Watch: Singer R Kelly breaks down while denying charges of sexual abuse in volatile interview
The R&B singer spent a brief time in custody after being charged with ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
American R&B singer-songwriter R Kelly appeared in an explosive television interview on Wednesday, in which he defended himself against the ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse that he has been charged with. At least nine of those charges involve minor girls.
Kelly spent three nights in custody in relation to the charges and was released on February 25 after furnishing a bond of $100,000, Chicago Sun Times reported. He was arrested again on Wednesday evening for failing to pay $1,61,000 in child support to his ex-wife.
In the interview with Gayle King on CBS This Morning, Kelly maintained his innocence, yelling “I don’t need to, why would I?” when King asked him if he had ever held women against their will, as reported by BuzzFeed News in July 2017. The musician repeatedly shouted, broke down in tears and jumped out of his chair during the interview, urging people to “use common sense” as to why someone with his past would do such a thing. Kelly was indicted on 13 counts of child pornography in 2002, but was acquitted of all charges in 2008.
The interview, Kelly’s first since he was released from custody, came just a few weeks after the release of Surviving R Kelly, a six-part documentary series detailing sexual abuse allegations against the singer.
Kelly’s interview caused a storm on social media, with many pointing to the aggression displayed by him towards King and his erratic answers to her questions.
The photo of R. Kelly yelling at Gayle King should remind everyone that rape isn’t about sex. It is an act of violence, about power and control.
— Michelle Bhasin (@michellebhasin) March 6, 2019
Someday very soon, law students from across the country will learn what NOT to do by studying the decision to have R. Kelly sit (and stand) for an in-depth TV interview while facing multiple felony charges. Truly unbelievable.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 6, 2019
Me watching R. Kelly act a damn fool in front of Gayle King 😒 pic.twitter.com/JZIBjh4Kwh
— Immortal Object™️ (@IAmEliOneil) March 6, 2019
Gayle looking at R. Kelly during the interview.......pic.twitter.com/RBbos32MmK
— Souf Sil Fa Lil (@Nicktheegr8) March 6, 2019
Gayle - Did you sleep with underage girls?
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilbertAgent0) March 6, 2019
R. Kelly - I beat the case....
R. Kelly’s Lawyer - pic.twitter.com/QwtCzYawbl
R. Kelly pouring his heart out just for us to chop up his interview to make memes. >>>>>
— Kevín (@KevOnStage) March 6, 2019
A Twitter user commented that “Kelly might have taken acting lessons from Jussie Smollett”, the TV actor who was taken into custody for allegedly staging a hate crime.
R Kelly must have gotten some acting lessons from Jussie. pic.twitter.com/PQ4QhY1uK7
— bianca 💕 (@opinionous) March 6, 2019
Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel said that the interview might be the “first time a defendant ever pleaded insanity during an interview”.
The charges against R Kelly span from the period between 1998 and 2010, Time.com reported, and he could face up to 70 years in prison if proven guilty.