On Sunday, lawyer Gloria Allred held a press conference in which she revealed that a third tape that allegedly features R. Kelly sexually abusing underage girls has been turned over to authorities in New York City’s Southern District. She was accompanied by a man named Gary Dennis, who said he discovered the tape in his personal collection.
Dennis, who has never met and has no connection to Kelly, said he found the tape in a box of old VHS tapes. He also said he doesn’t know how he came to be in possession of the tape, but that he used to trade tapes with friends often. Dennis said during the press conference, “To my shock and surprise, R. Kelly appeared to be on the tape, but not in concert. Instead, he was sexually abusing underaged African American girls. I was disgusted and horrified when I saw that.”
In a statement, Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg, said in a statement, “R. Kelly denies that he is on any tape with underaged girls. The doubt here is self-evident, with reporting that the man on the tape kinda, sorta looks like R Kelly. That doesn’t make it him. It is not him.”
Following the press conference, Michael Avenatti, a lawyer who represents a former R. Kelly associate who has turned against the singer, was critical of Allred’s decision to present the potential evidence, writing in a pair of tweets:
“Over the last week, we have had 5 other individuals contact us with tapes that they claim show R. Kelly having sex with underage girls. Upon investigation, they don’t and the individuals would have no reason to have such a tape. Publicizing this ‘evidence’ undermines the process. The tape referenced by Ms. Allred today is most likely a copy of a tape that was sold at flea markets/street corners throughout Chicago in the early 2000s. Thousands of copies of the same tape were sold and prosecutors have known about it since approx. 2001. This is old evidence.”
Over the last week, we have had 5 other individuals contact us with tapes that they claim show R. Kelly having sex with underage girls. Upon investigation, they don't and the individuals would have no reason to have such a tape. Publicizing this "evidence" undermines the process.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 10, 2019
The tape referenced by Ms. Allred today is most likely a copy of a tape that was sold at flea markets/street corners throughout Chicago in the early 2000s. Thousands of copies of the same tape were sold and prosecutors have known about it since approx. 2001. This is old evidence.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 10, 2019
Meanwhile, R. Kelly was just released from jail for the second time in the past two weeks, after an anonymous donor paid his outstanding child support payments, which totaled over $160,000.
