Who is Robert Kelly Jr.? Everything We Know About R. Kelly's Son

Publish date: 2024-05-03

Robert Kelly Jr. is the 21-year-old music enthusiast son of R. Kelly. Robert Kelly Jr.’s father is a world-famous R&B legend who later became one of the most controversial men in the world following his conviction as a racketeer and sex offender.

Robert Jr.’s relationship with his famous father has not been a smooth one, as R. Kelly has been absent from his life for the most part. There is also the matter of the crimes that his father has been convicted of. However, it appears that R. Kelly’s musical talent has been passed down to Robert Jr. as he is now a music enthusiast himself.

Summary of Robert Kelly Jr.’s Biography

Robert Kelly Jr. was Born in December 2002

Robert Kelly Jr. is currently 21 years old. We know this because he was born on the 2nd of December 2002, and his star sign is Sagittarius. Robert Jr. was born in the United States of America. However, the exact city of town where he was born in the USA is not clear. Some reports say he was born in Chicago, but the authenticity of this information is not entirely certain.

Robert Jr. was raised in the USA and is believed to have lived there all his life so far. Reports show that he attended the Griffin Middle School in Texas. However, it is not certain what high school he attended. It is not clear if he went to any college for higher learning.

Robert Kelly Jr was born to influential and famous parents who were known in the entertainment business, and so he was in the spotlight from the time he was born.

His Father is One of the Greatest R&B Singers Ever

Robert Kelly Jr.’s father, R. Kelly, is recognized around the globe as one of the world’s greatest musicians. The singer is widely regarded as one of the greatest R&B stars of his time. He has had a significant impact on the genre, both through his own music and through his influence on other artists.

He is known for his powerful, smooth vocals, innovative production techniques, and ability to combine elements of R&B, hip-hop, and gospel music. Throughout his career, R. Kelly achieved significant commercial success, selling over 75 million records worldwide.

R Kelly’s music has resonated with millions of fans around the world, and his contributions to the R&B genre are simply enormous. He has released multiple critically-acclaimed albums, including “12 Play,” “R,” and “Chocolate Factory,”. He has produced hits such as “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Ignition (Remix),” and “Step in the Name of Love.” He is also credited with popularizing the “hip-hopera” genre, which combines elements of hip-hop and opera.

R Kelly’s impact on the R&B genre has been recognized by his peers in the music industry. He has won multiple Grammy awards, including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, and has been nominated for numerous others. He has also been recognized with awards and accolades from organizations such as BET, Billboard, and the American Music Awards.

He is Now a Convicted Sex Offender

Despite previously being one of the most sought-after musicians in the world, R. Kelly fell from grace and became one of the most despised men in the world after he was found to be involved in criminal acts. R. Kelly’s criminal history spans over two decades and includes multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse.

The allegations against Kelly first became public in the early 2000s when a video surfaced allegedly showing him having sex with an underage girl. He was indicted on child pornography charges in 2002 but was acquitted in 2008 after a six-year legal battle.

In 2017, a series of investigative reports by BuzzFeed News alleged that Kelly was running a “sex cult” in which he held young women against their will and controlled all aspects of their lives. The reports also alleged that Kelly subjected the women to emotional and physical abuse and that some of them were underage at the time they entered the relationship. In 2019, Kelly was indicted on federal charges, including sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, and forced labor.

He was also charged in state court in Illinois with aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four victims, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged abuse. Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In 2021, after a month-long trial, Kelly was found guilty on all counts in the federal case, which included charges of racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, bribery, and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from his alleged exploitation of women and underage girls over the course of two decades.

The conviction was seen as a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement, as Kelly’s case represented one of the highest-profile prosecutions of a powerful figure accused of sexual misconduct in recent years. The verdict was also celebrated by many survivors of sexual abuse and their advocates, who had been calling for Kelly’s accountability for years.

In addition to the criminal charges, Kelly has faced numerous civil lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse. The allegations against him have had a profound impact on his career, with many radio stations and streaming services removing his music from their playlists and catalogs.

Robert Kelly Jr’s Mother, Andrea, is a Choreographer and Actress

Robert Kelly Jr’s mother is Andrea Kelly. She is also an entertainer and a multi-talented woman. Andrea Kelly, who is professionally known as Drea, is a well-known American artist with a diverse range of talents. Not only is she a highly skilled choreographer and dancer, but she is also a talented actress with an impressive portfolio of work.

Born on January 28, 1974, Drea has always had a passion for the arts. Her talent and dedication have led her to achieve great success in her career. In addition to her work as a performer, Drea has also been involved in several projects as a choreographer, creating captivating dance routines for music videos, stage performances, and film productions.

Also, as a mother, Drea has been a positive influence on her son, Robert Kelly Jr. Her support and encouragement have helped to shape Robert’s own artistic pursuits and have been instrumental in his development as a music enthusiast.

