Copyright 2004 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.Chicago Sun-TimesOctober 26, 2004 Tuesday
HEADLINE:
Is R. Kelly seeking 2nd job -- at McDonald's?
BYLINE:
Abdon M. Pallasch; Jim DeRogatis
BODY:
Could the reason R&B superstar R. Kelly stormed off the stage after Saturday's show in St. Louis be a Big Macattack?Or did Kelly just want some familiar comfort after getting upset about what he felt was poor handling of the soundat the concert?Kelly's attorney Ed Genson confirmed reports Monday that Kelly headed from St. Louis' Savvis Center to aMcDonald's restaurant that had closed, but which he persuaded to reopen for the entourage traveling on his bus."Then, he decided he wanted to work the drive-through," Genson said. "It was on the radio. People were runningout of their houses to have R. Kelly serve them."Kelly is a big McDonald's fan who has stopped and worked the drive-through windows at McDonald's restaurants before. In a "Primetime Live" interview that aired in October, he talked about frequent visits there with his late mother."We'd go to McDonald's almost every morning. She'd drink her cup of coffee, she'd wear this cheap lipstick, andshe'd leave this red lipstick ring around the cup," Kelly said.Meltdown in St. LouisSaturday night, Kelly reportedly ran off stage and yelled at the sound people about two-thirds of the way throughthe show, part of a multicity tour with hip-hop giant Jay-Z. The two then canceled Sunday night's concert at theBradley Center in Milwaukee, as well as Tuesday's scheduled show at the Civic Center in Hartford, Conn.The Chicago Sun-Times has reported Kelly has allegedly used his fame and influence as a pop star to have sexualrelationships with underage girls. In June 2002, he was indicted on charges of child pornography after the newspaper received a videotape that prosecutors say shows him having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
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November 18, 2004
