R. Kelly sued by six victims seeking the millions he still owes them

He might be spending the next 27 years behind bars, but that isn’t stopping abuse victims of embattled R&B icon R. Kelly from trying to collect the millions the disgraced singer still owes them.

Six victims who won a $10.3 million judgment against Kelly in 2022 claim he’s still on the hook for more than $9.9 million of it, and are suing to get the cash from him and his record label.

Lizette Martinez, Lisa Van Allen, Kelly Rodgers, Faith Rodgers, Roderick Gartell, and Gem Pratts — all featured in the Lifetime docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly” — said they’ve gotten just two payments totaling less than $500,000, according to their Manhattan Supreme Court filing.

They’re suing Kelly, 58, and his former record label, Universal Music, and its publishing branch, Universal Music-Z Tunes.

The suit also names Kelly’s imprisoned former manager, Donnell Russell, and Chicago-based IndyBuild, a revenue sharing platform for independent artists.

Kelly was ordered in August 2023 to pay the six plaintiffs $5.1 million in combined compensatory damages and another $4.5 million in punitive damages — plus $2,450.30 a day in interest, his victims contend.

Universal Music’s co-publishing agreement with Kelly ended in 2019 but the company “remains contractually obligated to collect revenues and remit music publishing royalties to Kelly,” and that money should go to the victims, according to court papers.

Lawyers for the defendants did not respond to requests for comment.

Kelly was once adored by his fans who bought millions of his albums, even after allegations about his abuse of young girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s. 

He was acquitted of child pornography charges in Chicago in 2008, but a second trial in Chicago in 2022 ended with his conviction on charges of producing child pornography and enticing girls for sex.

“Surviving R. Kelly” exposed just how widespread Kelly’s sexual misconduct was.