Statement Regarding R. Kelly’s Conviction in Sexual Abuse Trial
Monday’s guilty verdicts in the sexual abuse trial of singer R. Kelly represent one of the most high-profile #MeToo moments in this country for women and girls of color.
Jurors in the federal Eastern District of New York found that Kelly, with the help of his inner circle of managers and aides, exploited his fame and wealth to repeatedly lure and sexually abuse women and children, some as young as age 13 or 14.
The Younique Foundation condemns Kelly’s reprehensible actions of child sexual abuse, including complicit behaviors that enabled Kelly’s pattern of exploitation to continue for more than two decades. Victims of sexual abuse endure traumas that no individual should have to experience. Each woman, adolescent, and child is deserving of justice and healing. This case highlights a shift toward all voices being heard — particularly women of color. It is our hope that survivors of all backgrounds will feel they are not alone.
One in four women in the U.S. are survivors of child sexual abuse. The Younique Foundation advocates for all survivors of child sexual abuse, including those whose stories are dismissed or invalidated. And its purpose is to help these survivors navigate their individual healing journeys. There is hope. There is healing. Learn more at youniquefoundation.org.