R. Kelly Collapses After Alleged Medication Overdose in Prison; Lawyer Claims Life in Danger Behind Bars

R. Kelly reportedly collapsed in his North Carolina prison cell after receiving what his attorney claims was a dangerous and potentially lethal overdose of medication—just days after accusing prison staff of plotting to harm him.

According to court filings obtained by AllHipHop, the 58-year-old disgraced R&B singer was placed in solitary confinement on Tuesday, June 10. Two days later, on June 12, he was given additional medication by prison staff. The following morning, Kelly reportedly fainted, experienced dizziness and partial vision loss, and was rushed to Duke University Hospital.

Doctors determined he had received a life-threatening dose of medication and kept him under observation for two days. His attorney, Beau B. Brindley, is now alleging the overdose was not accidental.

“That means that, within two days of the filing of his motion, Bureau of Prisons officials administered an amount of medication that significantly exceeded a safe dose and caused Mr. Kelly to overdose, putting his life in jeopardy,” Brindley said. “They gave him an amount of medicine that could have killed him.”

Brindley filed an emergency motion on Monday, June 16, in Illinois federal court—his legal team’s third request for temporary release to home confinement. The motion states that Kelly’s life is in serious danger behind bars and references a recent sworn statement from fellow inmate Mikeal Glenn Stine. According to the filing, Stine alleged that both prison staff and white supremacist groups were conspiring to kill Kelly in an attempt to cover up misconduct related to his criminal case.

Following Stine’s statement, Kelly was reportedly moved into solitary confinement. His attorney described the conditions as “inhumane,” claiming the singer sleeps with spiders crawling on him, has no access to phone calls, and cannot eat commissary food due to fear of being poisoned. Kelly has reportedly gone days without eating for this reason.

While hospitalized, doctors also found blood clots in both of Kelly’s legs and lungs. They recommended surgery to address the clots, but Brindley says his client was forcibly removed from the hospital against medical advice.

“Within an hour, officers with guns came into his hospital room and removed Mr. Kelly,” Brindley said. “He was taken from the hospital against his will and against the directives of the doctors. He was denied the surgery he needs to clear blood clots in his lungs that threaten his life. This happened. This will be confirmed by hospital records. It is undeniable.”

Kelly was returned to solitary confinement despite the medical findings, and his legal team insists these actions are deliberate and targeted.

R. Kelly is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in 2021. His legal team is now urging the court to approve an emergency furlough for home confinement, arguing that he faces a clear and present danger while incarcerated.