R&B legend R. Kelly was reportedly rushed to the hospital last week following an alleged medication overdose while in solitary confinement at a federal prison facility in North Carolina, sparking renewed concerns about his safety and treatment behind bars.
According to a newly filed motion by his attorney, Beau B. Brindley, the incident occurred on the night of June 12, 2025, when a prison staff member allegedly instructed Kelly to take an unusually high dose of his prescription medication. The next morning, the singer reportedly experienced dizziness and weakness. Attempting to get out of bed, he collapsed inside his cell, crawled to the door in distress, and eventually lost consciousness.
Kelly was immediately transported to Duke University Hospital, where medical personnel allegedly informed him he had been given a dangerously excessive amount of medication. His attorney emphasized in the filing that the dosage was “potentially lethal” and posed a serious threat to his life.
While hospitalized, doctors reportedly discovered multiple blood clots in Kelly’s legs and lungs, which could result in severe complications if left untreated. However, Brindley claims that Kelly was denied a recommended surgical procedure and discharged prematurely, despite medical advice. The singer was returned to solitary confinement within the prison shortly after, raising alarm among his legal team and fans alike.
In light of this incident, Kelly’s attorneys are urging the court to consider temporary release to home confinement to ensure his access to proper medical care. They argue that the current prison environment puts him at heightened risk and that authorities are neglecting his urgent health needs. “If nothing is done,” Brindley warned, “the consequences may be fatal.”
Prosecutors, however, are pushing back on the claims, calling them part of an ongoing effort by Kelly to manipulate legal proceedings and public opinion. They argue that his motion was filed in the wrong court, and labeled the allegations as attempts to garner sympathy amid growing scrutiny over his legal battles.
This troubling development follows previous allegations by Kelly’s legal team that the singer is the target of a murder plot involving gang members within the prison, specifically members of the Aryan Brotherhood. They argue that the combination of psychological pressure, lack of proper medical support, and alleged physical threats are placing Kelly’s life in constant danger.
Kelly is currently serving a 30-year sentence following his conviction for racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He has consistently maintained his innocence and claimed that he is being unfairly treated while incarcerated.
R. Kelly was reportedly hospitalized after what he is claiming was another attempt on his life while in prison. #BillboardNews pic.twitter.com/8FX3WswO3p
— billboard (@billboard) June 17, 2025
R. Kelly is doubling down on his claim that his life is in danger in prison ... alleging Bureau of Prisons staff at his federal center purposefully gave him too much medication -- causing an overdose that brought him to the hospital. Read more: https://t.co/pq1Rue8c6c pic.twitter.com/plpLCHhzlz
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 17, 2025