American singer and RnB star, R Kelly and Universal Music Grouo (UMG) has been ordered by court in a significant legal development to pay over $500,000 in music royalties to victims and federal prosecutors.
The money is meant to be used for the restitution of his victims and unpaid criminal fines.
The order was signed by U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly on August 23, directing UMG, the imprisoned multiplatinum singer’s long-time music publisher, to make the payment.
The imprisoned singer had been previously order by Judge Donnelly,to pay nearly $28,000 from his prison inmate account to address outstanding fines.
R Kelly is currently serving a 30-year jail term for being convicted in 2021 for charges of racketeering and sex trafficking in New York.
Along side his sentencing in 2022, R. Kelly, along with UMG and Sony Music Entertainment, was collectively handed a half-million-dollar bill to pay to the victims of sexual abuse.
However, the new ruling clarifies that Sony Music is longer responsible for making payments towards this particular bill. Instead, R. Kelly’s royalties with Universal will be used to cover these financial obligations.
This ruling was made after a nearly three-decade-long trail of allegations against R. Kelly, culminating in his 2021 convictions. The high-profile trial revealed how he had allegedly used employees and intermediaries to lure fans and aspiring singers into sexually abusive and controlling conditions.
Also the were reports that claims victims were being locked in rooms without food or access to a bathroom for days.
The singers legal troubles further escalated when the 2019 Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” aired, featuring detailed accounts from his alleged victims. The series played a pivotal role in turning public opinion against him, despite much of the information having been public for years.
By the time of his imprisonment, R. Kelly’s substantial income from touring and recorded music, had been use to fund his legal defense efforts, and had significantly diminished.
The latest development in the case serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of the #MeToo movement and the justice system determination to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
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