Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

R Kelly Is Back In Custody Due To Unpaid Child Support

The R&B artist will return to Cook County jail.

More R Kelly R Kelly

Just a little over a week after posting bail on ten counts of aggravated sexual abuse, R Kelly will return to jail today for failing to pay child support fees. 

As TMZ reports, the R&B artist appeared in a Chicago courtroom where he was found to have failed to pay over US$160,000 in fees he reportedly owes his ex-wife.

Upon leaving the courtroom, Kelly was reportedly arrested and has been transported back to Cook County jail. 

It comes just hours after the 52-year-old appeared in a pre-recorded interview on CBS with anchor Gayle King, his first since being arrested on the sexual abuse charges last month. 

In the interview, Kelly maintained his innocence and at one point became highly emotional saying directly into the camera, "I'm fighting for my fucking life".

Watch a snippet below.


Kelly was under investigation following the release of a six-part Lifetime series, Surviving R Kelly, that addressed alleged sexual misconduct and claims against the singer and featured "interviews with several of Kelly’s accusers, people formerly in his inner circle, journalists, and even his own family members".

In 2017, Kelly publicly denied allegations of housing six women against their will. He has also previously settled a dozen civil lawsuits out of court that alleged "illegal sexual relationships".

In 2008, he was acquitted on 14 counts of making child pornography.

In May last year, a #MuteRKelly campaign was launched against Kelly through an open letter, signed by the “Women Of Color Within Time’s Up”.

Meanwhile, artists including Lady Gaga, Chance The Rapper and Phoenix have since publicly apologised for collaborating with Kelly on past works.

Join 'Backstage Pass', our FREE members program for music fans