Thread: R. Kelly & Wife Finalize Divorce

By Debra Lewis-Boothman
Originally posted Thursday January 08, 2009 07:45 PM EST


R&B singer R. Kelly and his wife of 11 years, Andrea Lee Kelly, are officially divorced, according to a statement from their lawyers Thursday.

Kelly, 42, and Andrea, 35, will have joint custody of their three children. No other details were revealed.

The announcement follows Kelly's acquittal of child pornography charges in June.

The couple weathered martial ups and downs during the six-year-long case. In 2005, Andrea, filed an emergency protective order to keep the singer away from her amid claims of physical abuse which she rescinded weeks later. The couple then filed for divorce in 2006, but were still trying to make things work.

After years of silence, Andrea told Essence magazine in 2007, "Some people in my position would probably be very broken right now, and they would probably be saying, 'Woe is me.' But I'm just not that person."

The couple married in 1996, two years after the then-20-year-old Andrea had auditioned as a backup dancer for the singer/songwriter/record producer. She would go on to handle most of the choreography for his tours, videos and live performances.

Kelly, known for hit singles like "Bump N' Grind" and "I Believe I Can Fly," has sold more than 8 million albums and has had four number one albums.
http://www.people.com/people/article...s-topheadlines

R. Kelly's Divorce Finalized - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

I am officially upset about this divorce. I really thought they were gonna work things out. I do not know what to say about this fool!!!! I truely believe this begin more problems for him.

Sad, but life goes on. Kinda odd happening on his b-day.

They had been going to court alot in the past 2 weeks so I knew something was going to happen soon.

Originally Posted by Mista

Sad, but life goes on. Kinda odd happening on his b-day.

They had been going to court alot in the past 2 weeks so I knew something was going to happen soon.

I said the same thing to Chelle when I spoke to her about this.

Originally Posted by bcarter74

I am officially upset about this divorce. I really thought they were gonna work things out. I do not know what to say about this fool!!!! I truely believe this begin more problems for him.

I'm not upset about it, but I do feel sorry for the kids, and frankly, I hope she got paid. Once she moved out long ago, I never thought they would work it out.

Rob has an endless supply of sexual love for the ladies, so I thought he should have never been married. I've just never seen him as a man who loves only one lady. If it brings him more drama, than its all on him. That court case should have been an eye opener for him.

I just wonder how much he has/had to pay her and if that pre-nup he had held up.

Well that's gotta suck... I thought they was working it out.

R. Kelly's Divorce From Wife of 11 Years Finalized

R. Kelly and his wife Andrea's divorce was finalized Thursday after 11 years of marriage, lawyers for the former couple confirm to Usmagazine.com.

"The parties have reached an amicable resolution concerning all issues related to their marriage, and will share joint custody of their three children," their Chicago-based lawyers said in a joint statement. "The details of this agreement will remain confidential and the family requests that their privacy be respected during this time."

The couple separated in the fall of 2005, and Andrea went to court for an emergency restraining order, claiming that he had physically abused, harassed and stalked her, according to MTV News.
See Hollywood's ugliest splits!

(Kelly had faced mounting legal troubles -- the year before, charges were dropped against him in Florida for having sex with an underaged girl. In June 2008, the R&B singer was acquitted from child pornography charges after allegedly appearing in a raunchy video with another underage girl.)

Andrea told Essence magazine in 2007 that she and Kelly "have a bond that we will have for the rest of our lives because we have children...That we filed for divorce is not that important."
They have two daughters and a son together.

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/r-kel...after-11-years

It's sad but I wish Andrea the best and that's what she deserves.

I'm surprised, I wanted them to stay together.

She has been through a lot.... Joy comes in the morning tho.


* why does it have 2 be announced on his b-day??*

Awww I'm very, very saddened by this. Terrible news on his birthday. I thought they might pull through it. Oh well I wish them both the best. Especially Drea and the kids.

This is not that surprising except that it occurs on his birthday. I was hopeful they'd get back together, but I thought it would be a longshot. Yeah, Kells lost a good woman.

Whaaaaaat? That was his b-day present? Divorcing from his wife? Ah shucks! I thought that Kellz and Andrea were back together again. I'm shocked, but I'm wishing Andrea nothing but the best. By the way, Andrea and I are the same age. She was NOT 20 years old in 1996. She was either 22 or 23 years old.