R. Kelly, the Grammy-winning R&B artist best known for chart-topping hits like I Believe I Can Fly, has reportedly suffered a near-fatal overdose while serving his prison sentence in North Carolina. The 58-year-old singer was rushed to Duke University Hospital after collapsing in his prison cell on June 13.
According to his attorney, Kelly had been placed in isolation three days earlier and was still taking prescribed medication for anxiety at the time. The incident has now sparked serious concern and controversy, with Kelly’s legal team alleging possible foul play in the administration of his medication.
“This was no mistake. It was a dose that jeopardised his life and nearly ended it,” his attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, stated in official court documents. The lawyer has since filed an emergency motion, requesting that Kelly be released early from prison due to what she calls a life-threatening failure by prison staff, as told to The Guardian.
Kelly, who is currently incarcerated at a federal facility in North Carolina, is serving a 30-year sentence following his conviction for sex trafficking and racketeering. His trial drew national attention as numerous survivors testified against the singer, painting a chilling portrait of abuse that spanned decades.
On June 10, Kelly was reportedly moved into isolation, a decision his legal team claims contributed to the events that followed. Just days later, after being administered a new round of medication, Kelly passed out—an incident his attorney argues was entirely avoidable.
He remained under strict observation at Duke University Hospital for two days before being returned to prison. The rapid deterioration of his condition and the subsequent hospitalization have raised serious questions about how his medications are being managed behind bars.
The legal filing now seeks intervention from the court, with Kelly’s lawyer emphasizing that the overdose could have resulted in his death and arguing that his continued incarceration poses a direct risk to his life.
While prison officials have not publicly commented on the overdose or the allegations made by Kelly’s legal team, the incident has reignited broader conversations about inmate safety, medical oversight in prison, and the treatment of high-profile prisoners.
Kelly continues to deny all allegations against him and maintains his innocence. With this new emergency motion now before the court, his legal battle may be taking yet another dramatic turn, this time focused on his health and the conditions of his imprisonment.