It the first time the RnB singer, R.Kelly, has spoken on national TV since he was released from prison. His ruling statement, which he expressed in bitter tears was “I am fighting for my f ** life.”
The singer will appear again on American breakfast TV on Wednesday to plead his innocence as if he faces up to 70 years behind bars if found guilty.
Speaking on CBS This Morning , the Ignition star told presenter Gayle King: “I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me. I am fighting for my f ** life,” as he broke down.
Kelly, who was previously cleared of having child pornography, became animated as he denied holding women against their will, as detailed in the recent documentary ‘Surviving R. Kelly’.
“How stupid would I be to do that,” he said with tears streaming down his face.
Looking into the camera he then said, “That’s stupid. Use your common sense. Forget how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to, love me if you want. Just use your common sense.
“How stupid would it be for me, with my crazy past and what I have been through, now I need to be a monster and hold girls against their will and chain them in my basement and don’t let them eat?
“Stop it. You all quit playing.”
Kelly was unequivocal when it came to ’emotionally and physically’ abusing women under the age of 18.
When challenged about the accusations, Kelly said they were “not true” before dismissing the rumours.
He hit back saying, “whether they’re old rumours, new rumours, future rumours, not true.”
Kelly also disputed the relevance of a previous court case about impropriety with underage girls. When asked if this past is relevant, he stated, “Absolutely, no it’s not. Because for one, I beat my case. When you beat something, you beat it.”
He then went on to say that it “wasn’t fair” that he was facing ‘double-jeopardy’ over this accusations. Kelly pointed out, “It’s not fair to nobody. When you beat your case, you beat your case.”
Kelly, 52, has been charged with ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.