R. Kelly Sued by 6 Victims Claiming He Owes Them Over $9.9 Million Tied to 2022 Judgment Won Against Him

Mar. 15, 2025

R. Kelly in 2019.Photo:Scott Olson/Getty

Scott Olson/Getty

SeveralR. Kellyvictims are suing the disgraced musician for millions they claim he still owes.

In a new lawsuit filed on Jan. 31, six of the singer’s alleged victims who won a $10.3 million judgment against him in 2022 claim that Kelly, along with his record label and other parties, still owe most of the sum.The New York Postwas the first to report the news.

He still owes them over $9.9 million of the sum, the plaintiffs claim.

R. Kelly at a criminal hearing in 2019.Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

The victims filed the suit against Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, along with his former record label, Universal Music, sublabel Universal Music-Z Tunes and revenue sharing platform IndyBuild. The musician’s former manager, Donnell Russell, was also named in the lawsuit.

Kelly’s co-publishing agreement with his label ended in March 2019, but the company “remains contractually obligated to collect revenues and remit music publishing royalties” to the singer (or his “designated representative”) for all compositions delivered during the term of the agreement, the plaintiffs claim in the lawsuit.

“A pattern has emerged from courts across the country deciding that Mr. Kelly is not entitled to the same Due Process rights as everyone else,” Bonjean continued. “It’s getting old. No court would have been that cavalier with the money of a white man. Our appeal is pending on this issue.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Adam Sackowitz, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Feb. 8. Attorneys for the other defendants, meanwhile, were unable to be reached.

Lizzette Martinez in ‘Surviving R. Kelly’.Lifetime/Youtube

Lifetime/Youtube

Two of the plaintiffs, Martinez and Van Allen, previouslyopened up to PEOPLE about the abuse they claim they suffered at the hands of Kelly, which they also shared in Lifetime documentarySurviving R. Kelly, which was released in 2019.

Martinez first met Kelly in 1995 when she was a 17-year-old high school senior. She had a sexual and “abusive” relationship with the star, who she thought would help her pursue a music career “just like he did withAaliyah,” she told PEOPLE in 2019.

Van Allen first met Kelly in 1998 at the video shoot for “Home Alone,” when she was also 17. “One of the first things he asked me was, ‘How old are you?’ We had sex that same day — he didn’t waste any time,” she told PEOPLE in 2019. She later testified against him in his child porn trial in 2008.

R. Kelly arriving at his his child pornography trial in 2008.Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

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Kelly wassentenced to 20 years in prisonin February 2023 after being convicted of child pornography and enticement of minors for sex.

The conviction followed an earlier conviction of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, for which he washanded down a 30-year sentence. Kelly is currently serving 19 years of his two sentences concurrently and will be eligible for release in 2045.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com