R. Kelly Reveals He “Cannot Read Or Understand Words” Beyond Grade-School Level In New Court Filing
R. Kelly is sharing more information about himself while pushing back against a court order to pay millions to victims who experienced a mass shooting threat. The threat reportedly occurred at a 2018 screening of ‘Surviving R. Kelly‘ in New York City. As The Shade Room previously reported, in June 2022, the 57-year-old was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a New York federal court.
At the time, Kelly was found guilty of one charge of racketeering and eight counts of violations related to sex trafficking.
RELATED: R. Kelly Is Appealing His September 2021 Guilty Verdicts On Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges
R. Kelly Responds To $10.5 Million Judgment
According to legal documents reportedly obtained by TMZ, Kelly has responded to the court order. Additionally, the singer alleges that he was unaware of the $10.5 million lawsuit filed against him.
In the filing, Kelly reportedly alleges that he’s been hit with so many lawsuits it’s difficult for him to keep track of them. To add, the singer is also dealing with various prosecutions and cases in other states outside of New York.
RELATED: R. Kelly Found Guilty Of Three Counts Of Child Pornography, Enticing A Minor In Federal Trial, His Second Conviction As Two More Trials Loom Large
Furthermore, Kelly’s filing also asserts that he’s “shuffled” his legal team various times since his incarceration. Therefore, this is why the $10.5 million “slipped through the cracks” or was never delivered to him.
The 57-year-old also reportedly noted that if it were delivered, he wouldn’t have been able to understand it.
Kelly alleges that he relies on his legal team to explain matters to him.
“I would not have been able to understand the lawsuit or distinguish it from the many other legal documents that I received. It all looks the same to me,” Kelly reportedly asserted, per The Blast. “I rely on my lawyers to explain things to me because I cannot read or understand words beyond that of a grade-schooler.”
The singer also alleges the other defendant listed in the suit, Donnell Russell, was never his manager. Additionally, Kelly alleges he never asked Russell to initiate a mass shooting threat to stop the documentary screening.
“He did that for his own reasons,” Kelly adds, per TMZ.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Eastern District of New York, Russell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on November 17, 2022. The release notes that Russell was a “self-described manager, advisor and friend” of Kelly.
Furthermore, he was convicted for his “participation in a scheme to harass, intimidate, and cause substantial emotional distress” to a Jane Doe victim who was expected to testify against Kelly in a criminal case.
TMZ adds that it remains unclear when the singer’s $10.5 million judgment will be satisfied.
Social Media Reacts
Social media users entered The Shade Room’s comment section to share their humorous reactions to Kelly’s recent filing.
Instagram user @thereal_teejayy wrote.
“I wouldn’t be able to read etha if I was getting sued for that much 😂”
While Instagram user @black.girl_pro.found added.
“This negro wrote 599 episodes of Trapped in the Closet! Stop the cap! Aint no grade-schooler doing all that!”
Instagram user @just_tracee_ wrote.
“I have no sympathy for an adult WITH money and resources who never took the time to learn to read. Especially one who has numerous contracts to dissect. After 1993, a tutor should’ve been in the budget idc”
While Instagram user @prettyy_addiction added.
“See that’s why education is important !!!”
Instagram user @celestialshy wrote.
“Yeah his ex wife confirmed this information in surviving RKelly too. This is common knowledge so I believe him.”
Here’s What Allegedly Occurred At The 2018 Screening
According to TMZ, Kelly and Russell allegedly began a “campaign” in May 2018 with intentions to “intimidate” the cast of women who shared their alleged experiences with Kelly on the docuseries.
Additionally, the pair allegedly sought to intimidate the A&E and Lifetime networks and their respective producers to prevent the screening.
However, the pair’s alleged efforts failed, and on an evening in December 2018, Russell allegedly called the show’s producers, alleging that someone was “going to shoot up” the event.
According to the outlet, the event was shut down. However, the six women who filed the suit against Kelly and Russell alleged they suffered added emotional trauma from the experience.
To note, in 2021, another associate of Kelly’s also pled guilty to arson in a crime related to one of the singer’s sexual assault victims.