His Parents’ 13-Year Marriage Was Problematic 

Robert Kelly Jr’s parents, Andrea and R. Kelly, were married for 13 years from 1996 to 2009. At the time of their marriage, Andrea was 22 years old. Before their marriage, Andrea was a backup dancer for Kelly. Following their nuptials, Drea changed her last name from Lee to Kelly.

However, their marriage was plagued with problems mainly because of physical assault on the part of R. Kelly. According to reports, he assaulted Andrea so much that she filed a restraining order against him in September 2005 after he physically assaulted her when she expressed her desire for a divorce. In 2006, Andrea filed for divorce from R. Kelly, and it was finalized in 2009. Both parties signed a non-disclosure agreement, and Andrea received an undisclosed amount of money for alimony.

Following their divorce, Andrea got custody of the children, and they all went to live with her. R. Kelly himself was too busy making his music and didn’t really care if Andrea got custody of the kids. At the time, he was also neck-deep in his legal troubles. For the record, Robert Kelly Jr. was about seven years old when his parents divorced in 2009.

Some years later, in 2018, Andrea made some shocking revelations about her marriage to R. Kelly on the talk show The View. She revealed that Kelly had emotionally and physically abused her throughout their marriage and that the abuse had become so severe that she had contemplated suicide.

Andrea recounted a harrowing incident where Kelly assaulted her in the back of his Hummer, which led to her suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On another occasion, Kelly had “hogtied” her in bed, raped her, and then fallen asleep while she was still tied up.

Andrea stated that her reason for speaking out about the abuse years after her divorce from Kelly was to help other victims of domestic violence. Her revelations were part of the larger #MeToo movement, which sought to bring awareness to sexual assault and abuse.

Robert Jr. Almost Died Before He Was Born

One interesting fact about Robert Kelly Jr. was that he almost died while he was still in his mother’s womb. This was because his mother almost lost the pregnancy due to severe stress. His mother, Andrea, revealed that she went through a difficult pregnancy due to the stress caused by her husband R. Kelly’s sexual assault case and the emotional and physical abuse she endured at home. This turmoil jeopardized the life of her unborn child.

Lee recounted how the stress took a toll on her pregnancy, causing doctors to struggle to find Robert Jr.’s heartbeat. She vividly remembers the harrowing experience of rushing to the emergency room, where doctors had to take swift action to save the baby’s life. Despite all odds, Robert Jr. was born strong and healthy.

Robert Jr.’s near-death experience, even before his actual birth, underscores the need for support and care for pregnant women, particularly those going through emotional turmoil. Also, Andrea’s testimony about her pregnancy and childbirth experience highlights the severe impact of stress and abuse on the health of a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Is Robert Kelly Jr. In Good Terms With His Father?

Robert Kelly Jr. is not on talking terms with his famous father. As a matter of fact, reports show that R. Kelly was actually an absent dad who was not very involved in Robert Jr.’s life. R. Kelly is known for having a strained relationship with his children. To buttress this, Robert Jr.’s mother, Andrea Kelly, once revealed that her children, including Robert Kelly Jr., do not have any contact with their father, R. Kelly, and they do not even refer to him as ‘dad’.

Andrea disclosed during an appearance on The Bert Show that the lack of communication between R. Kelly and his children even led him to stop paying child support when they parted ways. She said this resulted in her being financially abused. Our findings show that R. Kelly was actually taken into custody on March 6, 2019, due to unpaid child support.

It was reported that Kelly had not paid $161,000 in back child support for two of his children, Robert Jr. and Jay, as well as college tuition for his daughter, Joann. Following his arrest, Kelly eventually provided a check to cover the outstanding amount two months later while he was incarcerated for his failure to make the required payments.

Andrea also highlighted the difficulties of the situation, stating R. Kelly does not call his children, and he even changed his phone number different times, which they did not have. She expressed her disbelief and disappointment in R. Kelly’s actions, asking, “what dad does that?” She then went on to explain that her children refer to their father as Robert Sr. instead of ‘dad’ because he is so disconnected from them that they do not feel comfortable calling him “dad.”

It is clear that the relationship between Robert Kelly Jr. and his father, R. Kelly, is strained and complicated. It is a sad reminder of the impact that family dynamics can have on individuals, particularly when they involve high-profile individuals.

Robert Kelly Jr. has a Transgender Sibling Named Jay

As we have already hinted, Robert Kelly Jr. is not an only child. As a matter of fact, he has two siblings, one of whom is a transgender named Jay Kelly. Born as Jaya, Jay Kelly was assigned female at birth. However, in 2014, when Jay Kelly was just 14 years old, he publicly announced his gender identity as a transgender male, drawing media attention.

In an interview with Paper Magazine, Jay Kelly shared that he had realized his true identity as a young girl who was attracted to other girls. He believed that the only way to express his attraction was to transition into a boy. To align with his gender identity, Jay Kelly started wearing men’s clothes instead of traditional female attire to school and other places. Although his transition led to some difficult situations, such as being mocked by his classmates, Jay Kelly remained determined to be true to himself.

