Aaliyah’s rise to fame was shadowed by a controversial relationship with R. Kelly, her producer and mentor. In 1994, when Aaliyah was just 15 years old, rumors surfaced that she had secretly married Kelly, who was 27 at the time. The marriage was quickly annulled, but the scandal left a mark on Aaliyah’s early career.
R. Kelly produced Aaliyah’s debut album Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, which was well-received musically but raised eyebrows because of its title. Allegations of sexual abuse surfaced in later years, with witnesses claiming that Kelly had begun abusing Aaliyah when she was 13 or 14. These claims were further highlighted during Kelly’s trial, bringing renewed attention to their controversial relationship.
Despite the controversy, Aaliyah distanced herself from Kelly after the annulment and continued to build her career, eventually becoming a beloved icon in the music industry. Her legacy remains powerful, but the early scandal involving Kelly has become a complex chapter in her story.
