Singer R. Kelly is out of custody Saturday after someone paid more than $160,000 in back child support the singer was ordered to pay as a condition of his release.
A Cook County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson told the Associated Press it’s unclear who posted the money but that it was posted sometime Saturday afternoon. They also said Kelly, 52, was released early Saturday afternoon.
Kelly’s release comes three days after he was rearrested for nonpayment of child support. At the time, he was out on bail for 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
Kelly reportedly owes the child support to his second ex-wife, Andrea Lee, who he has three children with. On Wednesday, a judge ordered he remains jailed until he pays the full $160,000 in back child support.
R Kelly Released after someone paid 161 k in back child support @WGNNews @WGNRadioNews pic.twitter.com/EvR64ooeqZ
— Erik Runge (@WGNErik) March 9, 2019
The singer’s publicist told “Entertainment Tonight” that the judge rejected his offer to pay $50,000 to $60,000 and enter a payment plan.
“He was disappointed. He felt rejected. He was down. You could see the air go out of him. He never expected that. He was never looking forward to that. He never knew that was coming,” the publicist said.
Hours before his second arrest, “CBS This Morning” aired part of its interview with Kelly where he accused his inner circle of stealing his money. He went on to claim he recently learned he only had $350,000 left in his bank account.
“Here’s the deal: So many people have been stealin’ my money,” he explained to CBS’ Gayle King.
Another segment of the interview showed an emotional Kelly speaking on the child support, accusing his ex-wife of threatening his livelihood.
“How can I pay child support? How?” he tearfully asks. “If my ex-wife is destroying my name and I can’t work. How can I work? How can I get paid? How can I take care of my kids?”
“Use your common sense!”
Kelly is due back in court on March 13.
This is a developing story. Check back with CrimeOnline for updates as they become available.
[Featured image: R. Kelly/Cook County Sherriff’s Office via AP]
