After being placed on suicide watch amid his sentencing, R. Kelly has filed a lawsuit against a Brooklyn detention center claiming he has no intent on harming himself.
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The singer states he’s been mistreated at the detention center since being placed under suicide watch
The lawsuit claims the Metropolitan Detention Center is subjecting R. Kelly to “cruel and unusual” punishment by placing him under suicide watch because he’s a celebrity. Additionally, the singer states his 8th Amendment rights are being violated after repeatedly telling MDC officials that “he is not suicidal and expressly told MDC officials that he was not suicidal and had no thoughts of harming himself or others,” as per TMZ.
His suit also mentions the names of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein since they were also placed under suicide watch at the same detention center. Epstein reportedly committed suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center on August 10, 2019.
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The singer says he’s currently in a single cell without bed rails, no showers, no shaving, and being forced to eat with his hands. Officials reportedly cut off all communication with his loved ones. He’s suiting for damages related to emotional distress.
Amid the suit, the Bureau of Prisons has released a statement and says they are committed to ensuring the safety and security of its inmates.
“Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority.”
As previously reported, the singer was sentenced to 30 years in prison on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
“I started this journey 30 years ago”, said on of his backup singers There wasn’t a day in my life up until this moment that I actually believed that the judicial system would come through for Black and brown girls. I stand here very proud of my judicial system, very proud of my fellow survivors, and very pleased with the outcome.”
In a trial last year, the singer was convicted of racketeering and eight more counts for his crimes.