1
00:00:14,764 --> 00:00:18,143
I was sickened by what I saw.
2
00:00:18,143 --> 00:00:19,769
A lot of people saw
that pee tape.
3
00:00:19,769 --> 00:00:21,146
It was circulating
in the streets.
4
00:00:21,146 --> 00:00:23,982
I came across the one
with me, him,
5
00:00:23,982 --> 00:00:25,525
and the 14-year-old.
6
00:00:25,525 --> 00:00:28,987
My niece has the same hairstyle
she had
7
00:00:28,987 --> 00:00:31,698
when she turned 14.
8
00:00:31,698 --> 00:00:34,492
That was her, for sure.
9
00:00:34,492 --> 00:00:38,079
And that was him, definitely.
10
00:00:38,079 --> 00:00:41,458
Various sexual acts,
including urination, oral sex.
11
00:00:41,458 --> 00:00:44,085
For him to do that to her...
12
00:00:49,758 --> 00:00:51,926
Oh, man.
13
00:00:51,926 --> 00:00:53,636
I took it and he never noticed
it was gone.
14
00:00:53,636 --> 00:00:57,265
I just didn't know that
there was a point in time...
15
00:00:57,265 --> 00:01:00,435
(crying):
where they were talk...
16
00:01:02,771 --> 00:01:07,484
where they were talking...
about killing me.
17
00:01:07,484 --> 00:01:10,403
I should have never introduced
her to him.
18
00:01:10,403 --> 00:01:14,949
(crying): I should have never
introduced my family to him.
19
00:01:14,949 --> 00:01:16,993
How dare you.
20
00:01:18,828 --> 00:01:21,790
How dare you. (sniffles)
21
00:01:28,755 --> 00:01:30,757
♪ ♪
22
00:01:52,821 --> 00:01:55,907
CRAIG WILLIAMS: There was
a bedroom in the studio.
23
00:01:55,907 --> 00:01:57,200
Girls everywhere.
24
00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:58,785
15 to 17 to 18.
25
00:01:58,785 --> 00:02:00,119
JOVANTE CUNNINGHAM:
We were young.
26
00:02:00,119 --> 00:02:01,329
We were naive.
27
00:02:01,329 --> 00:02:03,873
We were easily influenced.
28
00:02:03,873 --> 00:02:06,960
It wasn't just me
that was young that he liked.
29
00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,003
It wasn't a mistake
with Aaliyah.
30
00:02:09,003 --> 00:02:12,465
He's sleeping
with this young girl.
31
00:02:12,465 --> 00:02:15,426
GEM PRATTS: It's like, uh,
cattle that has four acres
32
00:02:15,426 --> 00:02:18,429
and he's the only cattle
to graze; it's easy pickins'.
33
00:02:18,429 --> 00:02:21,140
This is somebody who's written
this inspirational,
34
00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:23,393
motivational song.
35
00:02:23,393 --> 00:02:24,769
It was just massive.
36
00:02:24,769 --> 00:02:26,688
JAMILAH LEMIEUX:
Can he really be the monster?
37
00:02:26,688 --> 00:02:29,107
There's no moral clock there,
there's no gage.
38
00:02:29,107 --> 00:02:31,401
I introduced my niece to Robert
39
00:02:31,401 --> 00:02:34,279
and I saw her in the studio
by herself.
40
00:02:34,279 --> 00:02:37,574
I would walk in like,
"What you doing here?"
41
00:02:37,574 --> 00:02:39,117
LISA VAN ALLEN:
Him and I both were actually
42
00:02:39,117 --> 00:02:40,451
having sex with her.
43
00:02:40,451 --> 00:02:42,495
I was unaware, at that time,
44
00:02:42,495 --> 00:02:44,956
of how young she was.
45
00:02:44,956 --> 00:02:46,875
She was actually 14.
46
00:03:05,727 --> 00:03:07,979
When I figured out that
47
00:03:07,979 --> 00:03:10,940
I had had sex
with a 14-year-old,
48
00:03:10,940 --> 00:03:13,943
um, it made me feel betrayed,
49
00:03:13,943 --> 00:03:16,195
because he lied to me
and told me she was 16,
50
00:03:16,195 --> 00:03:19,616
which would have been close
to my age.
51
00:03:19,616 --> 00:03:24,120
And it also made me question
his motives.
52
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,957
I mean, the fact that he lied
about her age to me, told me
53
00:03:27,957 --> 00:03:30,043
that he obviously knew
that wasn't okay
54
00:03:30,043 --> 00:03:32,128
for her to be younger.
55
00:03:32,128 --> 00:03:35,757
It-it made me feel, like,
sick to my stomach.
56
00:03:35,757 --> 00:03:39,469
It made me feel disgusted.
57
00:03:39,469 --> 00:03:44,974
I mean, my daughter is older
than she is now.
58
00:03:47,310 --> 00:03:49,729
We didn't have sex
with her anymore
59
00:03:49,729 --> 00:03:53,149
after I found out that she was
that much younger.
60
00:03:53,149 --> 00:03:56,986
We had sex in his home twice.
61
00:03:56,986 --> 00:03:58,321
I didn't see his wife
at the house,
62
00:03:58,321 --> 00:04:01,824
but there was a-a situation, um,
63
00:04:01,824 --> 00:04:05,119
between me, him
and the younger woman
64
00:04:05,119 --> 00:04:07,872
where he did tell me
that his wife was upstairs
65
00:04:07,872 --> 00:04:09,916
when we were in the--
66
00:04:09,916 --> 00:04:12,168
I call it the Colorado Room,
the one with all the wood,
67
00:04:12,168 --> 00:04:14,545
where the infamous sex tape
was filmed--
68
00:04:14,545 --> 00:04:16,339
that room,
when we were down there,
69
00:04:16,339 --> 00:04:19,467
one time, he did tell me
that she was upstairs.
70
00:04:25,223 --> 00:04:27,183
PRODUCER: The girls that were
seeing the other side of him,
71
00:04:27,183 --> 00:04:28,851
did you notice them?
72
00:04:28,851 --> 00:04:32,188
Do you know how--
Were they young at that time?
73
00:04:32,188 --> 00:04:35,608
No. He never brought
any of them around me.
74
00:04:35,608 --> 00:04:38,861
He was never abusive to anybody
in front of me.
75
00:04:38,861 --> 00:04:42,198
He was never a person that,
you know, like,
76
00:04:42,198 --> 00:04:44,117
"Hey, do y'all hear that
in the room next door?
77
00:04:44,117 --> 00:04:45,910
Is that fighting or something?"
78
00:04:45,910 --> 00:04:48,913
I mean, we have to be realistic
about the story line, too.
79
00:04:48,913 --> 00:04:50,999
Seeing some (bleep) like that,
80
00:04:50,999 --> 00:04:53,376
you-- we really are not gonna
be together,
81
00:04:53,376 --> 00:04:56,671
because you're showing me
up front who your monster is,
82
00:04:56,671 --> 00:05:00,550
so I think that he strategically
did what he did with me.
83
00:05:00,550 --> 00:05:03,720
He kept it away from me
for a reason.
84
00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,430
It's like sometimes I often wish
85
00:05:05,430 --> 00:05:08,057
I would have just known
up front; I really do.
86
00:05:08,057 --> 00:05:10,977
I wish that I would have been
able to see the fullness
87
00:05:10,977 --> 00:05:13,021
of the monster
I was dealing with
88
00:05:13,021 --> 00:05:14,897
because it probably
would have saved me
89
00:05:14,897 --> 00:05:17,734
years and years of pain.
90
00:05:17,734 --> 00:05:20,028
It would have saved me
years of abuse.
91
00:05:20,028 --> 00:05:23,156
It would have saved me years of
being alienated from my family
92
00:05:23,156 --> 00:05:25,825
if I just would have known
up front
93
00:05:25,825 --> 00:05:29,078
what the hell I'm dealing with.
94
00:05:29,078 --> 00:05:32,123
LISA: When we first started
having sex,
95
00:05:32,123 --> 00:05:35,293
Rob was behind the camera,
and he pretty much
96
00:05:35,293 --> 00:05:37,420
would talk us through
the motions.
97
00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:41,632
He would never ask me if, um,
it was okay to be filmed,
98
00:05:41,632 --> 00:05:44,469
but he never hid the camera
or anything like that.
99
00:05:44,469 --> 00:05:50,099
He would just pull-pull out
his tripod and his camera.
100
00:05:50,099 --> 00:05:52,268
And he had the whole thing,
the lighting.
101
00:05:52,268 --> 00:05:55,730
He'd set it up and he-he liked
to-to have control
102
00:05:55,730 --> 00:05:58,274
of the situation
because he would tell you
103
00:05:58,274 --> 00:06:02,904
what to do anyways
when you were having sex.
104
00:06:02,904 --> 00:06:05,198
When he would put the camera up,
he'd just say,
105
00:06:05,198 --> 00:06:07,658
"Make sure you're sitting
properly for the camera,
106
00:06:07,658 --> 00:06:09,660
you know, for whatever angle."
