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Entertainment
NeNe Leakes Has Not Been ‘Forced To Sit Out’ Of ‘RHOA’ Season 12 Filming, Contrary To Reports
R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty To Additional Sex Charges
R&B singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 additional sex-re- lated charges on Thursday, in- cluding four counts that carry a maximum prison term of 30 years in prison.
Prosecutors did not ask the judge to raise the bond amount for Kelly during the brief hear- ing in Cook County court.
Kelly stood with his hands folded in front of him and lis- tened to Judge Lawrence Flood describe the charges to him. When Flood asked if he un- derstood, Kelly, responded, “Yes, sir.” The Grammy award- winning singer, who has denied any wrongdoing, left without speaking to reporters. A status hearing was scheduled for June 26.
Among the 11 new counts are four counts of aggravated crimi- nal sexual assault, which carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. That is more than four times as long as the maximum term for each of the 10 counts Kelly was originally charged with in February.
R. KELLY
Kelly’s defense attorney, Steve Greenberg, said after the hearing that he couldn’t specu- late as to why prosecutors brought the new charges, which pertain to one of the four women he was charged in February with sexually abusing years ago, three of whom were minors when the alleged abuse occurred.
“It’s the same case. It’s just that they’ve just changed what they’ve charged him with,” Greenberg said. “It’s the same facts ... the same bond, the same evidence. We expect the same re- sult.”
A new report that claimed NeNe Leakes has been “forced to sit out” of filming so far for season 12 of The Real House- wives of Atlanta sent Bravo viewers into overdrive, but Leakes’ rep denies that is the case.
“I can say with authority that there is absolutely no truth to this,” the rep tells Us Weekly about LoveBScott.com’s report. “The only reason why she’s not currently shooting is because she is still in active negotiations with her contract.”
Several fans called out the 51- year-old Bravolebrity — who was one of the original Atlanta Housewives and has been a full- time cast member for most of the show’s run — for acting as though she did not care to be at the season 11 reunion, which aired in April. After taping the dramatic three-part special, Leakes unfollowed five of her seven castmates on Instagram:
NENE LEAKES
Kandi Burruss, Porsha Williams, Cynthia Bailey, Eva Marcille and Tanya Sam. She did not unfollow longtime friend Marlo Hamp- ton or newcomer Shamari DeVoe.
RHOA executive producer
and reunion host Andy Cohen later made headlines for saying on his late-night Bravo show, Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, that Leakes had also unfollowed him, which she was quick to clarify. “I was NEVER following @andy on In- stagram,” she tweeted in March. “He wasn’t following me or any housewives! He knows this! In fact i texted him and asked, why did u say that on WWHL when we don’t follow each other! ALL FACTS! Now go ask him! I NEVER need to lie. For what?”
Season 11 of the reality series proved to be a difficult one for Leakes, whose marriage to Gregg Leakes hit a rough patch in the midst of his battle with stage III colon cancer. Fur- thermore, the Glee alum came under fire for violently ripping a cameraman’s shirt during a March episode after he followed her costars into her closet with- out permission.
Lee Daniels Confirms Jussie Smollett's Non-Appearance 'Empire's Final Season
JUSSIE SMOLLETT AND LEE DANIELS
Ahead of its final season's return, Empire co-creator Lee Daniels confirmed that actor Jussie Smollett will not return. According to Va- riety, sources working on the set reported that the Fox show's writers were "breaking ideas" on how to re-insert Smollett.
On Twitter, Daniels re-
vealed the news by respond- ing to a Variety article that stated otherwise. This is not factual," Daniels said. "Jussie will NOT be return- ing to Empire." The Oscar- winning director has remained by Smollett's side since the latter claimed he was the victim of a hate crime in Chicago in late January.
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