Clarys healing journey has involved music, therapy, and vulnerability. She said through tears that she ran through the house trying to get away from Kelly as he punched her and hit her with the sneaker. "Before that interview, he had us practicing every single day," she said. After 11 sexual abuse survivors, including Clary, testified, Kelly was found guilty in federal court of racketeering and sex trafficking. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of charges Kelly is facing. He has been in custody for much of the time since he was charged in 2019, and he faces decades in prison when he is sentenced May 4. Prosecutors hope to show that Kelly and his entourage acted like a criminal enterprise, using the singers fame and power to recruit underage girls and boys so that Kelly could sexually and physically abuse them. She was born to Alice and Angelo. Kelly is also accused of sexually abusing and impregnating Aaliyah Haughton when she was 15. 'He was very good at manipulating the situation,' Clary said. Wake up to the day's most important news. When the opportunity to grow musically under R. Kelly arose, Azriels parents encouraged her to take it. She said Kelly had four other girlfriends while the two were in a relationship. Paces testimony, as well as opening statements by both sides earlier in the day, placed many of the events alleged in the indictment squarely in Chicago, where Kelly got his start busking at L stations three decades ago. Survivor Who Defended R. Kelly in 2019 Gayle King Interview Says He Told Her 'Exactly What to Say' "Before that interview, you know, he had us practicing every single day," Azriel Clary told Gayle . It was the only thing that I felt comfortable [doing]. (witnesses will) tell you all these negative things, theyre going to form a picture that basically Mr. Kelly is this monster.. "It kind of made me kind of wake up in a sense, and realize, 'Why am I acting like this? She reflected on an. "Everything that we were living in had become very normal, and I had to break out of that. 5 in Kellys federal indictment, gave emotional testimony at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse and discussed in detail the abuse she says she endured at the hands of the R&B singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly. He asked me, what is that supposed to mean? Pace, now 28, recalled from the stand. The defense, however,argued that his accusers lied in their testimonies and that Kelly was a 'sex symbol' and 'playboy' who was being attacked by scorned exes and money-hungry fans. The first on the stand, Jerhonda Pace, testified last week following opening statements. Need help? It is OK to apologize and forgive yourself, more importantly. "And so we were we came in angry," Clary said. This man purposely gave me something he knew he had had, that he could have controlled, Clary stated on the stand. Throughout the proceedings, Kelly, 54, sat silently at the defense table, stone-faced except for an occasional, barely perceptible frown. One of the worst aspects, though apart from the physical/sexual abuse, degradation, as well as humiliation was the fact Kelly gradually, utterly alienated Azriel from friends and family alike. 'It's okay to reevaluate your life. Ad Choices, Azriel Clary Discusses R. Kelly Testimony in New Gayle King Interview, Clary said her 2019 conversation with King, where she expressed support for Kelly, was a turning point in her decision to leave the singer for good, A daily roundup of the most important stories in music. She and Kelly's other live-in girlfriend, Joycelyn Savage, often spoke publicly in the . And Faith contracted herpes after having sex with Kelly, Melendez said, and when she sued him he threatened to release compromising photos and video of her if she didnt drop the lawsuit. During her testimony, she went into detail about how the singer had treated her and the ways in which he tried to control her. There was nothing anyone could have done to get her to leave the situation, she said. Script reading starts at: 29:40 Show more Hide chat replay R. Kelly accuser Azriel. Azriel Clary was one of the two women who defended R. Kelly following accusations of sexual abuse and exploitation. The. Azriel Clary, one of the many women to testify against R. Kelly, is speaking out further about the abuse she suffered at the hands of the singer. Even scarier Azriel's car was set on fire last year, and just months ago a man pled guilty in the case. Dream Hamptons incredible documentary, Surviving R. Kelly, played a major role in this prosecution, she tweeted. Its not illegal, ladies and gentlemen., At great length, she defended the use of the word Daddy., Daddy has now become equivalent to the worst word you could ever think of. Im so thankful I had that [support system] because I needed that more than anything