After announcing that they were to tell the story of R&B singer Aaliyah through a biopic, ‘Lifetime’ have announced that the movie will take the bold step to explore the singer’s “relationship” with mentor R.Kelly.
Responsible for penning her interestingly titled ‘Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number’, Kelly’s recent duet with Pop star Lady GaGa saw him face fresh criticism over his dealings with the then teenager, labelled a predator for his alleged targeting and subsequent sexual abuse of African-American teenage girls.
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On Kelly’s part in the movie, executive-producer Debra Martin Chase revealed:
Aaliyah’s personal and professional relationship with R. Kelly will be explored with care in the film as we set out to depict her life with the utmost respect. Above all else, it’s our hope to inspire an entirely new generation with her music and larger-than-life talent.
Indie Wire adds:
The two singers were allegedly married in 1994, when Aaliyah would’ve been only 15 years old to R. Kelly’s 27. Although they denied it, a marriage certificate later surfaced, with her age falsely listed as 18 (her parents were later said to have annulled the marriage).
Indeed, contrary to R&B folklore, Haughton’s parents were not aware of the 15 year old’s illegal marriage to Kelly, and set out to cut ties between the pair once learning of it.
This, cited as one of many reasons behind their attempt to block the movie’s production, coming years after MTV reported that Kelly’s brother,Carey Kelly, accused the star of molesting their 12 year old cousin, and attempt to do the same to their older brother’s daughter.