American R&B singer, R Kelly, has given his first interview since his arrest last month on charges of sexual abuse and allegations that he manipulated women into staying with him in emotionally and physically abusive relationships.
In an interview with Gayle King that will air on CBS This Morning on Wednesday and Thursday, the singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly, grew emotional, screaming, cursing and pleading to the camera.
In clips released on Tuesday, the embattled singer did not address the charges directly, but said that all the allegations against him were “not true.”
“Hate me if you want to, love me if you want,” Kelly said. “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 think I need to be a monster, hold girls against their will, chain them up in my basement, and don’t let them eat, don’t let them out!”
He continued, directly into the camera and growing tearful: “I didn’t do this stuff! This is not me!
“I’m fighting for my f**king life!”
The 52-year-old was charged last month in Chicago with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four women, three of whom were minors at the time. His arrest came after a Lifetime documentary, Surviving R. Kelly, brought new attention to accusations that he had mistreated women and revived prosecutors’ interest in his behaviour.
He was released from jail last week after a woman describing herself as a friend posted a $100,000 bond.
