R. Kelly is pushing back against a significant judgment in a lawsuit involving women who accused him of victimizing them, stating that he was unaware of the suit and should not be held accountable. In August, six women were awarded $10.5 million after suing Kelly and his former manager, Donnell Russell, alleging their involvement in attempting to shut down a December 2018 NYC screening of the ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ docuseries with a mass shooting threat.
Key Takeaway
R. Kelly is contesting a
0.5 million judgment in a lawsuit involving allegations of victimization, asserting that he was unaware of the legal proceedings and should not be held responsible.
Kelly’s Defense
In response to the judgment, Kelly claims that he would have defended himself if he had known about the lawsuit. He asserts that amidst his ongoing criminal cases and prosecutions, along with numerous recent lawsuits, he has struggled to keep up with legal matters from his prison cell in North Carolina. Moreover, he states that he has changed legal teams since being incarcerated, suggesting that the lawsuit may have been overlooked or not delivered to him.
Challenges and Disavowals
Additionally, Kelly contends that he lacks the ability to comprehend legal documents beyond a grade school level and relies on his lawyers for understanding. He denies Donnell’s role as his manager and expresses unawareness of Russell’s alleged attempt to halt the ‘Surviving’ screening. Kelly distances himself from the actions attributed to Russell, stating that if such a threat was made, it was done for personal reasons.