107
00:06:09,660 --> 00:06:13,623
And when he'd be done filming,
he'd just put it in his bag.
108
00:06:17,668 --> 00:06:20,797
It was 2000,
around the same time
109
00:06:20,797 --> 00:06:23,466
when I did the "I Wish" video
with him.
110
00:06:23,466 --> 00:06:27,136
I was in the studio,
I was in the room,
111
00:06:27,136 --> 00:06:29,889
and he left the bag
in the room with me.
112
00:06:29,889 --> 00:06:32,767
And I just happened
to open the bag up,
113
00:06:32,767 --> 00:06:37,480
and I started popping the tapes
in to see what was on them.
114
00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,691
It was just a whole bunch
of different tapes with him
115
00:06:40,691 --> 00:06:45,154
having sex with different young
girls, I guess, and women.
116
00:06:45,154 --> 00:06:47,782
But I came across the one
117
00:06:47,782 --> 00:06:50,618
with me, him
and the 14-year-old.
118
00:06:54,997 --> 00:06:56,999
I watched it and,
119
00:06:56,999 --> 00:07:00,169
as I fast-forwarded some,
I'd see other scenes
120
00:07:00,169 --> 00:07:02,755
with just him and her,
without me.
121
00:07:05,341 --> 00:07:06,843
Her face,
122
00:07:06,843 --> 00:07:09,262
her chest, it's just,
wherever it was going,
123
00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:13,057
he just was-- as if she was
a toilet, he was just peeing.
124
00:07:13,057 --> 00:07:15,560
You know, just letting it
go wherever.
125
00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:20,231
I thought it was gross and-and
weird and, uh, belittling.
126
00:07:20,231 --> 00:07:25,444
In regards to the tapes,
Robert taping himself,
127
00:07:25,444 --> 00:07:26,863
he's always did that.
128
00:07:26,863 --> 00:07:28,948
Robert recorded everything.
129
00:07:28,948 --> 00:07:33,452
I mean, R. Kelly tapes
his sexual encounters.
130
00:07:33,452 --> 00:07:36,080
And he watched his own movies.
131
00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,916
Abusers often want trophies
132
00:07:38,916 --> 00:07:42,170
from their criminal acts,
133
00:07:42,170 --> 00:07:45,131
so people will take things
134
00:07:45,131 --> 00:07:49,260
and be able to place memories
135
00:07:49,260 --> 00:07:51,304
and place maybe
even sexual feelings
136
00:07:51,304 --> 00:07:54,056
on trophies that they've taken.
137
00:07:54,056 --> 00:07:57,727
And it's power play. You get
to actively replay the act.
138
00:07:57,727 --> 00:08:00,521
And when that's not enough,
then you make another tape.
139
00:08:02,565 --> 00:08:04,942
LISA: When I saw it,
you know, it upset me,
140
00:08:04,942 --> 00:08:06,944
and I didn't want him
141
00:08:06,944 --> 00:08:10,448
to have possession of the tape
anymore, 'cause I was on it,
142
00:08:10,448 --> 00:08:14,577
and I took it and kept it on me,
and when I got a chance
143
00:08:14,577 --> 00:08:16,370
to go back to my hotel room,
144
00:08:16,370 --> 00:08:19,624
I left it at my hotel room, and
he never noticed it was gone.
145
00:08:19,624 --> 00:08:23,836
I actually didn't hold
onto the tape that long at all
146
00:08:23,836 --> 00:08:27,548
because I was afraid that
he'd find out that I had it.
147
00:08:27,548 --> 00:08:30,635
I had befriended a few
of his other artists,
148
00:08:30,635 --> 00:08:32,595
and I actually asked one of them
149
00:08:32,595 --> 00:08:36,557
if they could hold
the tape for me.
150
00:08:36,557 --> 00:08:38,392
I remember the first time
we were in Detroit
151
00:08:38,392 --> 00:08:41,229
and he came to me and he told me
about the videotapes.
152
00:08:41,229 --> 00:08:45,983
He'd say, uh, "Man,
you got to help me, man.
153
00:08:45,983 --> 00:08:48,819
"We got to pray, man,
'cause these videos, man,
154
00:08:48,819 --> 00:08:52,782
I can't stop taping myself, man,
and..." and so we prayed.
155
00:08:52,782 --> 00:08:58,329
I was privy, and shown,
um, videos
156
00:08:58,329 --> 00:09:03,167
while I was still employed
and, you know, around, yes.
157
00:09:03,167 --> 00:09:05,544
Um, I never saw
the-the bag's videos,
158
00:09:05,544 --> 00:09:07,004
because I think
I would've been like,
159
00:09:07,004 --> 00:09:08,297
"Man, what the hell
are you doing?"
160
00:09:08,297 --> 00:09:10,508
You know?
"What-what are you doing?"
161
00:09:10,508 --> 00:09:13,803
But yes, I-I did see several,
several videos.
162
00:09:13,803 --> 00:09:16,138
DEMETRIUS:
You know, I didn't know
163
00:09:16,138 --> 00:09:18,432
what was ahead, with those
tapes, but Robert did.
164
00:09:18,432 --> 00:09:20,977
And he used to come to me
165
00:09:20,977 --> 00:09:23,854
and he used to talk to me
about that.
166
00:09:23,854 --> 00:09:26,148
He'd say, "Man, this is gonna
get me in trouble, man.
167
00:09:26,148 --> 00:09:27,316
"I can't seem to stop.
168
00:09:27,316 --> 00:09:30,111
This is gonna destroy me."
169
00:09:41,122 --> 00:09:44,417
My name is Abdon Pallasch.
I was the legal affairs reporter
170
00:09:44,417 --> 00:09:46,210
for the Chicago Sun-Times.
171
00:09:46,210 --> 00:09:49,088
Our rock critic,
Jim DeRogatis,
172
00:09:49,088 --> 00:09:53,634
got a fax laying out that there
was a relationship going on
173
00:09:53,634 --> 00:09:57,054
with R. Kelly
and an underage girl.
174
00:09:57,054 --> 00:09:58,931
Jim's the one
who really heard about
175
00:09:58,931 --> 00:10:01,642
the dynamic that was going on
176
00:10:01,642 --> 00:10:03,769
in which people in R. Kelly's
own circle were saying
177
00:10:03,769 --> 00:10:05,313
that there was an issue there
178
00:10:05,313 --> 00:10:08,482
where he was just hanging out
with young girls.
179
00:10:08,482 --> 00:10:11,485
And Jim had gotten word
that some of these young women
180
00:10:11,485 --> 00:10:13,696
had actually filed suit
against him.
181
00:10:13,696 --> 00:10:16,115
You know, he approached me
as the legal affairs reporter,
182
00:10:16,115 --> 00:10:17,491
you know,
"Can we check this out?"
183
00:10:17,491 --> 00:10:19,201
And, you know,
I went and started
184
00:10:19,201 --> 00:10:21,454
pulling lawsuits and,
sure enough, there were some.
185
00:10:21,454 --> 00:10:23,998
And they generally settled
out of court.
186
00:10:23,998 --> 00:10:28,836
But the allegations
were pretty explosive.
187
00:10:28,836 --> 00:10:32,673
We started uncovering a series
of lawsuits that had been filed
188
00:10:32,673 --> 00:10:35,968
and settlements that had been
reached with-with young women
189
00:10:35,968 --> 00:10:38,304
that claim
that-that they had sex
190
00:10:38,304 --> 00:10:40,681
with R. Kelly
when they were underage.
191
00:10:40,681 --> 00:10:45,144
Our first story ran
December 21, 2000.
192
00:10:45,144 --> 00:10:49,190
And it said that R. Kelly had
been sued by all these girls.
193
00:10:49,190 --> 00:10:53,527
The suits, all added together,
194
00:10:53,527 --> 00:10:55,488
seemed to show
a pattern of behavior
195
00:10:55,488 --> 00:10:59,200
of him going after very young
girls for sexual relationships.
196
00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,496
Immediately after
our story ran,
197
00:11:03,496 --> 00:11:06,040
-we started getting calls.
-(phone ringing)
198
00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,708
Other girls who said
this has happened to them,
199
00:11:07,708 --> 00:11:09,835
from girls who said
it happened to their friends.
200
00:11:09,835 --> 00:11:11,837
And we-we did
follow-up interviews
201
00:11:11,837 --> 00:11:13,589
with as many of them
as we could.
202
00:11:13,589 --> 00:11:15,883
A lot of them
were very reluctant and shy.
203
00:11:15,883 --> 00:11:17,468
And a lot of times,
they wouldn't want to have
204
00:11:17,468 --> 00:11:20,888
their names used or even have
their full stories appear.
205
00:11:20,888 --> 00:11:22,848
These confidential settlements,
you know,
206
00:11:22,848 --> 00:11:25,059
if the girls go public,
they-they lose the settlement.
207
00:11:25,059 --> 00:11:26,852
You have to pay it back.
