R&B artist R. Kelly, who is currently serving a 30-year sentence for federal sex trafficking and assault convictions, has been hospitalized following an overdose while in prison.
Reports indicate that on June 13, 2025, Kelly felt faint and dizzy, experiencing black spots in his vision. Attempts to rise resulted in him collapsing. Legal documents acquired by a news source detail that he was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered he had suffered an overdose that endangered his life. He required a two-day hospital stay for treatment.
The attorney representing Kelly alleges that prison staff administered an excessively high dose of his medication, which is usually for anxiety and sleep. His legal team has voiced concerns about the adequacy of care provided in prison.
Additionally, Kelly’s attorney mentioned that following a plot against his safety revealed in prison, the overdose incident raised even more questions about the prison’s actions that put Kelly’s life at risk.
His lawyers have pointed out that he has been dealing with significant medical issues, including swollen legs—given his history with blood clots. Though he had requested medical attention, responses from prison were described as limited and delayed. There was a recent incident where, after a scan intended to check for a blood clot, he was told by prison medical staff that he would no longer be receiving necessary blood thinner medications, raising further health concerns.
Kelly’s legal representatives criticized the prison’s handling of his medical situation, stating that his health complications could lead to serious risks. His hospitalization required a transfer from a medical facility in North Carolina after the overdose.
When asked for comments regarding Kelly’s medical conditions, the prison system declined to provide details, citing privacy and safety regulations. A representative for Kelly did not reply to requests for comment.
Since 2022, Kelly has been incarcerated in a federal facility in Butner, North Carolina. He received his 30-year sentence in June 2022 after being convicted in New York, and additional sentences were handed down in 2023 related to other charges, making him eligible for parole at the age of 80. Notably, while denying all allegations, he remains one of the most prominent figures in R&B history, recognized for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Bump N’ Grind,” despite longstanding allegations of abuse.
