R Kelly interview: Singer says ‘I’m fighting for my f***ing life’ as he denies sex abuse charges

The musician has been released on bail after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse against four victims

Clarisse Loughrey
Wednesday 06 March 2019 08:26 GMT
R Kelly breaks down in explosive interview

R Kelly maintained his innocence in a tense interview with Gayle King on CBS This Morning, in which he yelled down the camera that the allegations of sexual abuse are “stupid” and “not me”.

The musician has been released on bail after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse against four victims, three of whom were between the ages of 13 and 17 when their alleged attacks took place. The alleged incidents date back as far as May 1998. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all charges, via his lawyer.

“I didn’t do this stuff, this is not me, I’m fighting for my f***ing life,” Kelly said, complaining that people were looking back to his past. In 2002 he was indicted on 13 counts of child pornography, but was acquitted of all charges in 2008.

“I beat my case,” he said. “When you beat something – we can’t double jeopardy me like that, it’s not fair, it’s not fair to nobody. When you beat your case, you beat your case.”

When King directly asked Kelly whether he had ever held a woman against her will, he replied: “That’s stupid! Use your common sense.” He then addressed the camera and, raising his voice, said: “How stupid would it be for me, with my crazy past and what I’ve been through – ‘Oh right now I just think I need to be a monster, hold girls against their will.’... Quit playing!”

It is widely believed that the Lifetime docuseries, Surviving R Kelly, helped spark an investigation into the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against R Kelly.

The series, which premiered in January this year, featured interviews with numerous women who claimed to be victims of Kelly’s physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

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