R. Kelly’s Ex-Wife Drea Speaks Out on His ‘Difficult’ Sex Abuse & Racketeering Conviction

Drea Kelly, the ex-wife of R. Kelly with whom she shares three children, has mixed thoughts on his conviction for sex abuse and racketeering charges.

On Tuesday, the choreographer and dancer spoke with ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” about her ex-husband of 13 years — a day after a jury found him guilty on all nine counts regarding allegations that he ran a decades-long sex ring that targeted women and children.

When asked if the verdict “release[s] any of the weight” on her, Drea — who has previously accused the musician of emotional and verbal abuse — admits that it is “great that we’ve taken a step forward” but that real change happens outside of the courtroom.

“[It’s important] that women are supported to even feel like they have the strength to come forward and tell their stories,” she said. “If they’re still victim shaming, victim blaming, and women being afraid to speak their truth, we can never get to a court system where justice can be served.”

Despite her ex’s conviction, Drea contended “if any of his victims were blonde and blue-eyed, it wouldn’t have taken this long. Women of color tend to be lowest on the totem pole when it comes to subjects of domestic violence and sexual abuse.”

Drea also spoke about her “difficult” position of being a victim of Kelly’s alleged abuse, as well as the mother to three of his children: daughters Joann and Jaah, and son Robert Jr.

“I sit in a very difficult place, ‘cause unlike the rest of his victims, I also share children with him. I was married to him, so I wear two hats,” she said. “I wear the hat of a survivor and an advocate, but I also wear the hat of a mother and ex-wife, so it’s very difficult for me.”

“I feel that my heart is in two places. My heart definitely goes out to the survivors and the courage that it takes to even come forward and tell the story, but my heart breaks as a mother because this is now the legacy that my children will have to deal with and their children’s children,” she continued, adding, “His blood runs through my children’s veins. It’s a part of their DNA. They can’t escape it even if they wanted to.”

In a 2018 interview, Drea detailed Kelly’s alleged abuse, including an incident in which he “hogtied” her in their bed.

As a result of the alleged abuse, she said she once contemplated suicide and suffers from PTSD.

After being arrested July 2019 in Chicago for multiple federal sex crimes in two different states, Kelly ultimately pleaded not guilty to his charges related to allegations involving six alleged victims — five women named as Jane Does in the indictment, as well as the late Aaliyah, whom he married in ‘90s when she was a teenager.

Kelly’s racketeering charge includes 14 underlying acts: one act of bribery, three acts of sexual exploitation of a child, one act of kidnapping, three acts of forced labor, and six acts of violating the Mann Act — an anti-sex-trafficking federal law that makes it illegal to transport anyone across state lines for any immoral purpose.

Of his eight counts of violating the Mann Act, three of these charges involve Kelly allegedly exposing two women to herpes without informing them.

During the trial, a total of 50 witnesses testified, including 45 for the prosecution.

The defense summoned numerous witnesses, including former employees and associates, who testified that they never saw Kelly abuse anyone. The defense also argued that the accusers allegedly sought to take advantage of Kelly’s celebrity.

Kelly — who never took the stand in his trial — has vehemently denied all of the allegations against him.

Kelly’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 4, 2022. He could face decades in prison.