The name of disgraced singer R. Kelly is making rounds on social media – and not only because juries have just found him guilty of crudely violating the Mann Act with his sex trafficking crimes – but thanks to his financial difficulties.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates that ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ singer has accumulated debt totalling a whopping $2 million.
R. Kelly admitted to a judge last year that he owes the government over $1.8 million and thus doesn’t have the means to escape the country if released from prison over COVID-19 concerns. The singer was still denied bail.
The latest numbers were brought to light as Brooklyn’s federal court was about to decide R. Kelly’s fate. Users came together to mock the 54-year-old singer for the huge debt he had piled up through his luxurious lifestyle and settlement pay-offs to sex assault accusers.
One user quipped: “the devil works hard but karma works harder”.
Others genuinely wondered how the former R&B superstar was going to reimburse his legal team for their attempts to clear his name.
On Monday, R. Kelly was found guilty of racketeering, kidnapping, exploiting and sex trafficking his minor and adult victims, including some of his girlfriends. The court also learned during the federal trial that he had knowingly infected his lovers with herpes and illegally married late singer Aaliyah at the age of 15 after obtaining fake paperwork.
R. Kelly’s sentencing is scheduled for 4 May. He is facing separate sex assault charges in Illinois and Minnesota.