R. Kelly hospitalised after prison overdose, lawyers claim ‘assassination plot'
According to a new filing by Kelly's lawyer, Beau Brindley, and widely reported by US outlets, the 58-year-old singer, currently serving 30 years in prison for sex trafficking and racketeering, collapsed on Friday at the federal correctional institute in Butner, North Carolina and was transported to Duke University hospital.
Kelly's lawyers allege that, on June 10, the three-time Grammy Award winner was placed in solitary confinement and was given medication by prison staff, along with 'instructions to take it'.
According to the filing, Kelly awoke in the early morning hours of 13 June, feeling 'faint' and 'dizzy', and 'he started to see black spots in his vision'. 'Kelly tried to get up, but fell to the ground,' the filing alleges. 'He crawled to the door of the cell and lost consciousness.'
The legal filing also claims that Kelly overheard prison officers discussing the situation. According to the documents, during the ambulance ride to Duke University hospital, Kelly allegedly overheard a prison officer say: 'This is going to open a whole new can of worms.'
Loading
At the hospital, Kelly's lawyers claim he 'learned that he had been administered an overdose quantity of his medications that threatened his life'.
Kelly's hospitalisation comes after his legal team filed an emergency motion last week, alleging three officials at the prison came up with a plot to have Kelly killed by leaders of a white supremacist gang to prevent the release of damaging information on prison officials.
After that filing, Kelly was moved to solitary confinement, his attorneys say.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Why the location of actor Julian McMahon's shock passing has prompted social media theories over Nip/Tuck star's connection with controversial religion
The death of Australian actor Julian McMahon at the age of 56 in Clearwater, Florida, has prompted a wave of online speculation. McMahon's career took off with the hit supernatural television series Charmed before he gained wider recognition with Nip/Tuck, the medical drama in which he played the role of plastic surgeon Dr Christian Troy. The Fantastic Four star's wife Kelly confirmed on Saturday that her husband died following a private battle with cancer. While few details were released, one stood out to social media users: the location. Clearwater - a city on Florida's Gulf Coast - is widely known for being dominated by the Church of Scientology. Its world headquarters, Flag, is located in the heart of downtown, and its members reportedly own the vast majority of the surrounding real estate. The mention of Clearwater in Kelly McMahon's statement quickly ignited debate across social media and internet forums, with some questioning why the actor, who had no public ties to the area, would spend his final days there. 'I live in Clearwater... close to a house (Scientologist) John Travolta owns because we're about a mile from the Scientology center in downtown Clearwater,' one local wrote on Instagram. 'I was wondering if Julian McMahon was a Scientologist since (Kelly's statement) said he died in Clearwater, because why else would he live the last few months of his life there? The only celebrities that do are usually Scientologists. Surprised, that's for certain!' Another user on X posted: 'Why was Julian McMahon in Clearwater when he died? Like, that's Scientology city.' A Reddit thread also sprang up, with one contributor offering a more sceptical take on the theory: 'He was an Australian who loved the beach. I don't see him being involved with Scientology.' To date, there is no mention of Julian McMahon, his wife Kelly, daughter Madison, or ex-wife Brooke Burns in any publicly available Scientology records. does not suggest McMahon or his family are affiliated with Scientology. The town's deep ties to the church are well documented. A Tampa Bay Times investigation found that the Church of Scientology, along with its members and affiliated businesses, owns 185 properties in Clearwater's downtown core. Actor Tom Cruise, one of religion's most prominent public faces, reportedly resides in a penthouse apartment there with his son Connor. Fellow Scientologist Kirstie Alley also lived in Clearwater before her death in 2022 from colon cancer. She had purchased her waterfront mansion from the late Lisa Marie Presley, another well-known Scientologist, back in 2000. At this stage, it remains unclear whether Julian McMahon had been living in Clearwater in the months leading up to his death. His family has not commented further.

Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Can ‘repulsive' Diddy stage a career comeback after his bombshell verdict?
