The first portion of Gayle King’s exclusive interview with singer R. Kelly aired on
Here’s some of what we learned from the first part of the interview:
R. Kelly is still defiant
Kelly has insisted he is innocent.
After the airing of the docuseries « Surviving R. Kelly » in January, which documented the stories of several women and their families who alleged that the singer sexually abused them, Kelly showed up at a Chicago nightclub insisting « I don’t give a f*** what’s going on tonight. »
Kelly maintained that attitude at times during his interview with King.
He said he’s tired of all the lies, such as people saying he’s « trying to rescue someone that doesn’t need rescuing because they’re not in my house » and those who claim he is « handcuffing people, starving people. » He also denied that he has a « harem » and a « cult » of women under his control.
The singer dismissed it all as nonsense, especially given all the attention he has received in the past regarding his interactions with girls and women.
He called on people to use « common sense » when it came to the allegations against him.
« How stupid would it be for me, with my crazy past and what I’ve been through, » Kelly said.
« 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 said sarcastically.
He says it’s all not true
Kelly became visibly emotional during the interview, at one point bursting into tears and leaping from his chair.
« Stop it, y’all quit playing, » Kelly exclaimed. « I didn’t do this stuff! This is not me I’m fighting for my f***ing life! Y’all killing me with this s**t! »
« I gave y’all 30 years of my f***ing my career, » he screamed. « Thirty years of my career! And y’all trying to kill me! »
« You killing me man, » he yelled as he pointed into the camera. « This is not about music!! »
Kelly also screamed that people don’t want to believe the truth.
King paused the interview to allow Kelly to regain his composure and his publicist helped him calm down.
