So, there we were ... calling actors from R. Kelly's "Trapped In the Closet" saga to see how they felt about 32 new installments ... when we found out the two main stars GOT MARRIED IN REAL LIFE!!!

TMZ has learned Rolando Boyce and LeShay Tomlinson -- who starred as cheating couple Rufas and Cathy in Chapters 1-22 -- fell in love after meeting on the set in 2005 and tied the knot just three years later!

The couple is now raising 4 children together, including 2 from a previous marriage.


As for the original topic -- how they felt about R. Kelly's attempt to make 32 new "Trapped" chapters -- Boyce tells us they haven't heard from the singer yet ... but they're hoping he reaches out.

"We haven't seen Robert in a few years," Boyce says ... "but we'd love to film with him again ... especially after everything that happened to us because of the video."

R. Kelly needs funding -- AND QUICK -- because the singer tells TMZ he's ready to film THIRTY TWO new chapters of his legendary hip-hopera "Trapped in the Closet" ... but he needs financial backing first.

When we last saw "Trapped" ... the year was 2007 and Kelly had released 22 chapters, involving a little person who crapped his pants ... a neighbor with the spatula ... and a pimp with the stuttering problem.

Now, Kelly -- who was leaving an L.A. gym yesterday -- tells us he wants to continue the saga -- "but it costs a lot of money to do ... so we're actually looking for investors."

In the meantime, check out the end of Chapter 7 -- it's the only time we've ever heard anyone sing the word "spatula" ... and it's beautiful.

R. Kelly's ex-manager claims the singer refused to pay him more than $1 million in hard-earned commissions ... insisting Kelly instead used the money to pay off people who accused him of sexual misconduct. 



The manager -- Jeff Kwatinetz -- filed a lawsuit against Kelly today in L.A. County Superior Court ... claiming he single-handedly resurrected R. Kelly's career back in 2008 ... when the singer was drowning in child pornography charges.

Jeff claims he "guided Kelly through the recording of two new albums, substantial multi-million dollar tours ... a book deal, and a myriad of other appearances and events" -- and "Kelly reaped millions of dollars" while under his management.

But according to Jeff, Kelly left him in the lurch -- and "has failed and refused to pay" the 15% commission rate they allegedly agreed on.

According to the lawsuit, Kelly's business manager regularly told Jeff he couldn't be paid "because the monies were needed for payments to avoid lawsuits and adverse publicity resulting from Kelly's alleged [sexual misconduct]."

Now, Jeff wants Kelly to pony up at least $1 million in unpaid commissions and punitive damages.

A spokesperson for Kelly is calling B.S. on the lawsuit -- telling TMZ, "Jeff Kwatinetz's complaint is a collection of half-truths, distortions, and outright fabrications."

The rep adds, "Mr. Kwatinetz is a disgruntled former manager who apparently feels the need to try to seek retribution for his discharge. It is particularly disturbing, given his job as a professional talent manager and trusted adviser, that he would feel the need to lash out and dish what he thinks is dirt against a former client."

"When the actual facts are presented, however, we are confident that his allegations will be found to be completely without merit."

R. Kelly has been dragged into a massive investigation in South Africa -- but the singer claims he's the victim of a grifter gone mad.

It all started when a woman accused of scamming more than 50 people out of tons of money claimed Kelly played a part in the plot.

She allegedly conned her victims into investing money in an R. Kelly tour that never existed. The woman reportedly says she deposited the money into Kelly's bank account.

She's been charged with more than 60 counts of fraud -- and Kelly is wanted for questioning.

Kelly is vehemently denying involvement -- his publicist said:

"The woman has no connection at all with R. Kelly. This is just some con woman who swindled a bunch of people out of money. R. Kelly had no knowledge of this, he's just as upset as anyone."

That pesky child porno case is rearing its ugly head again for R. Kelly.

Kelly is being sued by a private investigator who claims the singer stiffed him on a $300,000 bill. According to a lawsuit filed last week in Missouri federal court, Charles Freeman claims he was hired during Kelly's trial to "obtain and/or recover certain tapes that were said to incriminate" R. Kelly.

Freeman said he did the job, but never got paid. He's suing for damages plus interests and costs.

Kelly was found not guilty on all counts.

Fathers, lock up your daughters: R. Kelly is now officially a free man.

His lawyers announced yesterday Kells and his wife of 11 years, Andrea Lee, have split for good, and among other things, will share custody of their three kids. The couple filed for the big D in 2006, and Andrea had filed an emergency protective order back in 2005 against R., which she ultimately pulled.

Kelly was acquitted of child porn charges last summer.

R. Kelly was put on the spot on BET last night about his affinity for underage girls -- and even though he was married to Aaliyah when she was only 15, the guy says his tastes have matured. Kinda.

Kelly was acquitted on fourteen counts of child pornography back in June.

Exonerated urinator R. Kelly is dripping with anger after a nightclub allegedly used his name and image to promote an event -- without ever getting Kelly's Hancock on a contract!

In a lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, R. claims two promoters for Sugar nightclub stamped his name and face on a bunch of fliers "falsely advertising" that Kelly was set to host one of their parties. Kelly says he knew nothing about it -- so it's time to sue their pants off.

And how's this for some fun legal jargon: In the suit, Kelly states he's is seeking enough relief (cash) to "stop defendants' ... disgorgement of ill-gotten gains." Good word.

No specific amount is listed.

One of R. Kelly's henchmen threatened to knock off the state's star witness in his kiddie-porn trial, according to just-unsealed docs.

Lisa Van Allen, the woman who said she had sex with Kelly and the alleged victim in the case, claimed in pretrial docs that an "employee" of R. Kelly said she should've been killed for tattling on the pisstastic singer. No charges were ever filed, and Kelly was acquitted last week of all the child-porn charges.

Van Allen also revealed that she was paid $100K for a tape of her and another allegedly underage girl by an associate of R. Kelly.

Although R. Kelly hightailed it out of the courtroom right after he was acquitted on child porn charges today, his lawyers hung around long enough to out their client as a cry baby.

Even though jurors in the trial of R. Kelly absolutely believed it was him on the tape, they could not reach a guilty verdict because they said there was "not enough evidence to prosecute." Huh?!

Five of the twelve jurors met with reporters immediately after handing down the acquittal. They said they just couldn't reach a verdict even though they voted on the hour, every hour because the alleged victim hadn't testified and refused to cooperate. As recently as this morning, we're told, the vote was split nine to three for a not guilty verdict.

The jurors were also "absolutely disgusted" with the tape. Unlike the bootleg version you can buy on the street corner, the version they got to watch was "clear as day."

We're hearing R. Kelly will be partying it up tonight in Chicago.