So there's
208
00:11:26,852 --> 00:11:29,188
a limit to how much more
we're gonna get
209
00:11:29,188 --> 00:11:30,773
from-from people
that had already been involved
210
00:11:30,773 --> 00:11:32,108
in-in those sort of suits.
211
00:11:32,108 --> 00:11:34,735
LEMIEUX:
These are five,
212
00:11:34,735 --> 00:11:36,737
six-figure settlements.
213
00:11:36,737 --> 00:11:39,407
And so, there we see
214
00:11:39,407 --> 00:11:42,243
the beginning
of an ecosystem, right?
215
00:11:42,243 --> 00:11:44,412
Like, there's a--
there's a system
216
00:11:44,412 --> 00:11:47,373
of protecting R. Kelly
from accountability.
217
00:11:47,373 --> 00:11:49,917
They said they were minors.
218
00:11:49,917 --> 00:11:51,252
-Mm-hmm.
-You settled out of court.
219
00:11:51,252 --> 00:11:53,504
-Yeah.
-In this country,
220
00:11:53,504 --> 00:11:56,048
many people will assume
that means you were guilty.
221
00:11:56,048 --> 00:11:57,925
Why'd you settle?
222
00:11:57,925 --> 00:12:00,678
I really can't go into detail
about that particular thing,
223
00:12:00,678 --> 00:12:02,388
because,
when I filed the lawsuit,
224
00:12:02,388 --> 00:12:04,765
um, of course, I signed, uh,
225
00:12:04,765 --> 00:12:06,851
a piece of paper
saying I couldn't discuss
226
00:12:06,851 --> 00:12:08,894
-those particular people
in the situation.
-So there's a confidentiality
227
00:12:08,894 --> 00:12:11,272
-agreement after the fact.
-Exactly. Exactly.
228
00:12:11,272 --> 00:12:13,983
TARANA BURKE: The idea
that R. Kelly was using
229
00:12:13,983 --> 00:12:16,819
nondisclosure agreements
to keep these young girls
230
00:12:16,819 --> 00:12:19,447
and their families quiet,
231
00:12:19,447 --> 00:12:21,115
that means that he is cognizant
232
00:12:21,115 --> 00:12:23,284
of the kind of things
that he's doing
233
00:12:23,284 --> 00:12:25,411
and he's trying to protect
himself on the front end.
234
00:12:25,411 --> 00:12:28,080
And I think that this is
the thing that makes him, to me,
235
00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:29,540
more the-- more of a predator.
236
00:12:31,917 --> 00:12:34,587
LEMIEUX: You can get people
to sign NDAs.
237
00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:36,630
We can make people go away
with a check.
238
00:12:36,630 --> 00:12:38,299
We don't have to do this
in court,
239
00:12:38,299 --> 00:12:40,134
in front of the cameras
and in front of,
240
00:12:40,134 --> 00:12:42,303
you know, the paparazzi
241
00:12:42,303 --> 00:12:43,762
and the tabloids.
242
00:12:43,762 --> 00:12:46,765
We can make these things
go away.
243
00:12:47,850 --> 00:12:49,810
His camp was very unhappy
244
00:12:49,810 --> 00:12:52,313
and pushed back hard
and said it was all false.
245
00:12:52,313 --> 00:12:54,774
But they couldn't point
246
00:12:54,774 --> 00:12:57,109
to any part of the story
that was actually false,
247
00:12:57,109 --> 00:13:00,321
'cause it was all taken
from court documents.
248
00:13:00,321 --> 00:13:03,324
LISA: At this point, there were
tapes floating around.
249
00:13:03,324 --> 00:13:06,076
I-I didn't want a sex tape of me
floating around
250
00:13:06,076 --> 00:13:08,746
the Internet or on TV
or anything, so...
251
00:13:08,746 --> 00:13:11,373
the only thing I could think of
doing at that point would be to,
252
00:13:11,373 --> 00:13:16,170
um, to see if Rob could figure
out a way to get the tape back.
253
00:13:16,170 --> 00:13:19,673
I actually ended up
contacting Rob
254
00:13:19,673 --> 00:13:22,468
and told him
that I had took the tape.
255
00:13:23,677 --> 00:13:28,974
He flew me back up to Chicago.
256
00:13:28,974 --> 00:13:30,559
I told him that they probably
wouldn't just
257
00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,521
give it back to me, that they
probably need something,
258
00:13:33,521 --> 00:13:34,772
or whatever, to get it back.
259
00:13:37,191 --> 00:13:39,401
And so he arranged for them
260
00:13:39,401 --> 00:13:43,531
to be paid
to get him back his tape.
261
00:13:43,531 --> 00:13:46,200
He had them take lie detector
tests, well, one of the guys,
262
00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:51,038
and me, and, uh, I passed,
and the guy did not
263
00:13:51,038 --> 00:13:54,208
because he was lying, he said
that he didn't make any copies,
264
00:13:54,208 --> 00:13:56,043
and he actually did.
265
00:13:56,043 --> 00:14:00,172
So, um, he ended up giving,
you know, like, a little payment
266
00:14:00,172 --> 00:14:03,342
for that copy and then he said,
"When you bring the rest back,
267
00:14:03,342 --> 00:14:06,178
you'll get, you know,
the rest of the money."
268
00:14:08,681 --> 00:14:13,227
Rob said $250,000 was
what it was gonna be.
269
00:14:14,895 --> 00:14:18,816
He actually gave the money
to his accountant.
270
00:14:18,816 --> 00:14:23,612
You know, he ended up getting
the tape, uh, for Rob
271
00:14:23,612 --> 00:14:26,532
on the last, uh, visit
that I went up there.
272
00:14:35,207 --> 00:14:39,920
I just didn't know that
there was a point in time...
273
00:14:46,093 --> 00:14:48,554
...where...
274
00:14:51,932 --> 00:14:54,310
...where they were talking...
275
00:14:57,104 --> 00:15:00,858
...where they were talking...
about killing me.
276
00:15:19,126 --> 00:15:22,254
So we started doing the stories,
and we'd heard that there was
277
00:15:22,254 --> 00:15:25,466
videotapes out there of R. Kelly
with the underage girls,
278
00:15:25,466 --> 00:15:28,177
and we'd let it be known that
we'd be happy to, you know,
279
00:15:28,177 --> 00:15:30,971
get those tapes, if they could
assist in our reporting.
280
00:15:32,806 --> 00:15:35,017
One day, an anonymous video
281
00:15:35,017 --> 00:15:38,646
was-was dropped off
in Jim's mailbox.
282
00:15:38,646 --> 00:15:40,481
So this appeared to be R. Kelly
283
00:15:40,481 --> 00:15:42,816
engaging in sex
with an underage girl.
284
00:15:42,816 --> 00:15:46,820
Tongues are really wagging,
ears are really burning,
285
00:15:46,820 --> 00:15:50,449
because they're like, "Did you
hear about this sex tape?"
286
00:15:50,449 --> 00:15:52,451
So that means everything else
that we've been hearing,
287
00:15:52,451 --> 00:15:53,911
we knew it was true.
288
00:15:53,911 --> 00:15:55,829
That set everything off.
289
00:15:55,829 --> 00:15:57,998
MITCHELL:
The newsroom was in an uproar.
290
00:15:57,998 --> 00:16:00,668
The editors had to make
a decision whether or not
291
00:16:00,668 --> 00:16:05,339
this was so important that
we could sit and view a tape
292
00:16:05,339 --> 00:16:07,841
and to basically pursue a story
293
00:16:07,841 --> 00:16:11,387
that literally was based in
pornography, child pornography.
294
00:16:14,014 --> 00:16:18,310
So it was very easy
to look at that videotape
295
00:16:18,310 --> 00:16:21,146
and believe that
that was R. Kelly on the tape
296
00:16:21,146 --> 00:16:22,481
and that the girl was underage.
297
00:16:22,481 --> 00:16:23,857
She looked like a child.
298
00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,320
I got to tell you,
299
00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,865
as a mother and as a grandmother
and as a black woman,
300
00:16:31,865 --> 00:16:35,244
I was sickened by what I saw.
301
00:16:35,244 --> 00:16:38,872
It contained very graphic,
302
00:16:38,872 --> 00:16:43,043
um... hardcore porn.
303
00:16:43,043 --> 00:16:45,045
If I could just be blunt.
304
00:16:45,045 --> 00:16:48,006
Various sexual acts,
including urination,
305
00:16:48,006 --> 00:16:51,051
oral sex,
everything that you can name.
306
00:16:51,051 --> 00:16:53,804
PALLASCH: There'd just be denial
after denial
307
00:16:53,804 --> 00:16:56,974
from people in the community
that knew R. Kelly.
308
00:16:56,974 --> 00:16:58,392
They'd just say, "Oh, it's all
wrong, it's all wrong.
309
00:16:58,392 --> 00:17:00,227
These are people
out to get R. Kelly."
310
00:17:00,227 --> 00:17:02,104
But, you know, you can't
311
00:17:02,104 --> 00:17:05,065
be dissuaded, you can't be, uh,
intimidated out of these things.
