Kup’s Column: Word spreads of R. Kelly, Aaliyah’s marriage

This article originally appeared as written in the Sept. 22, 1994 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Michael Jackson scoop: The newly wedded superstar apparently achieved his purpose with that reported $20 million settlement with the teenager who brought charges of sexual molestation against him. Because the youngster has refused to testify against Jackson, which was a condition of the huge settlement, L.A. authorities finally decided to drop the charges. Our sources report the boy’s father will get $2 million of the settlement, his mother will receive another $2 million, and the remainder, after attorney’s fees are deducted, will be placed in a trust fund for the youngster, administered by a retired L.A. judge.

THE FATHER STILL IS FACING a lawsuit by the Chicago private eye, Ernie Rizzo, he had hired to investigate Jackson. According to Rizzo, the father promised him 5 percent of the amount collected. But when the settlement amount zoomed into the millions, the father sought to change the deal. Rizzo has filed suit in Chicago and now is awaiting a response from the father.

WE’RE DELIGHTED to end our stay as an impatient inpatient at Columbus Hospital, under treatment by Dr. Leonard Cerullo for one of the body’s most excruciating pains, known as sciatica, which affects a nerve that originates in the spine. Hopefully, physical therapy eventually will allow me to cast aside the cane that now enables me to keep struttin’ on down.

THE NEW HEIR to the Fruit of the Loom fortune was born to Shelley and Bill Farley at Prentice Hospital. He weighed in at a whopping 10 pounds, 7 ounces. The baby hadn’t been named by press time, and hence temporarily is known as “Baby Farley.”s started recruiting college football officials in event their zebras go on strike. Oct. 16 could be the crucial date.

ARE THE STRIKING baseball players and the owners aware that the public is yawning? . . . Hugh O’Brian spent a few hours in town to line up Sam Skinner as a board member of his Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation. Jerry Reinsdorf already is a board member, as are Barron Hilton and Tom Lasorda.

CHICAGO’S International Film Festival lost its opening star and premier movie for Oct. 6. Al Pacino had planned to introduce his new movie, “Two Bits,” but the film is too far behind schedule to make the opening date. Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway” has been substituted. . . . Does Gov. Edgar realize the Chicago Urban League is awaiting his decision on a proposed statewide debate with Dawn Clark Netsch? (Don’t hold your breath.)

OPRAH WINFREY, who has made so many substantial contributions to worthy causes, just added another $100,000 to one of her favorites, the Corporate Community School in the Lawndale area. . . . One of Our Town’s most grievous stories, the slaying of 11-year-old Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, will be discussed on Channel 7’s “Rolonda” tonight. His mother and grandmother are scheduled to appear, along with the family’s spokesman, the Rev. Leonard T. Barr.

BEST TRIBUTE to composer Jule Styne, who died at age 88: He wrote the songs the nation sang. Styne, a Chicago native, was the brother-in-law of the popular politico Ira Colitz. And he was honored a year ago by the Chicago Academy for the Arts. . . . Also dearly departed: former cafe owner Jean Fardulli and fund-raiser Phil Paris.

THE TALK in music circles: Did R & B star R. (Robert) Kelly, 27, forget a few years in calculating the age of his bride, Aaliyah Haughton, whom he married on Aug. 31 in Rosemont? He maintains she’s 18, but her Detroit high school friends insist she’s an underage 15.

SIGHT SEEN: Miracle Michael Jordan lending his restaurant chefs a hand in preparing their delicacies. . . . And former FBI agent Bill “The Enforcer” Roemer shooting a scene for Bill Kurtis’ A & E cable special on organized crime. . . . Tonight’s treat: a rally for John Stroger, Democratic candidate for Cook County Board president, at the Chicago Athletic Association.

BIRTHDAYING: Tom Lasorda, Shari Belafonte, Bonnie Hunt, Evangeline Gouletas, Dr. Joseph Kirsner (85), Marji Bank, the Rev. John Banahan, U.S. Attorney Jim Burns, Ricki Lake and Stephen King.