Note: This article contains graphic, sexual language that some readers may find offensive and disturbing. Please read at your own discretion.
Lawyer Michael Avenatti, made into a household name through his legal work for porn actor Stormy Daniels, is now claiming he’s seen a sex tape featuring R. Kelly and an underage girl, and has submitted the tape to Chicago authorities.
Avenatti said that he’s representing a so-called R. Kelly “whistleblower” — who remains unidentified as of this writing — who had possession of the tape. Avenatti claimed he handed the tape over to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago.
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CNN reports that it has seen the VHS tape in question, and that it appears to show the R&B singer having sex with a girl who refers to her genitalia as “14 years old.”
The New Yorker corroborates CNN’s account of the tape, saying a senior law-enforcement official told the publication that Kelly may face indictment by prosecutors because of the new footage.
“My client knows the identity of the girl and R. Kelly,” said Avenatti. “He identified the two of them on the videotape. He worked for and has known R. Kelly for decades and he met the girl on a number of occasions.”
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He tweeted out a statement early Thursday morning.
As for this supposed tape, Kelly’s lawyer Steve Greenberg denies any knowledge of the new developments by either himself or his client.
“We are unaware of any new information involving Mr. Kelly,” said Greenberg to CNN. “We have not been contacted by anyone. We have not been informed about any new information by anyone and we have not been contacted by law enforcement.”
Last month, Greenberg said in an interview with the Associated Press that Kelly “never knowingly had sex with an underage woman, he never forced anyone to do anything, he never held anyone captive, he never abused anyone.”
In his statement, Avenatti said he’s been working on the Kelly case since April, and the tape is approximately 45 minutes in length. He also stated that the tape has never been disclosed previously, and the alleged sexual assault depicted took place within the Illinois statute of limitations timeframe.
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The video apparently has two scenes in different rooms of a house; a naked man, purportedly Kelly, features predominantly in the footage, and is seen engaging in multiple sex acts with the girl. She calls him “daddy” on numerous occasions.
Allegedly, in one segment of the video, the man asks the girl to urinate. She does, and then afterwards the man reciprocates, urinating on the girl.
It’s been only one month since the conclusion of Lifetime’s gritting and harrowing six-part docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly.
The Dream Hampton-produced exposé details the longtime controversy surrounding Kelly and his history of alleged sex crimes against a shocking number of young women.
With more than 50 conducted interviews — including quotes from former collaborators and victims of Kelly’s alleged sex crimes — Hampton hoped to expose as many allegations of predatory tendencies and sexual misconduct levelled against the singer as she could.
Kelly has denied all of these allegations.
As of this writing, no charges have been laid against Kelly.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, please visit the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for help. They are also reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
— With files from Adam Wallis