312
00:17:05,065 --> 00:17:06,692
We didn't let up
our reporting at all.
313
00:17:13,031 --> 00:17:15,993
We were made aware that there
was a 14-year-old girl.
314
00:17:15,993 --> 00:17:18,620
His bass player's daughter
that he was, uh,
315
00:17:18,620 --> 00:17:21,248
having an-an,
a sexual relationship with
316
00:17:21,248 --> 00:17:22,958
at that time we were
doing the stories.
317
00:17:25,419 --> 00:17:29,089
SPARKLE:
Chicago Sun-Times contacted me
318
00:17:29,089 --> 00:17:34,803
and wanted me to come down
to their offices to view tapes
319
00:17:34,803 --> 00:17:37,431
that possibly had,
320
00:17:37,431 --> 00:17:40,851
um, girls on it
that I may have known.
321
00:17:40,851 --> 00:17:43,771
On the tape,
322
00:17:43,771 --> 00:17:47,107
my niece has
the same hairstyle she had
323
00:17:47,107 --> 00:17:50,694
when she turned 14.
324
00:17:50,694 --> 00:17:54,072
That was her, for sure.
325
00:17:54,072 --> 00:17:56,784
And that was him, definitely.
326
00:18:10,130 --> 00:18:13,091
My name is Raven,
327
00:18:13,091 --> 00:18:15,928
and I was friends
with the girl in the tape
328
00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:18,388
since 1997, junior high on.
329
00:18:21,350 --> 00:18:23,977
We bonded over basketball.
330
00:18:23,977 --> 00:18:26,480
She and I were the, you know,
star basketball players
331
00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,482
of our junior high team.
332
00:18:28,482 --> 00:18:30,275
We spent a lot
of time together,
333
00:18:30,275 --> 00:18:31,985
both on and off the court.
334
00:18:31,985 --> 00:18:34,029
Her personality was vibrant.
335
00:18:34,029 --> 00:18:35,656
Always happy,
336
00:18:35,656 --> 00:18:39,493
always having a great time,
the life of the party.
337
00:18:39,493 --> 00:18:42,704
Just a really fun,
wonderful person to be around.
338
00:18:44,790 --> 00:18:46,708
JACQUES CONWAY:
Oak Park is a small town,
339
00:18:46,708 --> 00:18:48,544
so you get to know people
quite well.
340
00:18:48,544 --> 00:18:51,171
As a coach, I saw her play
from junior high
341
00:18:51,171 --> 00:18:54,299
up until she got on my team
as a sophomore in high school.
342
00:18:54,299 --> 00:18:57,010
Her parents
were very responsible,
343
00:18:57,010 --> 00:18:59,179
like any family
in Oak Park River Forest.
344
00:18:59,179 --> 00:19:00,681
You know,
two parents who worked,
345
00:19:00,681 --> 00:19:02,724
sent their kid to
the same school they went to.
346
00:19:02,724 --> 00:19:04,893
Very supportive
of their kids' activities
347
00:19:04,893 --> 00:19:06,812
by attending those events.
348
00:19:06,812 --> 00:19:10,357
GENGLER: R. Kelly would come
to some basketball games.
349
00:19:10,357 --> 00:19:12,317
I would see him in the stands.
350
00:19:12,317 --> 00:19:14,319
It almost seemed
like a doting father
351
00:19:14,319 --> 00:19:16,488
when R. Kelly would see her.
352
00:19:18,198 --> 00:19:21,076
CONWAY:
It was just strange for me,
353
00:19:21,076 --> 00:19:22,870
to see a-a grown man hanging out
at a high school
354
00:19:22,870 --> 00:19:24,204
with high school girls.
355
00:19:27,249 --> 00:19:29,960
SPARKLE:
Like, you hear things,
356
00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,380
but to see it visually,
357
00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:38,343
and for her to be so young...
358
00:19:38,343 --> 00:19:40,220
it (bleep) me up.
359
00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:44,099
It really did-- like,
it's over with,
360
00:19:44,099 --> 00:19:47,227
but it still haunts me.
361
00:19:47,227 --> 00:19:50,397
You know?
362
00:19:50,397 --> 00:19:56,028
And I hate this (bleep),
that it happened.
363
00:19:56,028 --> 00:19:59,072
It shouldn't have happened.
364
00:19:59,072 --> 00:20:02,743
I should have never
introduced her to him.
365
00:20:02,743 --> 00:20:07,247
I should have never introduced
my family to him.
366
00:20:07,247 --> 00:20:10,834
Like, how dare you.
367
00:20:10,834 --> 00:20:13,211
How dare you.
368
00:20:23,096 --> 00:20:26,099
SPARKLE:
How dare you.
369
00:20:26,099 --> 00:20:29,186
(sniffles)
370
00:20:29,186 --> 00:20:31,521
What the (bleep)?
371
00:20:31,521 --> 00:20:33,607
"What are you doing, Robert?"
Like, I never thought
372
00:20:33,607 --> 00:20:36,234
he would do this (bleep)
to my family.
373
00:20:36,234 --> 00:20:39,529
I don't know how the Sun-Times
got the tape.
374
00:20:39,529 --> 00:20:41,531
Who dropped it off,
who sent it,
375
00:20:41,531 --> 00:20:45,327
who threw it-- I-I have no idea.
376
00:20:45,327 --> 00:20:50,499
There was a money transaction
from Robert to my niece
377
00:20:50,499 --> 00:20:53,168
in the beginning
of this videotape.
378
00:20:53,168 --> 00:20:58,465
After the money transaction,
then there was a transaction...
379
00:20:58,465 --> 00:21:00,092
(laughs softly)
380
00:21:00,092 --> 00:21:02,970
...if you understand
what I'm saying.
381
00:21:02,970 --> 00:21:07,391
A sexual transaction.
382
00:21:07,391 --> 00:21:11,812
And I didn't need
to see any more,
383
00:21:11,812 --> 00:21:14,606
'cause I knew it was her.
384
00:21:14,606 --> 00:21:17,734
PALLASCH:
We were able to confirm
385
00:21:17,734 --> 00:21:21,071
it was indeed her
at a time when she was 14.
386
00:21:21,071 --> 00:21:25,742
R. Kelly and an underage girl
having sex.
387
00:21:25,742 --> 00:21:27,577
Here, we have evidence
of a felony.
388
00:21:27,577 --> 00:21:30,122
Now, you don't want to become
an arm of the prosecution.
389
00:21:30,122 --> 00:21:31,999
Journalists are supposed to be
separate and apart from that.
390
00:21:31,999 --> 00:21:35,377
But if you find a body
in the lobby of the Sun-Times,
391
00:21:35,377 --> 00:21:36,628
you call the police.
392
00:21:36,628 --> 00:21:38,880
And we ultimately did.
393
00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:43,343
Here was a child who was being
used by a grown man
394
00:21:43,343 --> 00:21:47,347
for sexual gratification,
and obviously, no one cared.
395
00:21:47,347 --> 00:21:50,892
People knew what was going on
at his, uh, residence.
396
00:21:50,892 --> 00:21:53,729
They probably saw this girl
in and out,
397
00:21:53,729 --> 00:21:56,231
but proving that
was a different thing.
398
00:21:56,231 --> 00:21:58,066
It was obvious she was young.
399
00:21:58,066 --> 00:22:00,569
It was on tape.
Everybody saw it.
400
00:22:00,569 --> 00:22:02,195
It shows you how rich
401
00:22:02,195 --> 00:22:04,406
and powerful men can get away
with a lot of things.
402
00:22:04,406 --> 00:22:06,825
But it also shows
the power imbalance
403
00:22:06,825 --> 00:22:10,203
between the abuser
and the victim, as well.
404
00:22:12,414 --> 00:22:14,249
Ever since this-this tape thing,
405
00:22:14,249 --> 00:22:16,126
this rumor has come out,
you know, there's been
406
00:22:16,126 --> 00:22:17,544
a whole lot of people, you know,
407
00:22:17,544 --> 00:22:19,463
uh, it's been
a R. Kelly Day, man.
408
00:22:19,463 --> 00:22:22,132
It's been people trying to,
you know, say this or say that,
409
00:22:22,132 --> 00:22:24,134
coming out of the woodwork
for me, you know,
410
00:22:24,134 --> 00:22:25,302
just trying to get paid.
411
00:22:25,302 --> 00:22:26,887
I'm not a monster that people,
412
00:22:26,887 --> 00:22:29,222
that people
are saying I am, and, uh,
413
00:22:29,222 --> 00:22:32,726
if people out there have a tape
of me, and they're saying
414
00:22:32,726 --> 00:22:35,228
it's with me and a young girl,
a minor,
415
00:22:35,228 --> 00:22:37,856
then they're sadly mistaken
or they're lying.
416
00:22:37,856 --> 00:22:39,399
(film projector clicking)
417
00:22:39,399 --> 00:22:41,276
JOVANTE: In his mind,
I think he believes
418
00:22:41,276 --> 00:22:43,737
some of his own sick lies.
In his mind, he didn't do it.
