In what can only be seen as a win for embattled rapper/accused serial sexual manipulator R. Kelly (and, admittedly, the people he owed money to)—but a big fat goose egg for the concept of consequences, some kindly, sainted soul has now reportedly paid off the $160,000 Kelly owed in unpaid child support, thus freeing him from prison yet again.
Kelly has been in and out of jail over the last month, as renewed scrutiny on the litany of accusations against him—largely linked to alleged sexually abusive behavior toward women, including at least one who was a minor at the time—led to him being charged with 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse back in February. He was quickly released on bail—after someone else paid the required $100,000, natch—but was dragged back into court on unpaid child support accusations this week. Kelly’s lawyers claimed he couldn’t cover the $161,000 bill, so he was dutifully placed back in prison. But now he’s free, and it’s all thanks to the generosity and capacity for faith and forgiveness in the human spirit, which has never seemed to flag much in Kelly’s case, no matter how many women he’s accused of roping into a bizarre, life-controlling sex cult.
So hey: If you’ve got a friend or loved one out there who’s currently operating five separate GoFundMe’s to pay for their chemo, cue ’em in on the secret: Y’all should have been R. Kelly. People love giving that guy shit.