R. Kelly, the disgraced R&B star, is back in the headlines after a shocking overdose in solitary confinement at a North Carolina prison. His legal team claims it’s part of a murder plot by prison officials, and they’re now begging for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Here’s the latest on Kelly’s dire situation and the fight to save his life.
Kelly’s Overdose and Hospital Dash
On June 13, just days after being moved to solitary confinement, R. Kelly collapsed in his cell at Butner Medium I prison. His lawyer Beau Brindley says prison staff gave the 58-year-old singer an excessive dose of medication causing dizziness and vision loss. Kelly was rushed to Duke University Hospital where doctors warned the dose could have been fatal. Against medical advice armed officers allegedly pulled Kelly from the hospital on June 15 returning him to solitary where he’s refusing food fearing poison. “They gave him medicine that could’ve killed him,” Brindley told reporters sparking outrage among Kelly’s supporters.
Alleged Murder Plot Unraveled
Kelly’s legal team filed an emergency motion on June 10 claiming prison officials enlisted Aryan Brotherhood member Mikeal Stine to kill him. Stine a convicted murderer says he was offered freedom to carry out the hit but backed out in March after meeting Kelly. He claims officials wanted Kelly dead to hide misconduct like stealing legal documents used in Kelly’s trials. The motion filed in Chicago’s federal court demands Kelly’s release to home detention citing “cruel and unusual punishment.” Federal prosecutors call the claims “fanciful” and “deeply unserious” arguing the court lacks jurisdiction. A hearing is set for June 20 to sort out the legal mess.
Plea for Trump’s Pardon
With his life allegedly in danger Kelly’s lawyers are turning to President Donald Trump for clemency. Brindley says Trump who recently pardoned Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover gets Kelly’s fight against “prosecutorial overreach.” They’re in talks with White House insiders hoping for a pardon to free Kelly from his 31-year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking. Fans are rallying online with one posting “Trump step in and save R Kelly! The setup is real!” Others doubt Trump will act given Kelly’s high-profile convictions. The White House hasn’t commented yet.
Solitary Confinement Nightmare
Since June 10 Kelly’s been in solitary confinement at Butner described as a dark cell with spiders crawling over him as he sleeps. Brindley says it’s punishment not protection and Kelly hasn’t eaten since June 10 fearing poisoned food from the chow hall. “He’s alone in miserable conditions,” Brindley told the press. This follows a history of attacks in prison making Kelly fear for his safety. Supporters are furious with one fan writing “Free R Kelly! They’re trying to kill him in there.” The Bureau of Prisons hasn’t responded to the allegations.
Kelly’s Complicated Legacy
Once a global star with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,” Kelly’s career crumbled after his 2020 convictions for child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite beating child pornography charges in 2008 the #MeToo movement and Surviving R. Kelly docuseries fueled public outrage. Yet Kelly’s music still resonates with some as Chris Brown’s “Back to Sleep” remix featuring Kelly earned a 4x platinum certification this month. Fans remain divided with some calling him a victim of a setup while others see his prison woes as justice.
The June 20 hearing will focus on whether Chicago’s court can order Kelly’s release from North Carolina. Brindley plans to push for home detention arguing Kelly’s life hangs in the balance. If the pardon bid fails Kelly faces decades behind bars with a release date of December 2045. Online chatter is heated with fans demanding “Free R Kelly” while critics argue he’s dodging accountability. The overdose and murder plot claims have reignited debate about his case and prison conditions.