419
00:22:43,737 --> 00:22:46,156
He has no level
of personal accountability
420
00:22:46,156 --> 00:22:48,200
as it relates
to his poor behavior.
421
00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,243
His attempt to say it wasn't him
is ridiculous.
422
00:22:50,243 --> 00:22:52,579
At one point, he's having sex
with this woman,
423
00:22:52,579 --> 00:22:56,583
and somebody is yelling
from another room, you know,
424
00:22:56,583 --> 00:23:00,128
"R. Kells, pick up the phone.
It's phone for you..."
425
00:23:00,128 --> 00:23:01,588
and, like, yelling his name.
426
00:23:01,588 --> 00:23:04,257
PALLASCH:
Eventually,
427
00:23:04,257 --> 00:23:06,760
bootleg copies of the tape
start showing up
428
00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:08,095
around the country.
429
00:23:08,095 --> 00:23:09,554
People are watching it
in clubs.
430
00:23:09,554 --> 00:23:11,306
MITCHELL:
This tape was duplicated
431
00:23:11,306 --> 00:23:13,308
and was for sale
all over the South Side.
432
00:23:13,308 --> 00:23:15,519
So you could drive up to a,
433
00:23:15,519 --> 00:23:18,563
one of these, uh, outdoor
flea markets and get a tape
434
00:23:18,563 --> 00:23:20,273
of R. Kelly--
435
00:23:20,273 --> 00:23:23,944
allegedly R. Kelly-- having sex
with an underage girl.
436
00:23:23,944 --> 00:23:27,239
This is before the whole advent
of-of sex tapes,
437
00:23:27,239 --> 00:23:31,118
and I think the tape
came on VHS.
438
00:23:31,118 --> 00:23:33,912
As a matter of fact,
it was a VHS tape.
439
00:23:33,912 --> 00:23:37,374
That tape was rushed to me
from Chicago.
440
00:23:37,374 --> 00:23:43,088
I'm looking at this tape,
I'm like, "Oh..."
441
00:23:45,298 --> 00:23:49,302
Robert has a problem.
442
00:23:49,302 --> 00:23:50,512
A lot of people
saw that pee tape.
443
00:23:50,512 --> 00:23:51,930
It was circulating
in the streets,
444
00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:53,640
it was, like, a bootleg
that went around.
445
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:55,142
I don't remember what I was
thinking at that time,
446
00:23:55,142 --> 00:23:56,643
but I'm like,
"How did he get away with this?"
447
00:23:58,728 --> 00:24:00,355
BURKE:
When I think about
448
00:24:00,355 --> 00:24:04,025
this grown man urinating
in the mouth of a child,
449
00:24:04,025 --> 00:24:07,070
and how degrading that is,
when I first heard it,
450
00:24:07,070 --> 00:24:10,407
it just really concretized
for me
451
00:24:10,407 --> 00:24:12,450
that this person is a monster.
452
00:24:14,995 --> 00:24:16,872
The tape is incredibly graphic.
453
00:24:16,872 --> 00:24:19,332
That makes it
almost impossible--
454
00:24:19,332 --> 00:24:21,334
or should have
made it impossible--
455
00:24:21,334 --> 00:24:24,171
for people to pretend
that they did not know
456
00:24:24,171 --> 00:24:27,883
that this person
had a thing for little girls.
457
00:24:27,883 --> 00:24:30,010
It's strange.
458
00:24:30,010 --> 00:24:31,928
You have R. Kelly performing
at the opening ceremonies
459
00:24:31,928 --> 00:24:35,932
of the Olympics...
460
00:24:35,932 --> 00:24:38,894
at the same time
that there was this sex tape.
461
00:24:38,894 --> 00:24:41,354
So for R. Kelly to be there,
462
00:24:41,354 --> 00:24:44,399
just speaks to how huge he was.
463
00:24:44,399 --> 00:24:47,402
ANN POWERS:
The story of sexual predation
464
00:24:47,402 --> 00:24:51,281
as an inconvenience
in popular music
465
00:24:51,281 --> 00:24:54,951
is so old.
466
00:24:54,951 --> 00:24:58,747
It's been going on
for decades, centuries.
467
00:24:58,747 --> 00:25:03,376
Nobody wants to give up
the music they love
468
00:25:03,376 --> 00:25:07,047
and nobody wants to think badly
of the artists they love.
469
00:25:07,047 --> 00:25:09,507
And I think that happened
with R. Kelly.
470
00:25:09,507 --> 00:25:11,384
SPARKLE:
I was pissed.
471
00:25:11,384 --> 00:25:12,886
I'm like, "Who would do this?"
472
00:25:12,886 --> 00:25:16,306
Not only was I pissed at Robert
for filming this (bleep),
473
00:25:16,306 --> 00:25:18,475
I was pissed at the person
who put this out,
474
00:25:18,475 --> 00:25:21,394
because I'm like, "Look, this
is a little girl on this tape."
475
00:25:21,394 --> 00:25:24,689
"Why would y'all do that?"
476
00:25:24,689 --> 00:25:26,691
CONWAY:
I was made aware
477
00:25:26,691 --> 00:25:32,155
by, uh, some students that there
was a, a, uh, tape, a sex tape.
478
00:25:32,155 --> 00:25:34,950
One of my basketball players
with R. Kelly.
479
00:25:34,950 --> 00:25:38,495
Uh, and they were selling it
on the West Side of Chicago.
480
00:25:38,495 --> 00:25:42,082
My specialty was sex crimes
against minors
481
00:25:42,082 --> 00:25:43,917
for the Oak Park
Police Department,
482
00:25:43,917 --> 00:25:47,587
so I went to the West Side,
got a copy of this tape.
483
00:25:47,587 --> 00:25:49,589
And I actually saw it
at the police station.
484
00:25:49,589 --> 00:25:52,259
It was just very disheartening,
it was very sad.
485
00:25:52,259 --> 00:25:55,095
This was the first victim
that I personally knew.
486
00:25:55,095 --> 00:25:57,264
And so, it was very heart-- uh,
487
00:25:57,264 --> 00:26:00,850
heartfelt to-to experience
this, to see it,
488
00:26:00,850 --> 00:26:03,270
and felt that something had to
be done about it.
489
00:26:05,188 --> 00:26:09,442
Watching the tape and just
thinking about, you know,
490
00:26:09,442 --> 00:26:11,987
if that were me
or if that were my daughter,
491
00:26:11,987 --> 00:26:14,781
it just, obviously,
tears me apart.
492
00:26:14,781 --> 00:26:17,492
I wouldn't want that to happen
to any young lady
493
00:26:17,492 --> 00:26:19,494
who's still young,
still figuring out life,
494
00:26:19,494 --> 00:26:22,372
just looking up to this person
who's supposed to be somebody
495
00:26:22,372 --> 00:26:26,084
that you trust and...
496
00:26:26,084 --> 00:26:29,462
that trust, obviously, being
taken complete advantage of.
497
00:26:33,466 --> 00:26:35,427
PRODUCER: When you found out
about that tape,
498
00:26:35,427 --> 00:26:38,054
can you tell me
how you found out about it?
499
00:26:43,810 --> 00:26:45,812
(quietly):
It don't even matter.
500
00:26:48,148 --> 00:26:50,859
It doesn't matter how
I found out about that tape.
501
00:26:50,859 --> 00:26:53,486
What matters is that it existed.
502
00:26:55,488 --> 00:26:57,365
It doesn't matter.
503
00:26:57,365 --> 00:26:59,409
Who cares?
504
00:27:01,745 --> 00:27:03,747
Should've never happened.
505
00:27:08,251 --> 00:27:11,087
I love that baby.
506
00:27:14,007 --> 00:27:16,259
Like she was mine.
507
00:27:16,259 --> 00:27:19,888
That was my baby.
508
00:27:19,888 --> 00:27:24,100
And for him to do that to her...
509
00:27:33,526 --> 00:27:35,028
Man...
510
00:27:46,664 --> 00:27:48,291
LISA:
It was 2000.
511
00:27:48,291 --> 00:27:50,960
I had just turned 20 years old.
512
00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:56,383
I ended up, um, missing
my period and I told Rob
513
00:27:56,383 --> 00:27:58,385
that I thought
that I was pregnant.
514
00:27:58,385 --> 00:28:02,472
And he asked me to, um,
did I take a pregnancy test?
515
00:28:02,472 --> 00:28:06,726
I told him I did, and, um,
after that, he asked me
516
00:28:06,726 --> 00:28:12,148
to get another test and then to
take that one in front of him.
517
00:28:12,148 --> 00:28:15,235
And I did that,
and it came up positive.
518
00:28:15,235 --> 00:28:18,154
And, um, he asked me
what did I want to do,
519
00:28:18,154 --> 00:28:20,448
and I told him,
"To get an abortion."
520
00:28:20,448 --> 00:28:24,285
He contacted his assistant
521
00:28:24,285 --> 00:28:26,579
and a week later,
522
00:28:26,579 --> 00:28:31,126
we went to Planned Parenthood
and I had my abortion.
