R&B singer R. Kelly was rushed to Duke University Hospital after what his attorneys describe as a near-fatal overdose inside a North Carolina federal prison. The incident, detailed in a court filing made public this week, marks the latest twist in the embattled artist’s incarceration as his lawyers allege medical negligence, mistreatment, and a targeted threat on his life.
According to the filing, Kelly—whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly—was placed in solitary confinement on June 10, where he was forced to take anxiety medication issued by prison staff. That same day, he was reportedly administered additional doses and directed to ingest them. Three days later, he collapsed after experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, and fainting spells.
“He told a staffer, ‘This is going to open a new can of worms,’” the legal document states, moments before he lost consciousness. Kelly was then transported to the hospital, where he remained for two days, with doctors discovering untreated blood clots in his legs requiring surgical intervention. However, his attorneys say he was abruptly removed from the facility without receiving the necessary treatment.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has denied the overdose allegations, while federal prosecutors have disputed the version of events provided by Kelly’s defense team.
Kelly, 57, is currently serving a 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking, stemming from years of abuse allegations that emerged during the #MeToo era. His legal team argues he has suffered persistent mistreatment during his incarceration, including being denied proper medical care for serious conditions.
The filing also claims that prison staff gave Kelly a dangerously high dosage of medication, asserting the amount “could have killed him.”
In a dramatic development earlier this month, Kelly requested a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, alleging that he is the target of an assassination plot by members of a white supremacist gang within the prison system. His legal team says prison officials have failed to act on credible threats to his safety.
The latest episode has raised renewed concerns about prisoner rights and medical care in federal facilities, as well as the alleged use of solitary confinement as punishment.
Kelly’s lawyers say they will pursue further legal action and renew their petition for immediate medical intervention and protections for the singer.
