Convicted R&B singer R. Kelly reportedly suffered a medical emergency while in prison after allegedly being given an overdose of medication by prison staff, according to his lawyers. The incident occurred on June 12 while Kelly was in solitary confinement at a North Carolina facility where he is serving a 30-year sentence. His legal team claimed that he became dizzy and collapsed, eventually losing consciousness and being taken to Duke University Hospital for two days of treatment.
Kelly’s attorneys submitted a series of court filings on Monday and Tuesday, highlighting what they describe as neglect or malicious intent by prison officials. They also alleged a broader conspiracy, including an orchestrated murder plot against the singer, and filed for emergency home detention. However, the Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the incident, citing privacy and legal restrictions.
Government attorneys swiftly dismissed the emergency release request, calling the allegations “fanciful” and lacking credibility. They also criticized the legal move as disrespectful to the trauma endured by Kelly’s victims. Furthermore, they pointed out that the motion was submitted to the wrong court, lacking jurisdiction to consider the matter.
R. Kelly, best known for songs like “I Believe I Can Fly,” was convicted in 2021 and 2022 for multiple federal offenses including sex trafficking, racketeering, child pornography, and enticement of minors. He is serving his New York sentence and will serve much of his Chicago sentence concurrently. The latest health scare adds another layer of controversy to the already complex legal saga surrounding the disgraced singer.
