterprise to cover up his crimes.
Kelly - real name Robert Sylvester Kelly - has named MDC Brookyln and warden, Heriberto Tellez in the suit as he claims he is being held under suicide watch as a punishment due to his celebrity status.
He also claims in the suit that he is being made to wear a paper-like smock as well as not allowed to use cutlery to eat which overall is causing him mental harm.
His legal team say that the decision to put him under suicide watch was “cruel and unconstitutional” for people like Kelly “who are not suicidal” according to the Independent.
The suit also compares his imprisonment to the recently convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.
Pitchfork reports that Kelly wants an “award of compensatory damages for all emotional distress, humiliation, pain and suffering, and other harm in an amount to be determined at trial”.
The US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn filed the court papers on Saturday announcing that Kelly will remain on suicide watch “for his own safety” following a psychological assessment.
Assistant US Attorney Melanie Speight explained that Kelly's “current life circumstances undoubtedly bring emotional distress”.
“He is a convicted sex offender who has been sentenced to spend the next three decades in prison," she added. "In the immediate future, he faces another federal criminal trial in Chicago for charges related to child pornography.”
If you have been impacted by any of the themes covered in this article, visit Victim Support or Rape Crisis
AFEM sponsor a confidential support service for anyone affected by sexual harassment within the electronic music industry provided by Health Assured expert counselling. Call 0800 030 5182, (Outside the UK: +44 800 030 5182).
Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter
Mixmag will use the information you provide to send you the Mixmag newsletter using Mailchimp as our marketing platform. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us. By clicking sign me up you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.
