R. Kelly gives his first interview since being charged with aggravated sexual abuse.
Last month, the disgraced singer surrendered to Chicago authorities after being charged with ten counts, spanning at least two decades. The case involves four alleged victims, at least three of whom were younger than 17.
Related: Everything We Know About R. Kelly’s Case!
He plead not guilty to all charges, and was released from jail after a $100K bond — just ten percent of his $1 million dollar bail — was posted.
In an EXPLOSIVE interview taped on Tuesday, the musician spoke to Gayle King where he SLAMMED the allegations as “rumors” & “not true.”
When the CBS This Morning host asked if he had ever held any women against their will, an emotional Kelly responded:
“I don’t need to. Why would I?… How stupid would it be for R. Kelly, with all I’ve been through in my way, way past to hold somebody, let alone four, five or six, 50 you said. How stupid would I be to do that?”
He added:
“People are going back to my past — that’s exactly what they’re doing… They’re going back to the past, and they’re trying to add all of this stuff now to that, to make all of this stuff going now feel real to people.”
The 52-year-old even looked directly at the camera to plead his case.
“That’s stupid, guys. Is this camera on me? That’s stupid. Use your common sense. Forget the blogs, forget how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to, love me if you want, but just use your common sense… How stupid would it be for me with my crazy past and what i’ve been through? ‘Oh, right now I just need to be a monster and hold girls against their will, chain them up in my basement, and don’t let them eat, and don’t let them out unless they need some shoes down the street from their uncle.’ Stop it. Y’all quit playing. Quit playing. I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me. I’m fighting for my f**king life.'”
The sentencing range for each Class 2 Felony is 3-7 years, and is probationable. That means if the musician is convicted on all 10 counts, he could possibly face up to 70 years behind bars.
Kelly was also required to surrender his passport, and to not have contact with anyone under 18.
In 2008, the R&B singer was acquitted of child pornography charges.
The full interview will air on CBS This Morning on Wednesday. WATCH a preview (below):
[Image via CBS Evening News/YouTube.]
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