R. Kelly’s former backup dancer testified that she witnessed the disgraced singer sexually abuse Aaliyah when she was only 13 or 14 years old.
According to The New York Times, the woman, who testified under the name Angela, told jurors that she was performing with the 12 Play singer on tour. While going to visit the singer on his tour bus, she witnessed him “in a sexual situation” with Aaliyah, who was seated in a chair. Angela said she “closed the door abruptly” and never talked about the situation with him. The incident allegedly took place in 1993, one year before Kelly illegally married the underage One In A Million singer.
Angela said she first met Kelly in 1991, when she was between 14 and 15 years old. The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer began having sex with her while she was underage and attending high school. She testified that Kelly would often pressure her and several others who worked with him as backup performers to have sex.
The dancer said she met Aaliyah shortly after she began working on her first album, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number. Angela stated that the singer traveled with Kelly on tour to “get her feet wet,” but it was during that trip when she caught the two engaging in a sexual act.
On a separate occasion, Angela testified that she and a group of girls — including Aaliyah — were scolded for breaking Kelly’s rules. The girls made a trip to a nearby 7-Eleven store, but the “Bump n’ Grind” singer reportedly told them not to leave the hotel. Once he heard about their disobedience, Angela said he demanded sex. “Robert told all of us we would have to put out,” she said. “It was dues time.”
Angela said she refused Kelly’s advances and she does not know whether or not Aaliyah complied with his orders that night.