R. Kelly's Lawyer Says Singer Sympathizes With Diddy Amid Federal Sex Trafficking Trial
R. Kelly, currently serving a 31-year prison sentence, has extended sympathy to Sean 'Diddy' Combs as the Bad Boy Records founder faces federal charges of his own. While Kelly and Diddy have no personal relationship, per Kelly's attorney, the disgraced R&B star feels connected to Diddy's situation, particularly being another Black man in the entertainment industry.
Beau Brindley, Kelly's lawyer, recently spoke with TMZ where he brought up Kelly's sentiments, as well as concerns for his client's safety behind bars. 'He's aware of it. He feels sympathy for what Diddy is going through. They were not friends and I don't mean to suggest that… In reality, he sympathizes with anybody that's being put through this because he knows what has happened to him… If it's anything like what was done to him, he feels for him,' he said.
According to Brindley, Kelly has been placed in solitary confinement at a North Carolina federal prison after prison officials uncovered death threats from a white supremacist group. The extremists allegedly plotted to poison Kelly's food, leaving the Chocolate Factory crooner too paranoid to eat.
Brindley has filed a motion requesting Kelly's release from prison and is pushing for home confinement, arguing that isolation is both mentally and physically damaging for the 58-year-old.
Kelly's attorney also used the TMZ moment to point out a perceived pattern of the courts targeting Black entertainers — suggesting that prosecutors are weaponizing criminal charges to police personal sexual encounters.
He drew a comparison between his client and Diddy, who faces charges including sex trafficking and racketeering in New York. Currently, Kelly continues to serve time for racketeering and sex trafficking, child pornography and enticement of minors for sex.
Kelly's team is also reportedly seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. According to Brindley, he believes Trump may be open to granting clemency given his own battles with federal investigations.
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