Did Donald Trump pardon R. Kelly? The claim that Donald Trump pardoned R. Kelly is completely false and misleading. The video being shared is from 2019 and has no connection to the singer’s current incarceration.
A viral social media post is making rounds online, claiming that R&B singer R. Kelly has been released from prison following a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. But is there any truth to this?
One of the posts fueling this rumor comes from Instagram user @peepowl_, who shared a video allegedly showing R. Kelly being escorted out of jail by a man in a black coat.
• Engagement stats: As of March 22, 2025, the post had gained over 12,000 likes, 2,000 comments, and 22,000 shares.
• Another Facebook user, Ukpong-Abasi Asuquo, also shared the same video on March 6, 2025, sparking further speculation.
While some users celebrated the supposed release, others called out the claim as fake news:
• Kene Nwoji: “Go and sin no more. I pray he still finds his place in the music industry. Welcome back.”
• IdeEkpe Fabian Emmanuel: “Oh, the storm is over.”
• Nony Emma: “Fake news noni…”
To verify the claim, The Trumpet conducted a fact-check using the InVID-WeVerify tool. The tool extracted keyframes from the video and performed a Reverse Image Search, leading to the original footage uploaded by AFP News in 2019.
The Truth About R. Kelly’s Prison Status
Read Also: “Regina Daniels still can’t resist me after 6 years” — Ned Nwoko boasts about his enduring love
Here are the facts:
• The video is NOT recent—it actually shows R. Kelly attending a court hearing in Chicago in 2019 related to aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges.
• R. Kelly remains in prison. The 58-year-old singer is currently serving a 30-year sentence for sex crimes, including the exploitation of minors.
• He was convicted in 2022 in New York for racketeering and sex trafficking, and separately in Chicago for child pornography and obstruction of justice.
• Additional charges still exist against him in Cook County, Illinois, and Hennepin County, Minnesota.
• No credible reports confirm that Donald Trump has pardoned R. Kelly.
The claim that Donald Trump pardoned R. Kelly is completely false and misleading. The video being shared is from 2019 and has no connection to the singer’s current incarceration.
If you come across this claim, do not fall for the misinformation. Always verify news from credible sources before sharing!
