This archive report was first published on 20 August 2021.
Renowned R&B singer R. Kelly is facing a sex abuse case in Brooklyn federal court, where he is accused of leading a two-decade racketeering scheme involving women and girls.
Kelly has denied the charges, which include allegations of physical abuse and blackmail.
Here's a timeline of key events in Kelly's life and the sex abuse case against him:
Robert Sylvester Kelly was born on January 8, 1967, in Chicago.
January 1992 marked the launch of Kelly's debut album, 'Born into the '90s,' which catapulted him to stardom.
August 1994 saw Kelly marry his singing protege Aaliyah Haughton, 15, after allegedly bribing a local official to obtain a fake identification stating she was 18 years old. Prosecutors claim Kelly met Aaliyah when she was 12 and began a sexual relationship shortly thereafter.
February 1995 saw the annulment of Kelly's and Aaliyah's marriage.
November 1995 saw the release of Kelly's album 'R. Kelly,' which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200.
January 1997 saw Kelly's song 'I Believe I Can Fly' from the 'Space Jam' soundtrack reach No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and win three Grammy awards.
1996 saw Kelly marry dancer Andrea Lee, 22, with whom he had three children.
February 1997 saw Tiffany Hawkins sue Kelly for sexual battery, which allegedly began when she was a minor. They settled out of court.
December 2000 saw the Chicago Sun-Times report that Kelly habitually had sexual relationships with underage girls.
June 2002 saw Kelly indicted in Chicago on child pornography charges following the release of a videotape showing him having sex with a minor.
September 2005 saw Andrea Kelly seek an order of protection, claiming Kelly hit her.
June 2008 saw a jury acquit Kelly in the child pornography case.
January 2009 saw Kelly and his wife confirm they had divorced.
July 2017 saw Buzzfeed report that Kelly was holding women in what their parents described as a cult, fueling renewed attention to the accusations against the singer.
August 2017 saw Jerhonda Pace, who claims Kelly sexually abused her and was the first prosecution witness in the Brooklyn trial, break a nondisclosure agreement and go public with accusations against Kelly.
January 2019 saw the Lifetime documentary 'Surviving R. Kelly' detail more accusations against Kelly, prompting new calls for him to be investigated.
February 2019 saw Kelly indicted for sexual abuse by a Cook County, Illinois grand jury. A new indictment followed in May.
July 2019 saw Kelly indicted in Chicago federal court for child pornography and obstruction of justice, and in Brooklyn federal court for racketeering. He was jailed in Chicago.
August 2019 saw Kelly charged in Minnesota state court with engaging in prostitution with a girl under 18.
June 2021 saw Kelly fire two of his four lawyers in the Brooklyn case. Both were later replaced. Kelly was moved to a Brooklyn jail for his upcoming trial.
August 9, 2021 saw jury selection in Brooklyn federal court begin.
August 18, 2021 saw the Brooklyn sex abuse trial begin.
- Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York
