R. Kelly Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison

Former R&B star R. Kelly, convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges last fall, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on this afternoon, concluding the singer's lengthy fall from grace. Kelly, now 55, will be 85 years old if and when he completes his sentence.

At the sentencing, some of Kelly's accusers spoke about their experiences with the abuser. "You made me do things that broke my spirit. I literally wished I would die because of how low you made me feel," one anonymous accuser said.

The news was met online with a mix of "good riddance" and surprise that Kelly got 10 more years than Ghislaine Maxwell, who was also recently sentenced for her role in perpetrating the sex ring of Jeffrey Epstein.

BREAKING: R Kelly has just been sentenced to 30 years in prison. I believe he can cry.

GOOD RIDDANCE.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) June 29, 2022

Wow, R. Kelly got even more time than Ghislaine Maxwell.

— I Smoked Mogul's Bottle Of Heinz (@BlackKnight10k) June 29, 2022

What's key to remember in the R Kelly sentencing is that this is a TRAFFICKING case. He had an entire system for moving minors across state lines. And if he was outside with $10 and people willing to help he'd do the shit again. An ACTUAL menace.

— Naima Cochrane (@naima) June 29, 2022

R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal sex crimes.

Another sexual predator who operated in plain sight & was protected by people who share some of the culpability

— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) June 29, 2022

R. Kelly got more time than Ghislane Maxwell.

I can’t say I didn’t expect that.

And they are in two different wealth brackets.

But damn!

— Hotep Jesus (@HotepJesus) June 29, 2022

Allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct have dogged Kelly since his rise to fame in the '90s when he was first accused of abusing young women. In 2008, he was also acquitted of child pornography charges.

In 2017, he was then accused of running a "sex cult." The wave of allegations reached a climax with the release of the documentary Surviving R. Kelly in 2018, which documented the push from his victims to out Kelly as an abuser.

Finally, in 2019, Kelly was arrested on 13 counts related to sexual misconduct, including "enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice, in addition to the child pornography charges" and "one count of racketeering and four counts of violating the Mann Act." Kelly was named as the head of an enterprise that "included his managers, bodyguards, drivers and members of his entourage," which aimed to enlist women and girls for illegal sexual activity.

While some reacted more seriously to the conviction, there were also many who shared elated reactions and memes to the news.

R KELLY GOT 30 YEARS??? LETSSS GOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/2ne42oWmIN

— Reginald 💥☄️ #44Baby (@SheerOpulence2) June 29, 2022