R. Kelly, a highly talented musician, is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of sexual misconduct with multiple women. Most notably, some of these women were his girlfriends, including the mother of his children. Just last night, it was reported that Jamie Foxx, the musician, comedian, and Oscar winner, is facing accusations of sexual misconduct from an individual identified as Jane Doe.

Recently, Sean Combs (also known as P Diddy or Puff Daddy) was accused by his ex-girlfriend and R&B singer Cassie of rape and coercing her into engaging in sexual activities with prostitutes while also using drugs. However, before the situation could escalate further legally, a monetary settlement was reached, and Cassandra withdrew her lawsuit.

Despite reaching a financial settlement before going through the court system, P Diddy’s reputation had already been damaged. His public image has suffered dramatically.

Reflecting on R Kelly’s case and considering how many women have come forward accusing him of rape—including his former partner—it is likely that if he had substantial funds at his disposal, he would have sought an out-of-court settlement. While I do not support or dismiss any wrongful actions against women in any way whatsoever—I have observed numerous accusations made against various celebrities driven by financial motivations.

In the music industry, men often behave immaturely, while women may participate in more frivolous activities. It would be hard for any entertainer to claim they have never done something they are not proud of at some point in their career. Many musicians lead chaotic lives filled with womanizing tendencies alongside drug and alcohol abuse—all without much concern for their future consequences. They often father children across different cities during their tours.
I recall one instance where a famous Nigerian musician served as President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria. One day, one of his children approached him, and he claimed not to know who the child was. Truthfully, he didn’t recognize his offspring. This musician was so famous and adored that every woman in South Western Nigeria would do anything to bear his child.

We can also recall former President Donald Trump once stating that when someone is a celebrity, they allow you to do whatever you want with them—and he wasn’t wrong. However, it should be noted that some of these individuals who consented initially may eventually pursue financial compensation from the celebrities involved. This phenomenon affects both male and female stars.

As the saying goes, “Money answers everything.” Many individuals who have accused various celebrities of wrongdoing often receive significant monetary settlements.

While the world and music industry rightfully condemn R Kelly for his irresponsible actions toward his accusers, we should also consider that if he had sufficient financial resources, he might have found a way out of the mess he created. There are countless other celebrities out there who may have committed worse deeds than R Kelly but continue to thrive due to their wealth.

As attention turns towards Jamie Foxx and the individual suing him for financial damages, I hope we allow the court system to decide this case fairly. The mainstream media tends to fixate on black celebrities—rarely waiting for legal resolutions before passing judgment on them; this severely damages their public image long before any jury reaches a verdict in their trials.

My prayer is that one day, R Kelly will be granted parole as nobody is above sin; none of us are saints.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Aguike

AGUIKE, an international singer-songwriter music producer from Nigeria based in New York, is a highly acclaimed songwriter, singer, and music producer. Throughout his career, his trajectory of songwriting has continuously risen.

Since the 90s, when he first burst onto the Nigerian music scene with his delightful Afro rhumba calypso-influenced dance rhythms and melodies, AGUIKE has consistently evolved as a songwriter. While he has always possessed exceptional talent in songwriting, he continually reinvents himself and surpasses his previous offerings with each new endeavor and musical style.

In line with the current trends in music wherein Afrobeats dominates the global stage, AGUIKE’s latest songwriting efforts showcase an irresistibly contemporary brand of world-class Afrobeats creations that establish him as a maestro within the genre.

His classics from the 90s like the timeless ‘Wajo Similaya’ continue to serve as musical benchmarks and points of reference. AGUIKE possesses exceptional skills in reading musical notes and mastering various instruments. He is proficient in sequencing and orchestrating his songs using popular digital audio workstations such as Protools and Studiolive. As an award-winning music producer himself, he holds a prominent position within the industry. In the 90s, AGUIKE achieved success by releasing his music through his own record label while embarking on a national tour with support from the French Cultural Center in Lagos. He stands out among Nigerian musicians who emerged during that era but still thrive today.

Aside from being recognized for his musical talents, AGUIKE is highly regarded as a media guru due to taking several years off from playing music to create a successful media platform. His accomplishments include winning numerous awards for best media personality along with declining honorary doctorate awards for headlining the African Inaugural ball for President Obama in 2008. Furthermore, he was honored in Edmonton, Canada after headlining the African dance festival there.

Now that he has returned to the music scene, his new Afrobeats songs are a testament to his timeless songwriting creativity. He not only creates the beats but also plays all the instruments and handles sound engineering in his studio located in Eastern Queens, New York City.

Franz Dickson is both a musician and author of The Contestant.