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R. Kelly Could Face Charges of Child Pornography

Aired June 05, 2002 - 10:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Other legal news today, R&B superstar R. Kelly could face charges of child pornography before the day is over. The "Chicago Sun Times" reports that a grand jury indictment will be announced against him later today. The newspaper says that it handed over a videotape to prosecutors appearing to show R. Kelly committing various sex acts with a 14-year-old girl. That videotape had been sent anonymously to the paper. The felony charges of child pornography carries a prison term of up to 15 years.

R. Kelly is strongly denying the accusations. He even says in one television interview that the person who is in the videotape isn't even him. It's not the first time the singer has faced accusations. Just this week, a 33-year-old dancer filed suit claiming she was unknowingly taped having sexual relations with Kelly.

Here to discuss the singer's high and low notes on the phone with us "Time" magazine's Christopher Farley joining us by phone from New York.

Christopher, good morning, thanks for joining us.

CHRISTOPHER FARLEY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hey, thanks for having me. I appreciate it.

KAGAN: This a long going problem it seems for R. Kelly, these accusations of having inappropriate sexual activity with young girls?

FARLEY: Well R. Kelly from the beginning of his career has had a very sexual persona. From the release of his album "12 Play," which has a lot of sex-fueled songs with the song called "I Like the Crotch on You." But the problem is that he's also had this association with young girls. People have charged that he's had relations with in the past.

I wrote a book called "Aaliyah: More than a Woman." And in that book I discuss the fact that he allegedly married Aaliyah when she was 15 years old and he was 27. And "Vibe" magazine even published the wedding certificate. That marriage was later annulled. And now, once again, he's facing charges he's had inappropriate relationships with women who are underage.

KAGAN: And he says he's not -- he's not the man on this tape. But isn't there -- aren't there legal documents showing that there's been a number of times where he's paid off either the parents or young girls to go away after allegations that he did have inappropriate sexual activity with them?

FARLEY: Well the problem is that people can also judge for themselves because this tape is available on KASA. This tape you can buy...

KAGAN: You can just buy it on the street, right?

FARLEY: On the street of almost any major city in America. You can also buy copies of the -- of the album that R. Kelly is currently working on the streets on a lot of big cities. So R. Kelly's life is pretty much out there. It's on the street. It's going to be difficult for him to deny it if it in fact is true.

And now he's facing a very -- he could be facing a very serious charge which could put him in prison up to 15 years or/and a fine of up to $100,000. We'll have to wait and see what's going on here. He denies that it's him on the tape or that this tape even exists.

KAGAN: Well and there's two problems here, aren't there, Christopher, of course the very serious legal charges, but these accusations are hurting his career as well? His records just aren't selling like they used to.

FARLEY: They certainly aren't. He's a guy that -- I mean his album "12 Play" sold more than four million copies. His album "R" was also a huge seller. He wrote the theme song for Michael Jordan's film "Space Jam." The name of that song was "I Believe I Can Fly." But his last album, which was supposed to be a huge runaway best-seller album where he teamed up with Jay-Z, a rapper, one of the hottest rappers out there, "Best of Both Worlds," did not sell. Was not a big seller. Was not the big hit it should have been because people didn't want to promote it after these allegations surfaced. Jay-Z didn't want to be photographed with him, didn't want to go on tour with him. And other rap superstars and R&B superstars have been avoiding him or mocking him in concert.

KAGAN: So you know how this scene works, do you think that we're looking at the end of a career here or a bump that somebody with the talent of R. Kelly can overcome?

FARLEY: Well the music industry is tremendously forgiving. People can be -- have these kinds of relationships and still go on to fame and fortune. You think of Elvis, think of Jerry Lee Lewis. Marvin Gaye had a relationship with a woman who was 17 years his junior when she was 16 years old. And certainly it can be overcome. It takes a canny publicist and it also takes the truth. We'll have to see what the truth of this matter really is.

KAGAN: We'll have to see.

Christopher Farley with "Time"magazine.

And, Christopher, on a personal note, we catch you at home because there's a new baby in the Farley household?

FARLEY: Right. Dillon Efferson (ph) Farley. I'm here hanging out with my baby and having a great time.

KAGAN: Well congratulations to you -- to you and your wife and the new baby.

FARLEY: Thank you.

KAGAN: Good luck with the new baby.

FARLEY: Thank you.

KAGAN: Christopher Farley with "Time" magazine.

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