The singer R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday for sexually abusing women, girls, and boys, more than 20 years after first facing allegations.
Kelly’s conviction represents a victory for survivors of sexual violence, particularly those who may hesitate to speak out against abusers for fear of retribution.
Is R. Kelly still with Azriel Clary?
Azriel Clary has been speaking out about her escape from R. Kelly. Clary dated Kelly from the time she was 17 to 22. After their breakup, Clary testified against Kelly at his New York Trial. She spoke with Gayle King for a follow-up interview, after Clary and Joycelyn Savage defended Kelly in a 2019 interview with King. This time, Clary credits the people in her life who supported her.
Clary told King their 2019 interview was a wake-up call to her that she was losing herself in her relationship with Kelly. She added that a later encounter with Savage also gave her pause. But, Clary said knowing she had a supportive family to return to empowered her to leave.