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' supporters chanted 'Free Puff!' — and poured baby oil over themselves — outside Manhattan federal court on Wednesday after the stunning verdict in his bombshell weekslong sex trafficking trial was revealed. But could he really make a comeback? A jury convicted the once-renowned music mogul, 55, of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted him of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have landed him in prison for the rest of his life. Combs is now facing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the two prostitution charges. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3. Before he was arrested in September, the three-time Grammy Award winner was riding high as one of the most powerful men in music. And while his career quickly came tumbling down, the jury's shocking decision opens the door to the possibility that Combs will try to rejoin the industry and fix his battered reputation. 'I do not think the court of public opinion will be forgiving,' Ann Olivarius, the founder of the McAllister Olivarius law firm and an lawyer focused on women's rights, told The Post in a statement. 'The damage to Diddy's reputation is real, and demonstrates that the world is watching and survivors matter, even if their abusers are powerful.' Experts have weighed in on the likelihood of a career comeback for the music mogul. Picture: Mark Ralston/AFP David B. Allan, a professor of music marketing at Saint Joseph's University, similarly believes Combs can't make a comeback. 'Once the wave of getting off on the more serious charges settles, the music business will pass judgment and his reputation will be done,' Allan exclusively told The Post. 'Sean has always been great at p.r. and publicity, but there's no coming back from this, as this is his legacy. 'There will always be an asterisk by his name and his hits,' Allan stated. Ana Garcia, host of 'True Crime News: The Podcast,' shared a similar sentiment about Combs' future in the industry. 'Combs may have been spared life in prison but I am not so sure his career can be saved,' Garcia exclusively told The Post. 'How can you look at Diddy and not think this man is repulsive? The public cannot unsee Cassie's beating or the vile things he made her do.' 'I think Diddy's image and endorsements are ruined,' Garcia continued. 'This trial didn't up Diddy's gangsta cred. Instead, it revealed a pathetic and violent man who gets off on seeing his beautiful girlfriend urinated on. Who wants that guy endorsing your product?' Meanwhile, Tyrone Blackburn, a lawyer who is representing Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones and others in civil suits against Combs, believes the star could make a grand return. 'Because these are not viewed as the really serious claims, or serious charges, I think he may be able to come back,' Blackburn exclusively told The Post. 'I think if he shows some sort of remorse, I think if he submits an apology, I think if he falls on his sword and takes ownership for what he has done, thanks the jury for their thoroughness and says he will get some help, he possibly can,' Blackburn added. Lawyer Joel Denaro told The Post: 'Like always, people's memories will fade, and given Diddy's considerable talent, I'm sure he will flourish musically going forward.' A court sketch of Combs during the trial. Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP, File Tony Dofat, for example, is up to collaborate with the embattled mogul again. He composed and produced hit tracks for Diddy and Bad Boy Entertainment in the '90s. 'I would definitely work together with him again. We made a lot of great records together,' he told The Post. 'Maybe going through these things will put them in a different perspective. It'll probably create a different type of art.' Jeff Apruzzese, who runs the music industry program at Drexel University, believes Combs will 'certainly try' to wiggle his way back. 'Diddy has always positioned himself as both a creator and a CEO. That said, a public-facing comeback, whether through performance or media appearances, would likely face steep resistance,' Apruzzese noted. 'If he returns at all, it's more likely to be behind the scenes in a production or mentorship role, though that still depends on whether business partners are willing to re-engage.' Combs wouldn't be the first once-disgraced celebrity to recover from a major scandal. Chris Brown was all but cancelled for getting into a domestic violence incident with then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. The Forever singer, 36, has also faced other assault allegations over the years. But Brown experienced a career resurgence with the release of his albums Breezy in 2022 and 11:11 in 2023, the latter of which won him the Grammy Award for Best R & B Album. He's also about to embark on the US leg of his Breezy Bowl XX tour from July 30 to September 20. Apruzzese doesn't think Combs can replicate what Brown has done. 'Chris Brown's return unfolded gradually and under very different cultural conditions,' the professor said. 'The nature of the allegations against Diddy and the current climate in Hollywood means people are far more cautious about public associations that could create long-term reputational risk.' Apruzzese also speculated that other famous names 'will likely keep their distance, at least publicly,' from Combs for now. 'Collaborators now have to think about brand alignment, audience expectations and potential backlash,' he noted. 'So even if relationships still exist behind the scenes, we may not see them out in the open.' Other celebrities are likely to keep their distance from Combs, according to one expert. Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP File Along with the current lack of public support, Combs' finances have taken a hit since he became a pariah. Forbes last year estimated the rapper's net worth at around $400 million, down from the $740 million he was worth in 2019. Before his arrest, he reportedly stepped down and later fully divested from his cable television network, Revolt. He also settled a legal dispute with spirits company Diageo, which involved him relinquishing control of his alcohol brands Cîroc and DeLeón. Combs' record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, has also been affected by his legal troubles. In 2023, he returned the music-publishing rights to the artists and songwriters who helped build the company. At the time, Combs told Variety: 'It's just doing the right thing. I think that we as an industry, and as a people, have to look in the mirror and make a shift forward. It's about evolving, leading by example and reforming an industry that needs