523
00:28:31,126 --> 00:28:35,213
It kind of was, like, the only
option to me because, um,
524
00:28:35,213 --> 00:28:38,341
I didn't really want
to have a kid by him.
525
00:28:38,341 --> 00:28:40,677
I was concerned with
if it would be a girl,
526
00:28:40,677 --> 00:28:42,846
what I would have
to deal with, so...
527
00:28:42,846 --> 00:28:44,889
I knew she would get older
at some point.
528
00:28:44,889 --> 00:28:47,642
There were, there were things
that I just had to think about
529
00:28:47,642 --> 00:28:50,145
in my mind, you know,
"Okay, he did this
530
00:28:50,145 --> 00:28:52,564
"with someone else's, um, child,
531
00:28:52,564 --> 00:28:56,109
I mean, what would keep him
from doing that to mine?"
532
00:28:57,527 --> 00:28:58,820
PRODUCER:
What was he like as a father?
533
00:28:58,820 --> 00:29:01,614
Was he loving
with your children?
534
00:29:01,614 --> 00:29:04,617
I think Robert
loved our children
535
00:29:04,617 --> 00:29:06,411
the best way he knew how.
536
00:29:06,411 --> 00:29:09,122
He didn't have a father figure
in his life,
537
00:29:09,122 --> 00:29:13,918
so he really didn't...
know how to be a father.
538
00:29:13,918 --> 00:29:16,296
He just knew how to provide.
539
00:29:18,173 --> 00:29:22,218
MITCHELL: The thing about Andrea
Kelly and him marrying her
540
00:29:22,218 --> 00:29:25,054
is that nobody
saw her after that.
541
00:29:25,054 --> 00:29:27,223
It was like she was locked up,
542
00:29:27,223 --> 00:29:30,143
uh, o-on their estate,
and she wasn't allowed out.
543
00:29:30,143 --> 00:29:31,811
There were stories about--
544
00:29:31,811 --> 00:29:34,481
that even if they, she wanted
to get her hair done,
545
00:29:34,481 --> 00:29:37,817
or get her makeup done,
the people had to come to her,
546
00:29:37,817 --> 00:29:39,819
that she was not
allowed to come out.
547
00:29:39,819 --> 00:29:43,239
And so it was a real odd,
strange situation.
548
00:29:43,239 --> 00:29:46,242
People were wondering,
especially journalists,
549
00:29:46,242 --> 00:29:48,536
why in the midst
of all these allegations
550
00:29:48,536 --> 00:29:50,788
of him having sex
with underage girls,
551
00:29:50,788 --> 00:29:52,916
number one,
why would she marry him?
552
00:29:52,916 --> 00:29:56,753
And number two, was she really
free to ever leave home?
553
00:29:56,753 --> 00:29:58,755
Was she a prisoner
in her own home?
554
00:29:58,755 --> 00:30:01,174
Just, what that relationship
was all about.
555
00:30:01,174 --> 00:30:03,009
There was a lot
of speculation about
556
00:30:03,009 --> 00:30:06,095
what was going on
in the Kelly household.
557
00:30:07,722 --> 00:30:10,058
ANDREA: I would always hear
rumors about,
558
00:30:10,058 --> 00:30:11,184
"Oh, he's being sued
by this person,
559
00:30:11,184 --> 00:30:12,727
and sued by that person..."
560
00:30:12,727 --> 00:30:15,688
And it almost seemed
like every other week,
561
00:30:15,688 --> 00:30:18,441
he was in the tabloids
for something.
562
00:30:18,441 --> 00:30:19,943
Another person's
coming forward,
563
00:30:19,943 --> 00:30:21,861
and I'm thinking
to myself, like,
564
00:30:21,861 --> 00:30:23,863
"When did you have time?
565
00:30:23,863 --> 00:30:26,866
Are there more--" like, "Do you
have a doppelganger around here
566
00:30:26,866 --> 00:30:29,035
that I don't know about?"
Like, "When do you have time
567
00:30:29,035 --> 00:30:31,746
"to go to the studio,
play basketball, come abuse me,
568
00:30:31,746 --> 00:30:33,623
"be a dad-- when you wanted to--
569
00:30:33,623 --> 00:30:35,625
"and then go destroy
other people's lives,
570
00:30:35,625 --> 00:30:37,627
and still be on the road
and shoot videos?"
571
00:30:37,627 --> 00:30:41,297
Like, it was just, my mind
couldn't fathom, like,
572
00:30:41,297 --> 00:30:44,551
"How are you doing all this?"
573
00:30:44,551 --> 00:30:46,970
And why didn't I know
anything about it?
574
00:30:46,970 --> 00:30:51,224
And I think the frustration
set in because it then became
575
00:30:51,224 --> 00:30:54,394
very real to me: "Drea,
the reason why you don't know
576
00:30:54,394 --> 00:30:56,896
and he's able to do it, because
he has people helping him."
577
00:30:59,023 --> 00:31:00,900
BURKE:
He had to have backup
578
00:31:00,900 --> 00:31:03,903
in order to continue this level
of behavior that he had.
579
00:31:03,903 --> 00:31:06,281
His predatory behavior
was supported
580
00:31:06,281 --> 00:31:08,741
by the people around him,
in his camp.
581
00:31:08,741 --> 00:31:10,910
And also, it points, to me,
to the person who understands
582
00:31:10,910 --> 00:31:12,704
that they're doing
something wrong.
583
00:31:12,704 --> 00:31:14,497
Right? That you know that
you're doing something wrong
584
00:31:14,497 --> 00:31:15,957
if you have to create systems
585
00:31:15,957 --> 00:31:18,293
to protect yourself
from being exposed.
586
00:31:18,293 --> 00:31:21,588
PRODUCER:
Did you ever meet his wife?
587
00:31:21,588 --> 00:31:24,549
Um, there were times
where she'd be checking in
588
00:31:24,549 --> 00:31:26,759
to the same hotel as me
at the same time.
589
00:31:26,759 --> 00:31:31,598
She might be with his publicist,
and I'd be with his assistant.
590
00:31:31,598 --> 00:31:34,601
He kept us apart.
591
00:31:34,601 --> 00:31:36,769
You have your team,
you have your cover-up people.
592
00:31:36,769 --> 00:31:39,230
You have lawyers settling claims
out of court.
593
00:31:39,230 --> 00:31:41,983
Not trying to be funny:
you don't read and write well,
594
00:31:41,983 --> 00:31:43,776
so you're not booking flights.
595
00:31:43,776 --> 00:31:45,778
Who's booking these flights?
596
00:31:45,778 --> 00:31:49,198
Who's-who's telling the driver
to go pick people up?
597
00:31:49,198 --> 00:31:52,910
Who's getting these hotel rooms?
He's not doing it on his own.
598
00:31:54,787 --> 00:31:56,789
CRAIG: I tell you, I don't know
if the music industry
599
00:31:56,789 --> 00:31:59,000
in all knew about
what was going on with Rob,
600
00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,502
but I do know
that around Rob's camp,
601
00:32:01,502 --> 00:32:04,964
everyone knew,
and nothing was done.
602
00:32:04,964 --> 00:32:06,924
And when you have
those type of people
603
00:32:06,924 --> 00:32:11,512
who are your yes-men around you,
uh, it will continue to happen.
604
00:32:11,512 --> 00:32:15,308
And if it wasn't right,
it was obviously buried
605
00:32:15,308 --> 00:32:18,353
so that the rest of the world
didn't know about it.
606
00:32:18,353 --> 00:32:20,813
DEMETRIUS:
That's the way it was.
607
00:32:20,813 --> 00:32:22,815
It was every day, you know?
608
00:32:22,815 --> 00:32:25,943
It's the same routine,
because he can have his way.
609
00:32:25,943 --> 00:32:28,905
We work for him,
and this is what he wanted
610
00:32:28,905 --> 00:32:33,326
and so this is what we were
supposed to get him.
611
00:32:33,326 --> 00:32:36,037
If you're an adult
who's around him
612
00:32:36,037 --> 00:32:38,665
and you're aware
and you're not saying anything,
613
00:32:38,665 --> 00:32:41,709
you're just as sick as he is.
Please understand that.
614
00:32:41,709 --> 00:32:43,878
It doesn't make you any better
because you're not doing it.
615
00:32:43,878 --> 00:32:45,505
If you're aware
and you're not saying anything,
616
00:32:45,505 --> 00:32:47,382
you're just as sick.
617
00:32:47,382 --> 00:32:50,927
LEMIEUX: You've had these
relations with young girls.
618
00:32:50,927 --> 00:32:52,929
There's a video.
We're not talking about rumors
619
00:32:52,929 --> 00:32:54,597
at this point,
we're talking about something
620
00:32:54,597 --> 00:32:58,142
that we can watch, to this day.
621
00:32:58,142 --> 00:33:02,438
So it feels like they're taking
a stand against black girls.
