(Genson tripped her up on cross, when she said she was never in possession of the tape, even though her brother and his ex-wife had testified that she was.) Absolutely NOT! Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Sparkle Addresses Niece's Testimony Against R. Kelly - Yahoo! Look Inside The DA.I.S.Y. "There have been a couple that have come to light that have settled out of court, so that they would not go to criminal court," Sparkle said, referring to Kelly's settlements with Tracy Sampson and Tiffany Hawkins. "She's doing exactly what he told her to do. @lifetimetv SRK For Girls/Women linktr.ee/isparklei Posts Reels Videos Tagged Sparkle continued, This is another form of the terrible decision-making of her mom and in my opinion, the unfortunate continuing allegiance to Robert.. His Masters Are Missing: New R. Kelly Music, I Admit, Unauthorized, Pulled from Streaming Services, The Man is In Prison: Tevin Campbell Receives Backlash After Stating R. Kelly Could Go Against Usher In a Verzuz Battle. They would pretty much drop me off and then leave, she said about her parents and the introduction by her aunt. Though Kelly has talked to local Chicago media about the scandal, he hasn't addressed a lot of the questions people have about the tapes. For the past 20 years, Sparkle, whose real name is Stephanie Edwards, has been trying to convince the world that Kelly sexually abused her teenage niece. Last week in court R. Kellys original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. The woman, who is now in her 30s and had been identified by singer Sparkle as her niece, had refused to testify against R. Kelly in his 2008 trial, which resulted in his acquittal. Sparkle first started singing in her fa Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle is an American RB singer. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said. There's no denying it,' she says on the stand. Sparkle Claims Her Niece Lied About Her In R. Kelly Case, Kelly Osbourne Shares Adorable First Photo of Baby Son Hanging Out with Uncle Jack, UFC Ring Girl Arianny Celeste Sizzles In Black Bikini Beach Photo Drop, Cardi B Reveals First Close-Up Look At Her Latest Face Tattoo For Son Wave, Chelsea Stokes & Kelsea Ballerini Kiss For The First Time In Public As A Couple, Avril Lavigne and Tyga Spotted Hanging Out Amid Separation from Mod Sun, 2022 Thirsty for News. I cant help the lies told on me & under oath at all & cause ya momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify because you deserve it! Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Singer who came to prominence in the late 90s through her collaborations with R. Kelly. Sparkle has since thanked "Surviving R. Kelly" producer Dream Hampton for once again bringing attention to the alleged crimes. There are a lot of people who are very jealous of me right now and they're trying to destroy me.". Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! "We've had contact all along with the girl's family," Chicago police spokesperson Officer Pat Camden said. This ongoing R. Kelly trial has caused one of the disgraced singer's former artists to come forward to defend herself. Sparkle (singer) - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia "Hampton spoke to me and spoke to my management," Edwards continued. Singer Sparkle Responds To Her Niece Testifying In R Kelly's Trial - WZAK His first albums. She previously told the Cut that, when Kelly was producing her first album in the late '90s, she thought the singer could also help her niece, an aspiring rapper, launch a career. One of those relatives, singer Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified Thursday that she had introduced the alleged victim to Kelly, and that the girl called him her "Godfather." CHICAGO -- "Sweetie, I'm not trying to get any money for this!". Now lets observe what transpires in the court. We were very cordial.". R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. Sparkle was born Stephanie Edwards on May 13, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. In @nytimes Feat. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Before Fame. Shortly after the tape was released, the woman's aunt - 1990s R&B singer Sparkle - came forward and blasted her former mentor R Kelly. Sparkle, wearing a touch of silver glitter on her face, testified that in December 2001, she got a phone call from an attorney telling her that a relative of hers was on a sex tape she needed to see, at which point an associate of the attorney's came to her home and played her the tape. Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girls family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. Sparkle said that she had discussions with Hankerson, who was also Aaliyah's uncle, about signing to his Blackground record label about two weeks before Aaliyah's death in 2001, but that discussions fell apart. Sparkle's niece who was 14 years old was alleged to be the young girl in the video tape that went viral on the streets before going viral was such a thing. "I have an ex-manager that's been on my back," he said. Stephanie Edwards, a singer known as Sparkle, testified at R. Kelly's 2008 trial. She was my heart.". Career. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei) Instagram photos and videos For full coverage of the case, read the R. Kelly Reports and check out this [article id="1586932"]complete timeline[/article] of the events leading up to the trial. Sparkle added that her niece, sister and brother-in-law all reported that nothing was going on, however. Cardi B and Offset Meal Boycotted By Several McDonalds Franchise Owners, Gary Owens Estranged Wife Clowns His New Boo On The Gram, Da Brat Reveals Shes Pregnant at 48, Expecting Baby With Wife Jesseca Judy Dupart, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years for Child Sex Crimes in Illinois. Of course Im in full unwavering support of them and their act of courage.. Ivie is a Nigerian-American, native New Yorker, and journalist covering, Report: R. Kellys Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years For Child Sex Crimes, R. Kelly Silenced Aaliyah & Her Family With Non-Disclosure Agreement After 1995 Marriage Annulment, Watch the Trailer For Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. "It's hurtful to my sister, to my brother-in-law and to my niece, especially, because it's all her. ", "No," she said. Featured On. "I know my family. Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, also positively identified R. Kelly as the man on the tape engaging in illegal sex with her 13-year-old niece. A post shared by Sparkle (Stephanie Edwards) (@isparklei). SEPTEMBER 17: Singer R. Kelly appears standing beside his attorney, Steven Greenberg during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. I wish they were backing [me] when I was coming up and had a story to tell, but nobody believed. Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in 1989. The victim in the video did notcooperate with prosecutors in the original case, but finally agreed to workwith the government after Kelly was arrested in 2019. When I learned that, I would go out of my way to speak to people just to tick him off. I cant help he lies told on me & under oath at the.. & cause ya Momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify.. [shrug emoji].. Our societys awareness and understanding of sexual assault has increased while Kellys funds have dwindled. Twitter Debates 16-Year Age Gap Between Jaylen Brown & Mouthwatering Meemaw Bernice Burgos, Barbie Gyal Nicki Minaj Returns From Hiatus And Sets Di Road Ablaze At Trinidad Carnival 2023, Rain Pon Meeee: Ashanti Reminds Everyone How Feathered And FINE She Was At Trinidad Carnival 2019, Chaka Khan Shows No Mercy Blasting Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey & Other Names On Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singers' List, Funniest (And Pettiest) Tweets From NBA All-Star Weekend 2023. She said this took place during a time when other members of her family also had a working relationship with the singer (Sparkle's brother-in-law, for instance, played guitar for Kelly, she said). The singer, real name Stephanie Edwards, alleges that the girl on this videotape was her 14-year-old niece, whom she had introduced to Kelly along with other members of her family, including her . Sparkle: Directed by Sam O'Steen. Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. Sparkle, the girl in the picture and a few others confirmed it was said niece, but the rest of the nieces family said it was . Sparkle Just Admitted Something About R. Kelly And Aaliyah's 'Marriage Singer Sparkle was the only member from the girl's family to testify against Kelly in 2008, identifying her niece in the tape. While the witness is addressed in court as Jane, her story included identifying details, including that she is Sparkles niece. On Friday, Sparkle took to social media to denounce some of the claims made by her niece on the stand. Please say its not you, the user said. She writes for Thirsty for News, covering world news and entertainment. We were a gospel group just years prior so me thinking about them for them was partly programmed in meagain, Because Robert was given the opportunity to have his own imprint, record label, I introduced my sister, my brother-in-law and my niece to Robert at CRC studios in 1997 in hopes of landing my niece a career in this industry, not a concert as she testified, Sparkle said. Who, do you believe, is lying? Advancing the culture and building bridges. Sparkle Shares What Was Left Out Of "Surviving R. Kelly" - MadameNoire He has pleaded not guilty. The singer used social media to "put a few things in context.". Experience Celebrating The Life Of De La Souls Trugoy The Dove, Tennessee GOP Representative Sorry After Suggesting Hanging By Tree For Executions, C-Murder Reveals Hunger Strike, Claims Health Has Significantly Declined Due To Prison Conditions, TikTok Celebrates Visionary Voices In Black Creatives For Black History Month, R. Kellys Sisters Believe His 30-Year Sentence Is Rooted In Racism. "She's like a robot." She told me that I should ask him to be my godfather, she shared according to CNN, explaining that deepening the relationship established trust. Sparkle Addresses Niece's Testimony Against R. Kelly The singer used social media to "put a few things in context." By DeMicia Inman August 22, 2022 4:12pm Singer R. Kelly leaves the. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), singer began grooming the 14-year-old victim and began having sex with her at just 15 years, Prosecutors are pushing for another conviction, R. Kelly being sentenced to 30 years in prison, R. Kelly and Joycelyn Savages Father Denies She Gave Birth To His Baby, R. Kellys Unauthorized Album I Did It Removed From Streaming Services, DJ Envy, Lil Mama, Erica Mena Calls Out Angela Yee Over Breakfast Club Claims, Nicki Minaj Launches Own Record Label, Skeng Among First Signees, Popcaan and Squash 6ixx Boss Clash On IG Igniting Beef, Nicki Minaj New Song Red Ruby Da Sleeze Debut At No. [article id="1587950"]The mother of another friend of the alleged girl on the tape[/article] cried when she talked about seeing the tape for the first time and recognizing her daughter's friend, saying she was "100 percent certain" it was her by her face, her hairstyle and her voice. She also spoke out in September 2021 after the singerwas convictedof nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece. Sparkle was the first and only successful artist to release an album on Kelly's Rockland label.Sparkle's dbut album, the self-titled Sparkle, was released on May 19, 1998.The album debuted at No.