R&B singer Sparkle is speaking out on the R. Kelly case following her niece Reshona Landfair’s newly released memoir, which is currently going viral.
In a written statement shared on Instagram, the Chicago artist addressed claims that she played a role in exposing Landfair to Kelly, firmly denying any wrongdoing while expressing support for her niece’s healing.
“I am relieved that Reshona is finally free to speak her truth and begin her healing journey,” Sparkle wrote. “In addition to justice, I have always wanted healing and peace for her.”
She went on to reject allegations that she helped facilitate the relationship, calling those suggestions “untrue and deeply painful.”
According to Sparkle, she took action as soon as concerns were raised. “When I was informed her parents were allowing Reshona to spend unchaperoned time with R. Kelly, I immediately contacted DCFS,” she shared. “When the tape surfaced and the state brought charges against him in 2008, I cooperated fully and testified under oath, despite immense pressure not to do so.”
“Protecting my niece from abuse and telling the truth mattered more to me than money and my career,” she added.
Jane Doe in R. Kelly’s sex tape speaks out. Says her aunt Sparkle told her to
sit on R. Kelly’s lap…#RKelly #Sparkle #ReshonaLandfair #RealOnesKnow pic.twitter.com/uT9iDDPOvj— Real Ones Know (@RealOnesKnow_) February 4, 2026
The statement comes as Landfair steps into the public eye with her memoir, Who’s Watching Shorty?, where she details the lasting impact of abuse and the struggle to reclaim her identity. “I just really wanted to capture the fact that I was a human being,” Landfair said recently. “I was not just the ‘R. Kelly girl.’”
Sparkle closed her message by wishing her niece “continued healing and peace,” calling her decision to speak out an important step forward.