Key Takeaways
- A recent claim suggested R. Kelly has passed away in prison, sparking online speculation.
- He is currently serving a 31-year prison sentence.
- His projected release date is December 21, 2045.
R. Kelly, an American former singer-songwriter known for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition (Remix),” is still alive today, debunking rumors and false reports about his d*ath.
Recently, a claim surfaced online suggesting that R. Kelly had passed away in prison.
A TikTok user posted a video on December 1, 2024, with the caption, “Rip 💔,” sparking confusion and speculation.
@zachxposts Rip 💔 #rkellychallenge #rkelly #trending #news #sophieraiin #adinrossclips ♬ original sound – Zach news king 🤴
However, the claim was quickly debunked by other users. One person commented:
that is not true R Kelly is still alive
Via TikTok
While another pointed out:
Wikipedia hasn’t posted a de*th date, which means he still alive
Via TikTok
The now-viral rumor has been proven false, as no credible source or evidence supports the claim. R. Kelly has neither passed away in prison nor been fatally stabbed.
The TikTok video lacked any substantial proof or reliable references, and no official or governmental confirmation of R. Kelly’s alleged demise has emerged.
As of now, R. Kelly remains alive and is currently serving a 31-year prison sentence for multiple s*x-related crimes.
In June 2022, R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of federal racketeering and s*x trafficking charges.
These charges were tied to allegations of a long history of abusing women and minors, some of which were brought to light through the explosive 2019 documentary “Surviving R. Kelly.”
This documentary significantly reignited public scrutiny of Kelly’s actions, ultimately leading to his arrest.
Furthermore, the court found that Kelly had used his fame to exploit young women and minors over decades, orchestrating a network that facilitated his abusive behavior.
In February 2023, Kelly faced additional legal action. A federal judge in Chicago sentenced him to 20 years in prison for child p*rnography and enticement of minors for s*x.
While 19 of those years were to run concurrently with his New York sentence, one year was to be served consecutively, extending his total imprisonment to 31 years.
On April 19, 2023, he was transferred from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago to the Federal Correctional Institution Butner Medium I in Butner, North Carolina.
This medium-security prison is where he is currently serving his sentence.
In October 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Kelly’s appeal challenging his Chicago conviction.
This decision upheld the lower court’s ruling, solidifying his 20-year sentence.
Kelly’s projected release date is December 21, 2045, at the age of 79, meaning he will likely remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life unless significant legal developments arise.
Before his legal troubles escalated, R. Kelly released “12 Nights of Christmas” on October 21, 2016, which remains his final official album.
Kelly’s most recent song, “I Admit,” released on July 23, 2018, spans 19 minutes and serves as his response to ongoing allegations.
Over the years, rumors about R. Kelly’s demise have occasionally circulated online.
One such incident occurred in April 2012, when a hoax claimed he had d*ed in a jet ski accident in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
However, the rumors were quickly debunked when R. Kelly himself tweeted a photo, humorously noting, “Glad I don’t even know how to jet ski.”
As of December 2024, R. Kelly remains alive and continues to serve his sentence at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- R. Kelly, whose birth name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was born on January 8, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois.
- With over 75 million albums and singles sold worldwide, he became one of history’s most successful music artists and the leading R&B male artist of the 1990s.
- He has had two marriages: the first, with Aaliyah from 1994 to 1995, and the second, with Andrea Lee, from 1996 to 2009.
