R. Kelly is leaving his West Side Chicago studio, his lawyers announced Wednesday, saying he “can never be creative and do his job under these circumstances.” Lexi Sutter reports.
R. Kelly is leaving his West Side Chicago studio, his lawyers announced Wednesday, saying he "can never be creative and do his job under these circumstances."
The studio on North Justine Street was the subject of numerous court proceedings in which a judge ruled the singer could not have 24-hour access to the unpermitted building.
The ruling did allow Kelly to work on the first floor between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. but prohibited any use of the second floor.
"The city brought concerns before the court because we believe that the building was not safe for occupancy," said the city's corporation counsel Kimberly Roberts. "I believe the judge appreciated those concerns and she restricted all residency on the second floor, she restricted access so people cant even be up there."
In January, city inspectors found a number of deficiencies at the warehouse space Kelly rents on the Near West Side.
They also found a bed, clothing and other evidence that the building was being used as a residence something Kelly's attorneys deny.
While the judge’s ruling does give Kelly expanded use of the building, her primary concern remains that she doesn’t want anybody sleeping in this building or partying late into the night.
"This order is a vindictive and baseless reaction to unsubstantiated claims of decades old misconduct, which R. Kelly was both acquitted of and otherwise denies," his attorney Steve Greenberg wrote in a letter. "The public should not rush to judgement."
Kelly has been under fire since the airing of the Lifetime docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly." NBC 5 Investigates also recently obtained police documents detailing allegations from a woman who said she was abused by Kelly as a teenager.
Kelly has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct involving women and underage girls.
