R. Kelly charged with abuse, European concerts in doubt

R&B singer R. Kelly has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims, including at least three between the ages of 13 and 17.

Illinois' Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced 10 counts against the 52-year-old Grammy winner. She says the abuse dates back as far as 1998 and spans more than a decade. She did not comment on the charges or take questions.

The charges come a week after Michael Avenatti, the attorney whose clients have included porn star Stormy Daniels, announced that he gave prosecutors new video evidence of the singer with an underage girl.

Avenatti calls the new charges "a watershed moment," adding that he believes more than 10 other people associated with R. Kelly should be charged as "enablers" for helping with the assaults, transporting minors and covering up evidence.

In this June 30, 2013 file photo, R. Kelly performs at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. [File Photo: Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP]

Kelly arrived at a Chicago police station on Friday evening. If taken into custody, he is expected to be held overnight and appear Saturday in bond court.

Kelly's legal issues come in the wake of a recent documentary series entitled "Surviving R. Kelly." The expose has delved into his alleged history of sexually abusing young women and girls. Despite the controversy, the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer had maintained plans to tour in Europe. However, the charges now make that unlikely.

Activists from the #MeToo and #MuteRKelly social media campaigns have been using the renewed attention around the documentary to press overseas venues to scrap planned R. Kelly shows in Germany and the Netherlands.

"We're trying to make sure that doesn't happen, and still trying to put the word out there," said the co-founder of the #MuteRKelly movement in Atlanta.

The Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm, which had scheduled an R. Kelly concert, warned on its Facebook page that it could shut down the concert if "new facts" emerged.

Tickets for the April 12th concert were still available as of Friday evening.