R&B singer Sparkle, a former protege of R. Kelly, has further responded to allegations that she allowed the disgraced singer-songwriter to groom her niece, Rashona Landfair.
Landfair, now 41 years old, was a 14-year-old girl in the infamous leaked R. Kelly sex tape, which showed the singer urinating on her, although he would be acquitted on charges of 14 counts of child pornography in 2008.
Landfair, who was known as “Jane Doe” in the 2000s case, has revealed her identity this month along with announcing her memoir, Who’s Watching Shorty?, which recounts her being groomed by Kelly throughout her teenage years.
Kelly, 59, is now serving a 31-year sentence on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Landfair recently appeared on CBS Mornings, where she claimed that her aunt Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, urged her to ask Kelly to be her godfather and to sit on his lap and rub his head.
“That is the start of him entering into my life in a different way than just being an artist or hanging out at the studio,” Landfair said. “It became more personable at that moment.”
After the interview aired, Sparkle, who testified in the Kelly’s first sexual misconduct trial, denied that she “groomed, facilitated, or enabled harm” towards her niece in an Instagram post.
In a follow-up Instagram Live session, the singer revisited the topic, saying that “not all that you heard from my niece is true.”
“I don’t want to hinder this legal process, but to testify that I had my niece sit on Robert’s lap and rub his head and have her ask him to be her godfather is an absolute fucking lie,” Sparkle said.
“You all cannot imagine the hurt that comes from pain caused by the people that you live and are willing to die for,” she continued.
Sparkle added that she and Kelly weren’t in a romantic relationship and explained that her family has since fallen out.
“Enough is enough,” Sparkle said. “I’ve endured not being believed before, so my niece’s false statements don’t bother me as much as her mindset and willingness to tell the lies.”
Landfair was formerly a member of child R&B group 4 the Cause, which released one album, Stand by Me, before disbanding in 2000. The group briefly reunited in 2008.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or abuse, confidential support is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org for help.