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The Cut

20 Years Ago, She Warned Us About R. Kelly

The Cut

New York Magazine

Personal Journals, Documentary, Arts, Fashion & Beauty, Society & Culture

4.41.7K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2021

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Sparkle knew R. Kelly as a mentor and friend. She introduced her 12-year-old niece, an aspiring rapper, to him 20 years ago. And then a sex tape surfaced—a tape that Sparkle said showed Kelly was abusing her niece. When she raised the alarm, no one listened. Instead, Dave Chappelle made a parody of it, and we all laughed it off. For decades, Sparkle has been paying the price for speaking out. She spoke to us about her role in bringing Kelly to justice and her reaction to the verdict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:16.2

Nearly 20 years ago, when Sparkle decided to tell the world what had happened to

1:23.7

her niece, she thought the video evidence spoke for itself. I mean nobody was

1:28.6

believing me. Am I crazy? Am I the only person seeing this? What I've I've seen

1:35.9

on a tape. That's what it was. And it wasn't my craziness. Had people listened to

1:43.8

me. Believed what I was saying was true. Just listen. We wouldn't be here. But now

1:55.1

we are here. Our Kelly has been found guilty on all charges in a federal sex

1:59.6

crimes trial. After Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, first reported Robert

2:04.9

Kelly to the police for allegedly sexually abusing her 14-year-old niece. My

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