Akon is the latest celebrity to weigh on on R. Kelly’s recent convictions.
Eleven accusers — nine women and two men — took the stand during the six-week trial to describe sexual degradation and physical abuse they faced at the hands of the disgraced singer. Kelly was found guilty of eight counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering — a charge generally used against organized crime associations.
Speaking to TMZ, Akon appeared to be at ease with the outcome of the trial.
“I believe that God makes no mistakes. People can debate back and forth all day but if it’s happening to him, it’s supposed to happen to him, for whatever reason,” Akon told TMZ. “Now, that’s something that he has to have within himself to reevaluate his whole life, his way of being, because to get caught up in a situation like that, whatever happens, between him and God.”
Akon feels it’s time for the star to “reevaluate” his life.
“People aren’t here to hate each other for a reason, like, everyone is going to make a mistake and everyone has the right to redeem themselves from those mistakes — even him.” He added. “He has the right to try to make right by those he hurt. And then, the people that he hurt also have the right to decide if they wanna forgive him.”
Kelly’s legal woes are far from over.
He still faces multiple federal charges in Chicago, where prosecutors accuse him of filming himself having sex with underage girls. He is also charged with bribing potential witnesses at his 2008 trial to get them to change their stories.
He also faces state charges in Minnesota.
