An Update On R. Kelly’s Former Live-In Girlfriend, Azriel Clary, From ‘Surviving R. Kelly’
Lifetime aired the final part of its docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly II: The Reckoning on Jan. 4. The second installment of the investigative piece chronicled the aftermath of what the original docuseries prompted for Kelly’s alleged victims and the current status of his pending criminal cases for sex crimes.
Among the topics explored were the status of his live-in girlfriends, Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary’s relationships with their families. While Savage has not made contact with her family as they wished, the series revealed that Clary and her family have reunited after four long years of no contact.
Azriel Clary was one of R. Kelly’s live-in Girlfriends for four years
Clary first met Kelly when she was 17-years-old. Her parents took her to a jazz concert in Florida as a way to boost her morale following a depressive episode that landed the young girl in a mental hospital. On the advice of a therapist, the Clary’s took their daughter to the concert in hopes to inspire her, as she was an aspiring singer.
At some point during the show, Kelly made contact with Clary. She informed her parents later that Clary wanted to groom her into his artist and work on music with her. They agreed under the promise of Kelly that an adult would be present with their daughter at all times, whether that be someone from the Clary family or an adult from Kelly’s camp.
Over the next year, Clary traveled back and forth from her home state in Florida to touring with Kelly. Her parents were under the impression that Kelly was showing her the ropes of the music industry when in actuality, Kelly and Clary were in a relationship. The Clary’s claim that when Azriel turned 18, all communication between them and their daughter stopped.
The Clary’s later discovered that Kelly had initiated sexual contact with Azriel a few days after they met in Florida, while she was still underage. The docuseries provided statements from the Clary family, other alleged Kelly victims, their families, as well as accounts from Kelly’s inner circle claiming that the singer ran a sex cult full of abuse, manipulation, and isolation of his victims – including Clary.
Azriel Clary has reunited with her family following his arrest
The Clary’s claimed that they had not had contact with Azriel in four years and that she was under strict watch and control of Kelly. Following the release of the initial series, Kelly, Clary and another live-in girlfriend appeared on CBS This Morning in their first televised interview with Gayle King.
Kelly confirmed that he was in a relationship with both women but denied that they were being held against their will. He alleged that the Clary and Savage families were using their daughters to extort him by making allegations of abuse.
Both Clary and Savage fiercely defended Kelly. Clary specifically refuted claims that she ever wanted a career in singing and that her parents forced her to pursue music. She also corroborated Kelly’s claims that her parents were trying to extort him. Clary also said that it was her choice to remain distant from her family. She and Savage continued to support him.
Things began to change in December 2019. YouTube vlogger Tasha K claimed to have been in constant communication with the Clary family. Tasha alleged that the family was finally in ongoing communication with their daughter and working on a plan to help her escape Kelly’s alleged control.
TMZ reported that Clary moved out of the Chicago condo she shared with Kelly and Savage. She’s returned to her family in Florida and according to her father, “she is taking an independent role and taking control of her life as an independent woman.”
Clary created social media accounts and recently shared that she’s pursuing music. For the first time in over four years, Clary posted a video to her Instagram page on Christmas Day belting out a holiday classic.
The docuseries final episode also confirmed that the Clary’s have been reunited. Despite extreme hardships they suffered following the airing of the original series – including a strain on the Clary’s marriage and Azriel’s mother suffering an emotional breakdown – they are on the path to healing.
She seems to be ready to move forward and may soon tell her story.
She posted a photo to Instagram asking for prayers for her family. Clary, however, is still supporting Kelly through his trial.