it, in a world that needs reform.' Bad Boy has not announced any major releases since Combs' arrest. The last album Combs put out was 2023's The Love Album: Off the Grid. However, Combs was recently featured on Kanye West's new song, which also included West's 12-year-old daughter, North. West, who has also been shunned for his own controversies, has voiced support for Combs and even made a brief appearance at the trial. Combs' legal costs have certainly added up over the past year, which could also endanger his potential resurgence. Before his trial began in May, an expert told Fox News that Combs' legal defence could cost him $15 million. After the verdict, legal expert Neama Rahmani told The Post that Combs' sex-trafficking case was the 'most expensive prostitution trial in American history.' In addition, Combs' ex Cassie Ventura claimed she received a $20 million settlement in her 2023 lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul. Video evidence of Combs physically assaulting Ventura, 38, from 2016 was released last year, before she testified against Combs during the trial in May. Ventura reacted to Wednesday's verdict in a statement via her lawyer, Doug Wigdor, who said she 'paved the way' for the jury to convict Combs on the prostitution charges. 'By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,' Ventura's lawyer said. This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission. Originally published as Can 'repulsive' Diddy stage a career comeback after his bombshell verdict?


The Advertiser
6 days ago
- The Advertiser
No verdict on first day of jury deliberations on Diddy
Jury deliberations in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But by the end of Monday jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life. The first day of deliberations saw a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom - but no verdict. The jury of eight men and four women are sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario 's propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fuelled sex marathons dubbed " freak-offs " or "hotel nights". About an hour in, the foreperson reported that a juror might be having trouble following the 61 pages worth of instructions the judge had just read to them. "We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor's instructions," the foreperson said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian just after 12:30pm. After the judge originally proposed asking the jury foreperson the nature of concerns about the fellow juror, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested caution and that it was better to say less than more. "We can always ratchet it up. We can't ratchet it down," Agnifilo said. Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2pm, reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law. The jury sent another note about three hours later asking for clarification on the part of the instructions addressing drug distribution - an allegation included in Combs' racketeering conspiracy charge. As deliberations were happening, Combs prayed with his family and friends in the courtroom. He stood facing his contingent in the audience and bowed his head with them. As they finished, they applauded, along with Combs. Combs also showed off two books he's reading: The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale and The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor. As he sent the jury to deliberate, Subramanian told the five alternate jurors to remain on standby at home in case they're needed at a later point. Jurors were provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking - relating to two of his ex-girlfriends - and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and sex workers across state lines. In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs' defence team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records. "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted," Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law." She said that he used his "close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant's every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs". Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, "This isn't about crime. It's about money." He noted that one of Combs' accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court. "He is not a racketeer. He is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him," the lawyer told jurors. Jury deliberations in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But by the end of Monday jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life. The first day of deliberations saw a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom - but no verdict. The jury of eight men and four women are sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario 's propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fuelled sex marathons dubbed " freak-offs " or "hotel nights". About an hour in, the foreperson reported that a juror might be having trouble following the 61 pages worth of instructions the judge had just read to them. "We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor's instructions," the foreperson said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian just after 12:30pm. After the judge originally proposed asking the jury foreperson the nature of concerns about the fellow juror, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested caution and that it was better to say less than more. "We can always ratchet it up. We can't ratchet it down," Agnifilo said. Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2pm, reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law. The jury sent another note about three hours later asking for clarification on the part of the instructions addressing drug distribution - an allegation included in Combs' racketeering conspiracy charge. As deliberations were happening, Combs prayed with his family and friends in the courtroom. He stood facing his contingent in the audience and bowed his head with them. As they finished, they applauded, along with Combs. Combs also showed off two books he's reading: The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale and The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor. As he sent the jury to deliberate, Subramanian told the five alternate jurors to remain on standby at home in case they're needed at a later point. Jurors were provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking - relating to two of his ex-girlfriends - and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and sex workers across state lines. In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs' defence team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records. "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted," Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law." She said that he used his "close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant's every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs". Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, "This isn't about crime. It's about money." He noted that one of Combs' accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court. "He is not a racketeer. He is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him," the lawyer told jurors. Jury deliberations in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But by the end of Monday jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life. The first day of deliberations saw a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom - but no verdict. The jury of eight men and four women are sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario 's propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fuelled sex marathons dubbed " freak-offs " or "hotel nights". About an hour in, the foreperson reported that a juror might be having trouble following the 61 pages worth of instructions the judge had just read to them. "We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor's instructions," the foreperson said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian just after 12:30pm. After the judge originally proposed asking the jury foreperson the nature of concerns about the fellow juror, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested caution and that it was better to say less than more. "We can always ratchet it up. We can't ratchet it down," Agnifilo said. Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2pm, reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law. The jury sent another note about three hours later asking for clarification on the part of the instructions addressing drug distribution - an allegation included in Combs' racketeering conspiracy charge. As deliberations were happening, Combs prayed with his family and friends in the courtroom. He stood facing his contingent in the audience and bowed his head with them. As they finished, they applauded, along with Combs. Combs also showed off two books he's reading: The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale and The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor. As he sent the jury to deliberate, Subramanian told the five alternate jurors to remain on standby at home in case they're needed at a later point. Jurors were provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking - relating to two of his ex-girlfriends - and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and sex workers across state lines. In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs' defence team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records. "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted," Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law." She said that he used his "close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant's every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs". Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, "This isn't about crime. It's about money." He noted that one of Combs' accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court. "He is not a racketeer. He is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him," the lawyer told jurors. Jury deliberations in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking trial hit a snag almost as soon as they started. But by the end of Monday jurors indicated they were making progress weighing complex charges that could put the hip-hop mogul in prison for life. The first day of deliberations saw a flurry of notes from the jury and Combs and his supporters bowing their heads in prayer in the courtroom - but no verdict. The jury of eight men and four women are sifting through seven weeks of sometimes graphic and emotional testimony about the rap, fashion and reality TV impresario 's propensity for violence and his sexual predilections, including drug-fuelled sex marathons dubbed " freak-offs " or "hotel nights". About an hour in, the foreperson reported that a juror might be having trouble following the 61 pages worth of instructions the judge had just read to them. "We are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor's instructions," the foreperson said in a note to Judge Arun Subramanian just after 12:30pm. After the judge originally proposed asking the jury foreperson the nature of concerns about the fellow juror, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo suggested caution and that it was better to say less than more. "We can always ratchet it up. We can't ratchet it down," Agnifilo said. Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2pm, reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law. The jury sent another note about three hours later asking for clarification on the part of the instructions addressing drug distribution - an allegation included in Combs' racketeering conspiracy charge. As deliberations were happening, Combs prayed with his family and friends in the courtroom. He stood facing his contingent in the audience and bowed his head with them. As they finished, they applauded, along with Combs. Combs also showed off two books he's reading: The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale and The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor. As he sent the jury to deliberate, Subramanian told the five alternate jurors to remain on standby at home in case they're needed at a later point. Jurors were provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking - relating to two of his ex-girlfriends - and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and sex workers across state lines. In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs' defence team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records. "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted," Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law." She said that he used his "close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to meet the defendant's every desire, promote his power and protect his reputation at all costs". Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, "This isn't about crime. It's about money." He noted that one of Combs' accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court. "He is not a racketeer. He is not a conspirator to commit racketeering. He is none of these things. He is innocent. He sits there innocent. Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him," the lawyer told jurors.