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‘Cash-Strapped’ R. Kelly Asks Judge to let Him Travel to Dubai to Perform, Struggles to Get Work in U.S.

Posted byBy Associated Press | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

CHICAGO (AP) — Cash-strapped R&B singer R. Kelly wants a judge to let him travel to the Middle East to perform several concerts, saying he has struggled to get work in the U.S. since his February arrest on sex-abuse charges.

A defense filing Wednesday in Chicago says Kelly would do three to five concerts in Dubai. It doesn’t specify which venues he’d play or how much he’d earn.

R. Kelly

FILE – In this June 30, 2013 file photo, R. Kelly performs at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.  (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP, File)

It says Kelly has struggled to pay child support, legal fees and other bills. It blames the cancellation of Illinois concerts and a record-company contract, and streaming services removing his songs.

As a bond condition in his sexual abuse case, Kelly must stay in Illinois unless a judge approves out-of-state travel.

The filing asserts that Kelly isn’t a flight risk, saying the United Arab Emirates would never jeopardize its U.S. relationship by harboring a fugitive Kelly.

His next court date is Friday.

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