Lifetime
The Lifetime docu-series shines a light on R. Kelly’s alleged predatory sexual misconduct, but it is his older brother that has become a trending topic on Twitter.
Throughout the series, Bruce Kelly recounts his childhood with Robert and their other siblings growing up in Chicago.
“Rob was shy and very timid. If you stared at him in his face he would cry,” Bruce said in part one.
Bruce also appears to defend his brother’s sexual history with underage girls, comparing it to his affinity for older women.
“Robert likes younger women. You have people who have fetishes about different things. I like older women. Go figure, you know. But that’s just a preference. … Everyone has preferences,” Bruce said during the episode. “So what is the big deal? What’s the big issue with my brother?”
He also admonishes their younger brother, Carey, for not taking $100,000 to speak out against child molester allegations against their famous sibling. During the trial, Robert’s legal team suggested Carey was the man on the explicit tape with the purportedly 14-year-old girl.
Bruce’s seemingly detachment and nonchalance didn’t sit well with Twitter users, with many wondering why is he clad in beige jail garb, to begin with.
Bruce has an extensive criminal record that dates back decades. While Robert found success and accumulated platinum plaques, Bruce picked up convictions. This time around, Bruce is locked up due to a 2016 burglary conviction. He was admitted into the Vandalia Correctional Center in July 2017. Per jail records, he was sentenced to two to four years in prison and is expected to be released in Dec. 2019.
The brothers’ relationship is reportedly estranged.
A lot of sordid details surrounding Robert’s sexual history have shown his proclivities for underage women.
Singer Aaliyah was identified as one of the women Robert groomed, ultimately marrying the 15-year-old when he was 27.
The marriage was subsequently annulled after Aaliyah’s parents became aware of the illegal union.