On Monday, R. Kelly was found guilty on all counts of racketeering and sex trafficking, the culmination of a weeks-long trial against the former R&B star. The verdict comes after years of Kelly dodging countless accusations of sexual misconduct, including an acquittal from child pornography charges in 2008.
But this moment, which could result in a lifelong prison sentence, is filled with uncomfortable tension. To call the guilty charges a sign of justice is true — the verdict is undoubtedly meaningful — but also a fact that is mixed with a particular rage at just how long and how much it took to get here.
