Today is May 20, 2008 and Robert Kelly aka The R , aka R.kelly, aka The Pied Piper’s trial has begun.
I have been in countless rooms and entered into and listened to numerous debates about Mr. Kelly, the sex tape and how this will turn out. It’s almost like Mr.

kelly is going through two trials.. The Court of Law and The Court of the Streets

I will be honest..I have NEVER seen nor do I want to see this tape (I didnt want to see Wendy Williams rather largeass husbands sex tape either but I had no choice.. it popped up on the big screen at the studio I was in) SMH.

Now, I’m not sure if that makes me a bad journalist, squeamish or human. Why didn’t I want to see it? well I don’t normally watch porno so I figured… why start with this?

Let me say what most people wont say..

I DONT WANT IT TO BE TRUE, I am an R.Kelly fan! I digress.. But it is not my choice. Something happened.
Before being an R.Kelly fan..I am a woman, a sister, a daughter, and an aunt. I also have something called empathy which means i feel everything I see, I take it on in my heart and if someone is being hurt..I can feel it , I’m hurt and i cant look. (Yes this means I dont watch xtra violent or scary movies) but it does not mean i wont set you str8 if you try to physically harm me, my family or loved ones.(wanted to clear that up)

I’ve met Mr. kelly before in my capacity as co-host on 106 & Park and interviewed him..a couple of times. I remember my first interview with the mega superstar, the preparation, the research, the excitement in the building and in the audience, it was like electricty had a hold of us, and only a few geusts EVER garner this type of energy..(I can name them on one and a half hands)

Well AJ and I interviewed Mr. Kelly and during that interview something changed for me…in my eyes Mr. Kelly went from being this super-untouchable, savvy icon to ..well.. lets say a very vulnerable young black male. Why do I say that? What happened? well let’s just say there was evidence way back then, years before the Vibe article came out that left me questioning his reading skills. I swear to you I cried about it back then, wondered if anyone saw what I saw? and I did what everyone else did for Mr. Kelly.. I covered it up.

I was embarrassed for him, amazed, angry and confused, but most of all protective (this is the nature of a woman). How could R. Kelly not know how to read and who’s fault was that? and for the first time it got me thinking about Robert the person. I looked at Mr. Kelly as a victim that day. Schools, teachers, parents, family and community failed to teach him to read.. which is a basic skill…makes you wonder what else he was or wasn’t taught.

fast forward to today.. the trial of his life begins today and all i can do is listen to my favorite R. Kelly song called “Trade in my life” and hope that he is listening to it too on a daily basis.

and here’s my thought today… “Victims make new Victims who sometimes make new Victims”. Is there no end to this destructive cycle? Pray for them no..for US all including Mr. Kelly.

UPDATE: Mr. Kelly was found not guilty on all charges.