622
00:33:02,438 --> 00:33:05,775
It feels like
they're taking a stance to say,
623
00:33:05,775 --> 00:33:09,612
"Protecting Robert Kelly
and his ability to make music
624
00:33:09,612 --> 00:33:13,241
"and entertain fans
means more than what he did
625
00:33:13,241 --> 00:33:16,411
in his private life
with these little girls."
626
00:33:16,411 --> 00:33:20,039
(cheering)
627
00:33:20,039 --> 00:33:22,333
R. Kelly has done
a really good job
628
00:33:22,333 --> 00:33:26,087
at sort of spreading himself
around musically.
629
00:33:26,087 --> 00:33:28,381
So he's got
these hypersexual songs
630
00:33:28,381 --> 00:33:30,383
like "Bump n' Grind,"
and then he's got
631
00:33:30,383 --> 00:33:34,387
the inspirational songs
like "I Believe I Can Fly."
632
00:33:34,387 --> 00:33:36,723
And... (scoffs)
I mean, you know,
633
00:33:36,723 --> 00:33:40,059
how can the guy who made
"I Believe I Can Fly,"
634
00:33:40,059 --> 00:33:43,396
which is played
on Sunday mornings
635
00:33:43,396 --> 00:33:45,565
in church,
in many black churches,
636
00:33:45,565 --> 00:33:50,611
how can that guy be wrong?
637
00:33:50,611 --> 00:33:54,574
One young exec stated,
638
00:33:54,574 --> 00:33:59,287
"I don't care if that is him
on that tape,
639
00:33:59,287 --> 00:34:04,292
because we can't afford
to lose him."
640
00:34:04,292 --> 00:34:08,296
I was like, "Wow.
That's some serious (bleep)."
641
00:34:08,296 --> 00:34:11,174
Can't afford to lose him,
642
00:34:11,174 --> 00:34:16,804
and you don't care if it is him
on this tape, with a young girl.
643
00:34:16,804 --> 00:34:18,806
I was like,
"That shows what type of...
644
00:34:18,806 --> 00:34:21,934
(scoffs)
person you are."
645
00:34:21,934 --> 00:34:24,228
When someone like R. Kelly
gets in trouble,
646
00:34:24,228 --> 00:34:27,065
there-there's this knee-jerk
instinct to protect him
647
00:34:27,065 --> 00:34:28,649
from "the system."
648
00:34:28,649 --> 00:34:31,652
From the hand of the law,
from all these forces
649
00:34:31,652 --> 00:34:33,863
that are at play
to make sure that black people--
650
00:34:33,863 --> 00:34:35,281
black men in particular--
don't succeed.
651
00:34:35,281 --> 00:34:36,783
We have to stand by him.
652
00:34:36,783 --> 00:34:38,951
We have to take care of him.
653
00:34:38,951 --> 00:34:42,413
But his crimes were against
black women and girls.
654
00:34:42,413 --> 00:34:46,876
And that was devastating for me,
because at this point,
655
00:34:46,876 --> 00:34:49,962
we already knew,
but now we know some more.
656
00:34:49,962 --> 00:34:52,632
You know, that this Aaliyah
thing was not a moment.
657
00:34:52,632 --> 00:34:55,802
This wasn't, "Oh, my God,
she was just so mature,
658
00:34:55,802 --> 00:34:57,553
she was just,
I was just spellbound,
659
00:34:57,553 --> 00:34:59,180
there was just
something about her."
660
00:34:59,180 --> 00:35:03,309
It wasn't just those rumors
about Kenwood.
661
00:35:03,309 --> 00:35:06,145
It's on tape,
and it's disgusting.
662
00:35:06,145 --> 00:35:08,064
And the tape
is being distributed
663
00:35:08,064 --> 00:35:10,733
in-in barbershops
and on porn sites
664
00:35:10,733 --> 00:35:12,985
and it's everywhere.
665
00:35:12,985 --> 00:35:15,404
And people are still
not willing to say
666
00:35:15,404 --> 00:35:18,241
"I can't do this
with you anymore."
667
00:35:28,167 --> 00:35:33,798
I called my oldest brother...
668
00:35:33,798 --> 00:35:38,177
and I told him
that I just had seen a tape,
669
00:35:38,177 --> 00:35:41,347
and it showed our niece on it.
670
00:35:41,347 --> 00:35:44,016
You know, I didn't want
to bring it to my sister
671
00:35:44,016 --> 00:35:47,520
because I don't know
how to bring this to her.
672
00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:51,232
I couldn't really keep my head
in the game at this point.
673
00:35:51,232 --> 00:35:55,194
What mattered was
me protecting my family
674
00:35:55,194 --> 00:35:58,531
or-or me protecting my niece.
You know what I mean?
675
00:35:58,531 --> 00:36:02,535
That's all that mattered to me.
676
00:36:02,535 --> 00:36:05,705
And I was estranged
from the family.
677
00:36:05,705 --> 00:36:08,875
They felt like I was tarnishing
the family's name.
678
00:36:08,875 --> 00:36:10,877
Tarnishing the family name? No.
679
00:36:10,877 --> 00:36:12,879
Robert tarnished
the family's name
680
00:36:12,879 --> 00:36:17,341
by putting our niece, your
daughter, out there like that.
681
00:36:17,341 --> 00:36:20,052
He set out to destroy
that family.
682
00:36:20,052 --> 00:36:22,054
That's what I believe,
in my heart.
683
00:36:22,054 --> 00:36:24,515
I believe he tried to divide
684
00:36:24,515 --> 00:36:28,352
that family
with his poor behavior.
685
00:36:28,352 --> 00:36:33,065
Sparkle is my friend,
she is my son's godmother.
686
00:36:33,065 --> 00:36:36,736
She has been and is
like a mother to me.
687
00:36:36,736 --> 00:36:39,572
I have always been
her little girl,
688
00:36:39,572 --> 00:36:43,951
and I will always be
her little girl.
689
00:36:46,162 --> 00:36:50,458
And I watched my friend give up
her career to save her family.
690
00:36:50,458 --> 00:36:52,210
Robert knows what he did.
691
00:36:52,210 --> 00:36:54,211
He's not confused
about what he did.
692
00:36:55,796 --> 00:36:58,257
Once I came out publicly,
693
00:36:58,257 --> 00:37:00,593
yeah, there was
a lot of blowback.
694
00:37:00,593 --> 00:37:04,931
People were unbelieving,
people thought I was hating.
695
00:37:04,931 --> 00:37:07,266
People thought I was jealous.
696
00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:10,561
People were still able
to dismiss Sparkle
697
00:37:10,561 --> 00:37:13,606
because they felt like
she's just trying to get money.
698
00:37:13,606 --> 00:37:15,232
What happened to Sparkle
is like,
699
00:37:15,232 --> 00:37:17,777
"You are messing with the money,
700
00:37:17,777 --> 00:37:22,073
"you are in violation,
you are talking out of turn,
701
00:37:22,073 --> 00:37:24,450
and now we're gonna
shut you down."
702
00:37:24,450 --> 00:37:28,621
It run the gamut of loaded
and unloaded (bleep)
703
00:37:28,621 --> 00:37:31,457
that people were saying
about me, to me,
704
00:37:31,457 --> 00:37:34,460
to-- about my family, you know,
about my niece.
705
00:37:34,460 --> 00:37:37,588
Her being a little fast girl,
like, come on.
706
00:37:37,588 --> 00:37:39,131
She's 14 years old.
707
00:37:39,131 --> 00:37:42,760
The adult is supposed to know
not to touch that.
708
00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:47,056
GENGLER: I just remember
being completely blown away,
709
00:37:47,056 --> 00:37:51,936
and for this to be happening not
only with a high-profile person
710
00:37:51,936 --> 00:37:54,313
that you look up to and admire,
711
00:37:54,313 --> 00:37:57,149
but also somebody
that you were very close with,
712
00:37:57,149 --> 00:37:58,985
and at the time,
thought everything was fine.
713
00:37:58,985 --> 00:38:01,779
I felt really upset
because at the same time,
714
00:38:01,779 --> 00:38:03,739
I'm like, "Well, why wasn't
I there for her?
715
00:38:03,739 --> 00:38:06,283
How did I not know? How could
I have been there for her?"
716
00:38:06,283 --> 00:38:09,245
Thinking all these things
that I could've done.
717
00:38:09,245 --> 00:38:10,997
(film projector clicking)
718
00:38:10,997 --> 00:38:12,790
JOVANTE:
He has no moral clock.
719
00:38:12,790 --> 00:38:15,376
And I can only imagine what
720
00:38:15,376 --> 00:38:20,339
his wife and his children
have endured and did endure.
721
00:38:20,339 --> 00:38:23,175
I can only imagine.
I know what I've seen.
722
00:38:23,175 --> 00:38:25,553
I can only imagine.
723
00:38:25,553 --> 00:38:28,014
I can
only imagine.
724
00:38:28,014 --> 00:38:29,974
-ED GORDON:
You also have a family.
-Yeah.
725
00:38:29,974 --> 00:38:32,518
How are they dealing with this?
You have two children.
726
00:38:32,518 --> 00:38:34,979
Well, my wife is totally behind
me, because she knows the truth,
727
00:38:34,979 --> 00:38:37,231
and-and she's in my corner.
