​R. Kelly Denies Sexual Abuse Allegations in Shocking 'CBS This Morning' Interview

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Mar 6, 2019

R. Kelly appeared on CBS This Morning today, giving his first interview since being arrested for aggravated sexual abuse and released on $100,000 USD bail.
 
Sitting down with host Gayle King, Kelly claimed that he was innocent, saying he "didn't do this stuff."
 
He denied having sex with and abusing underage girls, saying, "Whether they're old rumours, new rumours, future rumours, not true."
 
Kelly also said that allegations that he held women against their will were "stupid."
 
"Use your common sense. Forget the blogs, forget how you feel about me," he said. "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 think I 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."
 
Kelly went so far as to say that people should still buy his music, though he clarified that he wasn't "fighting for my career" so much as he was fighting for his "rights."
 
He went on to speak about his daughters, claiming that they loved him and wanted a relationship with him.

Earlier this year, his daughter Buku Abi addressed the allegations against her father, saying that she does not have a relationship with him and called him "a monster."
   
Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse in late February, spanning a decade and dating back to 2008. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges.
 
In 2008, Kelly was acquitted in a child pornography case involving a video that prosecutors alleged showed Kelly having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
 
In the CBS This Morning interview, the singer suggested the old case proved his current innocence.
 
"I beat my case," he said. "When you beat something you beat it. You can't double jeopardy me like that. It's not fair."
 
Michael Avenatti, who is representing two of Kelly's accusers, argued that Kelly's appearance on TV "demonstrates his guilt."
 

The interview with Kelly aired this morning, with more to come tomorrow (March 7). CBS will also air interviews with two women that currently live with Kelly — one whose parents believe she is being held against her will.
 

Watch clips of the interview footage with Kelly below. See the full 10-minute segment here via CBS.

Kelly is due back in court on March 22.
 
 
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