Jay Kelly’s family played a supportive role in his journey. He spoke about his mother’s and sister’s unwavering support and acceptance of his gender identity. They even used his preferred gender pronouns without any hesitation. Jay Kelly’s public announcement and his journey toward his true gender identity have inspired and encouraged many young people struggling with their gender identity to embrace themselves fully.

Importantly, Jay Kelly is now in the music business himself, just like his father. According to reports, he now produces music and is also a rapper. He now performs under the stage name JaahBaby.

His Sister, Joann, is a Fast Rising Singer 

Apart from his transgender sibling, Jay Kelly, Robert Kelly Jr. also has another sibling called Joann Kelly. Joann is the oldest of R. Kelly’s children. She was born on 19 March 1998, nearly two years after her parents got married. She is now 25 years old. She and Robert Kelly Jr are very close, according to reports.

Just like her father, Joann is now into making music and currently goes by the stage name Buku Abi. Buku Abi, as Joann is now known, is primarily a rapper and singer but is also a visual artist. Buku Abi has since released several songs and mixtapes, including “Don’t Call Me”, “You Ain’t A Threat,” “Dear Daisy,” and “Cheers To You, Shadow.” She has gained quite a following on social media. However, she has not gained the kind of mainstream attention her father has, and she blames him for this.

According to her, she has faced challenges in the industry due to her father’s controversial reputation. In a candid interview, Buku Abi revealed that her biological ties with her father had hindered her career growth. Buku Abi’s struggles in the music industry came to a head when she flew out to Los Angeles to sign a record deal.

Despite being well-prepared and eager to sign, the deal was abruptly taken away at the last minute when someone discovered her connection to her father. This was not an isolated incident, as Buku Abi stated that similar situations occurred “a good amount” of times.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Buku Abi remains determined to forge her own path in the music industry. She has also publicly denounced her father. In 2018, when the Kelly family was engulfed in their father’s scandal that shook the music industry to its core, Buku Abi made a brave decision to publicly denounce her father’s actions. Through a statement on social media, Buku Abi expressed her support for the alleged victims and distanced herself from her father’s behavior.

What Does Robert Kelly Jr. Do For A Living?

As we have explained earlier, all of R. Kelly’s children appear to have inherited musical abilities from him even though he has been absent from their lives. Robert Kelly Jr. is not an exception. At the moment, Robert, who is the youngest of the three, has the lesser musical experience of all Kelly siblings, but he has shown interest in making music just like his siblings.

Robert Jr. showed his skills as a rapper in a music video he appeared in for his school back in 2017. The music video in question was created by a group of students at Griffin Middle School with the aim of encouraging kids to focus on their studies. Robert Jr. rapped the second verse in the video, which highlights the importance of studying for tests and achieving good grades.

Andrea Lee, Robert Jr.’s mother, took to her Instagram to share the video as well as her joy. She expressed her pride in her son being able to do something so musical and original. She wrote, “Mama is so proud of you! I love you.” It’s clear that Robert Jr. has musical talents like his father, and this has been seen by everyone as well. It is also clear that his mother supports him.

Robert Kelly Jr. is a music enthusiast, but he is yet to put out music professionally and replicate his father’s greatness. Time will tell if this is really the path he wants to tread in his life.

Apart from music, it is not clear if Robert Jr has shown interest in another career path. Because of how private Robert has been over the years, it is also difficult to find out if he has any other ventures or careers he is interested in making a living from.

He Is Not On Social Media

Interestingly, Robert Kelly Jr. is not on social media. In 2016, he created an Instagram account and encouraged people to follow him by posting a photo of himself on his mother’s profile. At the time, he wrote a short message announcing his arrival on the platform, saying, “I’m grown now. Follow me @ra.b.it.”

However, despite the link still being active on the post, Robert Jr. made the decision to shut down his Instagram account in 2018 and has been off social media ever since. But, while Robert Jr. may not have a personal social media presence, he still occasionally appears on his mother’s Instagram account.

He is often featured in family photos. Apparently, despite Robert Jr.’s absence from social media, he remains an important part of his family’s public image and legacy.

Does Robert Kelly Jr. Have A Girlfriend?

There has been much speculation about the romantic life of Robert Kelly Jr. Many people are curious to know whether he has a girlfriend or not. Unfortunately, the answer to this question remains uncertain. One of the main reasons for this is that Robert Kelly Jr. has not provided any clear indications of his relationship status.

Moreover, as we have already explained, Robert Kelly Jr. is a very private individual who is not on social media. This makes it extremely challenging to obtain any information about his personal life, let alone his love life. He keeps his personal life under wraps and does not share much about his relationships with the public.

However, it is possible that information about his private life may come to light in the future. It is believed that he has a romantic interest but is keeping her away from prying eyes. Perhaps, he may decide to open up about his romantic affairs, or someone close to him may reveal some details. Until then, fans of the Kelly family and curious onlookers will have to wait and see if any information about Robert Kelly Jr.’s girlfriend or relationship status surfaces.

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