728
00:38:39,191 --> 00:38:42,194
ANDREA: He put me on the bus
in the middle of the night,
729
00:38:42,194 --> 00:38:45,698
did not tell me
why we're going,
730
00:38:45,698 --> 00:38:46,866
what we're going for.
731
00:38:46,866 --> 00:38:48,534
He shipped me off to Florida,
732
00:38:48,534 --> 00:38:50,536
and I'm just staying
in this house.
733
00:38:50,536 --> 00:38:52,872
I don't know what's going on,
I got security at the door,
734
00:38:52,872 --> 00:38:54,540
nobody's telling me
anything, like,
735
00:38:54,540 --> 00:38:56,417
"Why are we here,
why did we leave Illinois?"
736
00:38:56,417 --> 00:38:58,836
I'm pregnant, I'm supposed
to be going to the doctor,
737
00:38:58,836 --> 00:39:00,504
at least once a week
at this point.
738
00:39:00,504 --> 00:39:02,715
I should not be traveling.
"What is going on?"
739
00:39:02,715 --> 00:39:05,718
No one would tell me anything.
740
00:39:05,718 --> 00:39:07,386
I was just broken.
741
00:39:17,063 --> 00:39:19,356
CRAIG:
Behind the scenes,
742
00:39:19,356 --> 00:39:21,692
the allegations had come.
743
00:39:21,692 --> 00:39:23,903
It was known this tape
was there, prior.
744
00:39:23,903 --> 00:39:25,905
It was obviously buried
745
00:39:25,905 --> 00:39:28,908
so that the rest of the world
didn't know about it,
746
00:39:28,908 --> 00:39:31,744
until this tape and those
allegations popped up.
747
00:39:34,747 --> 00:39:38,417
He put me on the bus
in the middle of the night,
748
00:39:38,417 --> 00:39:41,587
did not tell me why we're
going, what we're going for.
749
00:39:41,587 --> 00:39:43,255
He shipped me off to Florida,
750
00:39:43,255 --> 00:39:45,091
and I'm just staying
in this house.
751
00:39:45,091 --> 00:39:47,093
I don't know what's going on,
I got security at the door,
752
00:39:47,093 --> 00:39:49,053
nobody's telling me
anything, like,
753
00:39:49,053 --> 00:39:51,847
"Why are we here, why did we
leave Illinois?" I'm pregnant.
754
00:39:56,102 --> 00:39:57,436
I'm supposed to be going
to the doctor,
755
00:39:57,436 --> 00:39:59,063
at least once a week
at this point.
756
00:39:59,063 --> 00:40:01,232
I should not be traveling.
"What is going on?"
757
00:40:01,232 --> 00:40:03,776
No one would tell me anything.
758
00:40:03,776 --> 00:40:09,532
I was under so much stress
that when I went to the ob-gyn,
759
00:40:09,532 --> 00:40:12,618
they couldn't find
his heartbeat.
760
00:40:12,618 --> 00:40:15,246
And I remember getting
to the emergency room
761
00:40:15,246 --> 00:40:16,664
and my best friend Angie
was with me
762
00:40:16,664 --> 00:40:18,457
and I just remember coming
through the door
763
00:40:18,457 --> 00:40:20,626
and they had papers and signing
and people were grabbing me
764
00:40:20,626 --> 00:40:23,129
and putting stuff in my arm
and I'm like, "Wait, wait,
765
00:40:23,129 --> 00:40:25,047
wait, wait," like,
"what are you guys doing?"
766
00:40:25,047 --> 00:40:28,008
And they're like, "We have to
induce your labor right away,
767
00:40:28,008 --> 00:40:30,469
because we don't know
if the baby's gonna make it."
768
00:40:33,681 --> 00:40:38,185
I just remember them
laying me on the bed,
769
00:40:38,185 --> 00:40:40,020
and they were like,
"We're gonna give you Pitocin,
770
00:40:40,020 --> 00:40:43,899
we're gonna get this going.
Come on, Mom."
771
00:40:43,899 --> 00:40:46,110
And I went through the labor,
and I just remember
772
00:40:46,110 --> 00:40:47,820
falling so in love
with Little Rob
773
00:40:47,820 --> 00:40:51,490
because he came here so strong,
774
00:40:51,490 --> 00:40:53,617
but I was in that much stress
775
00:40:53,617 --> 00:40:57,830
that it put my unborn child's
life in jeopardy.
776
00:40:57,830 --> 00:41:01,333
'Cause here I am,
by myself in Florida.
777
00:41:01,333 --> 00:41:06,338
I don't know anybody,
I just have my best friend.
778
00:41:06,338 --> 00:41:09,758
And they eventually, again,
had to go through ten people
779
00:41:09,758 --> 00:41:12,845
to get him on the phone.
(sniffles)
780
00:41:12,845 --> 00:41:16,182
"Mr. Kelly, do you know that
they induced your wife's labor?
781
00:41:16,182 --> 00:41:18,517
Like, she just had Little Rob."
782
00:41:18,517 --> 00:41:20,728
(sniffles)
He said he was coming back.
783
00:41:20,728 --> 00:41:24,690
But again,
I don't know where he is.
784
00:41:24,690 --> 00:41:27,359
And I remember after having him,
that's when that day happened.
785
00:41:27,359 --> 00:41:30,029
MAN:
Mr. Kelly has been indicted.
786
00:41:30,029 --> 00:41:32,156
There's been a warrant issued
for his arrest,
787
00:41:32,156 --> 00:41:34,325
and the Chicago Police
Department is currently seeking
788
00:41:34,325 --> 00:41:36,285
to arrest Mr. Kelly.
789
00:41:36,285 --> 00:41:38,704
RICHARD DEVINE: We charge
that the acts took place
790
00:41:38,704 --> 00:41:40,498
in Kelly's home in Chicago.
791
00:41:40,498 --> 00:41:43,292
These indictments, hopefully,
will send a message
792
00:41:43,292 --> 00:41:47,213
to sexual predators
that taking advantage of minors
793
00:41:47,213 --> 00:41:51,258
will not be tolerated and that
there are severe penalties.
794
00:41:51,258 --> 00:41:53,260
I'm sitting here with the baby,
and then it
795
00:41:53,260 --> 00:41:55,387
comes across the screen,
they're like,
796
00:41:55,387 --> 00:41:57,932
"R&B singer R. Kelly
has been arrested
797
00:41:57,932 --> 00:42:00,392
on child pornography,"
and I just remember
798
00:42:00,392 --> 00:42:03,354
my best friend was with me...
and she said
799
00:42:03,354 --> 00:42:05,898
she don't know what happened,
but my body went limp,
800
00:42:05,898 --> 00:42:09,860
and she said she caught Little
Rob before he hit the floor.
801
00:42:09,860 --> 00:42:14,573
And I remember, like,
a buzzing sound.
802
00:42:14,573 --> 00:42:16,909
It almost felt like
I couldn't hear.
803
00:42:16,909 --> 00:42:18,619
And I saw the screen,
804
00:42:18,619 --> 00:42:21,247
and they showed his name
and the police, and...
805
00:42:21,247 --> 00:42:26,126
I just, I don't even remember
a lot after that.
806
00:42:26,126 --> 00:42:29,129
REPORTER: What about
the child porn charges?
807
00:42:29,129 --> 00:42:31,507
(women shouting)
808
00:42:45,813 --> 00:42:49,400
CHANEY: The police
found media of R. Kelly
809
00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:51,277
with plenty
of other young girls
810
00:42:51,277 --> 00:42:52,778
that appeared to be underage.
811
00:42:52,778 --> 00:42:54,780
NEWSWOMAN: Kelly is accused
of videotaping himself
812
00:42:54,780 --> 00:42:56,490
having sex
with an underage girl.
813
00:42:56,490 --> 00:42:59,910
Y'all need to leave him alone.
That's not R. Kelly.
814
00:42:59,910 --> 00:43:02,246
Women lined up
to show support for R. Kelly.
815
00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:03,455
I love me some R. Kelly.
816
00:43:03,455 --> 00:43:04,832
JERHONDA:
I went to his trial
817
00:43:04,832 --> 00:43:06,583
because I was a superfan
at the time.
818
00:43:06,583 --> 00:43:09,628
NORCOTT: At the courthouse,
his eyes were always fixated
819
00:43:09,628 --> 00:43:11,755
on the young girls.
820
00:43:11,755 --> 00:43:14,300
Do you like teenage girls?
821
00:43:14,300 --> 00:43:16,635
He invited me back to
his mansion in Olympia Fields.
822
00:43:16,635 --> 00:43:17,970
You know what you did.
823
00:43:17,970 --> 00:43:20,139
And he told me to bring
a bathing suit.
824
00:43:20,139 --> 00:43:22,474
You know the turmoil you
brought into my kids' life...
825
00:43:22,474 --> 00:43:24,310
I was 14 years old.
826
00:43:24,310 --> 00:43:27,146
...and for that,
you can go to hell.