R. Kelly has been rushed to hospital following a serious overdose inside a federal prison in North Carolina, with his legal team now claiming the incident was part of an orchestrated plot to kill the embattled singer. The dramatic turn has triggered fresh legal battles and revived debate over inmate safety and high-profile incarceration.
Highlights:
- R. Kelly reportedly overdosed after receiving a high dose of medication in prison
- The incident left him unconscious and hospitalized for two days
- His lawyers claim the overdose was a planned murder attempt by prison staff
- They are seeking emergency release or a presidential pardon
- Prosecutors have dismissed the claims as baseless conspiracy theories
Main Story:
R&B icon R. Kelly was hospitalized last week after collapsing in his cell at the Butner Federal Correctional Institution in North Carolina. According to his attorneys, the 57-year-old was administered a dangerously high dose of medication, believed to be for anxiety or sleep, which triggered an overdose that left him temporarily blinded and unconscious.
He was rushed to Duke University Hospital and treated for serious complications, including multiple blood clots in his legs and lungs. He remained there for two days under medical care before being returned to prison.
Kelly’s legal team now claims the overdose was not accidental. In court documents, they allege that certain prison staff were working with a white supremacist gang to kill the singer. Inmate Michael Glenn Stine submitted a sworn statement claiming he was approached to carry out the killing in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The attorneys argue that the alleged conspirators manipulated medical treatment in solitary confinement to harm Kelly, who has long been isolated due to safety concerns.
As fears for his safety grow, Kelly’s lawyers have filed an emergency motion requesting temporary release or home confinement. They’ve also suggested they may appeal to former President Donald Trump for a pardon, insisting that his life remains at risk in custody.
Federal prosecutors have hit back, describing the claims as “fanciful” and part of a pattern of manipulative behavior. They maintain that there’s no credible evidence of a murder plot and have urged the court to deny Kelly’s release request.
The Bureau of Prisons has not commented on the matter, citing security and privacy policies.
In a system meant to deliver justice, R. Kelly’s overdose raises one urgent question, who’s watching the watchers?