in life. Kelly, 54, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Azriel Clary testimony video She told Gayle that she realized she couldnt be in love with a man whod placed her through such a harrowing experience. Zel known to be Azriel Clary traveled with Kelly for five years, during which he physically, sexually and psychologically abused her, Melendez said, saying Kelly would sometimes violently beat her on a daily basis and make her have sex with strangers as punishment.. Bribery, coercion, manipulation, trafficking, violence, forced labor, sexual assault, and exploitation of minors these are just a few things R Kelly has been accused of over the past three decades. And I was scared, because I was like I don't want the world to see me this way, you know. His moms cancer battle. She said he punished her in several ways for not abiding by his strict rules, including spankings that would leave bruises. Another time, she said, he punished her by making her smear feces on her face and in her mouth as he recorded her. You guys believe it's a (EXPLETIVE DELETED . She said that Kelly had them practice answering questions every day before the 2019 interview. He walked away, only to return hours later and persuade her to get back with him. King said that Clary's father knew something was amiss when the 2019 interview aired. The singer did not testify in his own defense during the trial, likely to avoid a damaging cross-examination. Prosecutors say Robert Sylvester Kelly, 54, ran a Chicago-based criminal enterprise for nearly three decades and that he used to 'target, groom and exploit girls, boys and women' for unwanted sex and mental torment. She recalled an incident she also shared with the U.S. Sun in January 2020. Her testimony painted a powerful picture of a predatory lifestyle. ", Clary, 23, was one of the women who lived with Kelly at his home in Chicago. Clary was one of the many women that Kelly pulled into his decades-long operation of sexual abuse and . Beckers opening statement, which ran for more than two hours, was so long that Judge Ann M. Donnelly recessed for lunch in the middle of it. She explained: Nobody knows who Azriel is. Courthouse in Chicago on Sept. 14, 2022. Image Credit: CBS News. She continued: Before that interview, you know, he had us practicing every single day. Clarys parents reacted to their daughters music aspirations by offering her access to vocal coaches and lessons. I cant even count as high as the number of untruths, stories youre going to hear from (Pace) on that stand, she said. The charges were based on an argument that the entourage of managers and aides who helped the singer meet girls - and keep them obedient and quiet - amounted to a criminal enterprise. But prosecutors in Kelly's ongoing trial argued that NDAs should not keep victims from speaking out and referred to four other federal cases, including a ruling against Bill Cosby in 2016 when he sued one of his victims Andrea Constand for speaking with prosecutors. I'm fighting for my f------ life. "You don't tell me what to do and what to wear and where to go and how long to be in a room anymore.". 5 will continue her testimony Tuesday, including cross examination from the defense. She says Kelly mercilessly beat her with a size 12 Air Force 1 shoe after she lied about texting her high-school friend. The report notes Kelly was emotionless during Clarys testimony. Jane Doe No. She told Jason Lee ofHollywood Unlocked: I just felt like, What am I doing If Im not doing music? and thats what comes when youre dealing with someone whos very toxic and youre very young., Kelly swiftly manipulated Azriel, forcing her to abandon her music dream. R. Kelly's attorney Nicole Becker is surrounded by reporters as she arrives at the Brooklyn federal court for opening statements in the R&B star's long-anticipated federal trial on Aug. 18, 2021, in New York. Sorry I'm long winded, working on it! Some of her testimony was so graphic that the judge blocked its release to the public. Ultimately, she contracted herpes, she said. You are never too old to wake up and say, Hey, I thought this was good for me, but its actually not, she says of speaking out against Kelly. He said he would want me to get an abortion so I could keep my body tight, Doe said. She vied for glimpses of him near the spot where his tour bus would park. She ended up moving to Chicago for her senior year of high school and lived with him while she took virtual classes. Angelo Clary and Alice Clary are her parents. In 2015, Doe thought she was pregnant. It was about going back to the basics, remembering who I was, [and] relearning myself. Azriel Clary: Where is the Survivor Now? Azriel toldREVOLTthat making music helped her survive those tough times: Music has really helped me. When she finally told him, she says Kelly laughed at her