R. Kelly Denies Abuse Allegations in First Interview Since Arrest
In his first TV interview since he was charged with sexual abuse last month, R. Kelly has denied any sexual abuse allegations.
In an exclusive interview with Gayle King on “CBS This Morning,” Kelly says the allegations he slept with multiple underage girls are not true. He also denies he ever kept women against their will. “They’re going back to the past and they trying to add all of this stuff now to that, to make all of the stuff that’s going on now [feel] real to people,” he tells the host.
Kelly then points to the camera and says it would be stupid of him to hold girls against their will. “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,” he says, raising his voice. “How stupid would it be for me … with my crazy past and what I’ve been through?” After this point he tears down. “I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me. I’m fighting for my f***ing life.”
After clips of the interview aired, attorney Michael Avenatti shared his assessment, saying Kelly "demonstrates his guilt."