Here’s What You Need To Know About The R. Kelly Sex Abuse Trial In New York

After decades of accusations, the R&B singer is facing his second trial related to his alleged sexual abuse crimes against minors.

A reckoning that stems from over two decades of allegations of sexual abuse and the manipulation of minors could be coming to a head as R&B singer R. Kelly goes to federal court in New York this month. Kelly, 54, has been accused of using his fame and power to lure and sexually abuse dozens of minors, often separating them from their families and promising to turn them into stars. This includes his 1994 annulled marriage to the late singer Aaliyah Haughton, who was 15 when Kelly’s team allegedly obtained a fake ID for her in order for them to marry; he was 27 at the time.  The music industry has long ignored these allegations of sexual abuse, even when Kelly was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography in 2002. The case took more than five years to go to trial, and Kelly was acquitted in 2008. He continued to perform and make music during and after the trial. The singer has also settled outside of court with accusers and their families on numerous occasions.