R. Kelly asks judge to let him travel to Dubai to perform
ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2013
In this photo, R. Kelly performs at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Kelly has asked the Chicago judge to let him travel overseas for concerts in Dubai, saying he’s been unable to get work anywhere in the U.S. since his arrest on charges he sexually abused three minor girls and an adult woman. The request today’s filing says the R&B star will perform at up to five concerts in the oil-rich nation in the Middle East. A judge ordered Kelly to surrender his passport after his arrest last month on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
CHICAGO >> Cash-strapped R&B singer R. Kelly wants a judge to let him travel to the Middle East to perform several concerts, saying he has struggled to get work in the U.S. since his February arrest on sex-abuse charges.
A defense filing today in Chicago says Kelly would do three to five concerts in Dubai. It doesn’t specify which venues he’d play or how much he’d earn.
It says Kelly has struggled to pay child support, legal fees and other bills. It blames the cancellation of Illinois concerts and a record-company contract, and streaming services removing his songs.
As a bond condition in his sexual abuse case, Kelly must stay in Illinois unless a judge approves out-of-state travel.
The filing asserts that Kelly isn’t a flight risk, saying the United Arab Emirates would never jeopardize its U.S. relationship by harboring a fugitive Kelly.
His next court date is Friday.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