before slapping her with an open palm. She toldREVOLT: My creative process has been enhanced a lot, actually. Azriel Clary, one of the women who survived prolonged abuse by R. Kelly, discussed the singer's recent Brooklyn trial in an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings. R. Kelly accuser says his staff "tried to warn him" about inappropriate behavior: "I know that he knows he's guilty" - CBS News, Assaulting underage victims and knowingly giving them herpes, Coercing victims into getting abortions after impregnating them, Slapping, choking, spitting at and urinating on his victims, Recording sexual encounters with his underage accusers, creating child porn, Subjecting his victims to cruel punishments - such as beatings or locking them in rooms without access to food, water or a bathroom - when they disobeyed his rules, Forcing his victims to write lettersdenying allegations of abuse against him, Threatening his accusers and their families if they attempted to leave him or press charges, His illegal marriage to singer Aaliyah, which involved obtaining a fake ID for the then-15-year-old so the nuptials could be performed. How many [years] of hell did his victims endure until this? journalist Julie Bindel tweeted. So any time you mention anything about sexual preference, we already know to say, 'I'm not here to talk about that,' because that's what he told us to say every single time.". There are two John Does mentioned in the uncharged evidence whose stories will likely come up later in the trial. It is all about finding your tribe and people that actually want to uplift you and your craft.. Azriel Clary, who publicly denied allegations made in the "Surviving R.Kelly " docuseries, is planning to testify at the singer's sex trafficking trial. This is all f***ing lies for money,' Clary said two years ago. After that first encounter, she said, Kelly made her a blue drink he called a Sex in the Kitchen a reference to one of Kellys popular songs. Azriel Clary, who had previously defended R. Kelly in a 2019 CBS News interview, spoke out about how she felt while testifying against him in federal court last month. Prosecutors on Wednesday previewed evidence about six alleged victims, referred to mostly by their first names or nicknames. It was the only thing I felt comfortable [doing].. All topics are for entertainment purposes only! Clary said. Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website. 'A piece of me was happy because I felt like this person no longer has control over me. She and Kelly's other live-in girlfriend, Joycelyn Savage, often spoke publicly in the Kelly wanted her to have an abortion, she said, but not just because she was under the legal age of consent. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? After joining high school in Orlando, Florida, she started playing instruments and learned proper voice control. Initially, Azriel Clary stuck by R. Kelly 's through sex trafficking claims against him. Bribery, coercion, manipulation, trafficking, violence, forced labor, sexual assault, and exploitation of minors these are just a few things R. Kelly has been accused of over the past three decades. On September 27, Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking in Brooklyn. She saw him as a mentor who could facilitate her growth as a vocalist. He faces up to 100 years in prison - 20 years for racketeering and 10 for each of the sex trafficking convictions. They never gave up, they never did. AZRIEL CLARY, R. KELLY'S GIRLFRIEND: I'm crying because you guys don't know the truth. Shannon Thaler For Dailymail.Com That is not what she believes.. He was in 2008 acquitted of 18 child pornography charges stemming from a 27-minute sex tape after the girl refused to testify. I'm compassionate, and no one got to see that side of me. You are never too old to wake up and say: "Hey, I thought this was good for me but it's actually not."'. There are two John Does mentioned in the uncharged evidence whose stories will likely come up later in the trial. But she said she "instantly regretted" how she had reacted during the interview. Azriel Clary recounts studying she contracted Herpes from R. Kelly and was forced to abort their child. When speaking on her 'full circle moment' at CBS, where she first supported Kelly very vocally and now played a role in his prosecution, Clary said: 'I think it's very important - even I have to take accountability for my actions. ): https://sprizzy.com/?ref=whitneydavis2$CASHAPP:$WhitWhitDavis PAYPAL: paypal.me/WhitneyDTVGO SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!! That made me feel like I was in a safe haven. In fact, she released her debut single, Liar, Liar, in the fall of 2021, followed by Sounds of an Angel and Inside Me in the spring of 2022. 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