R. Kelly Lashes Out in Emotional First Interview Since Arrest: 'I'm Fighting for My F—ing Life'

The R&B singer was released from jail on Feb. 25 after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse

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Published on March 5, 2019 10:35 PM

R. Kelly is speaking out for the first time since being arrested and charged with criminal sexual abuse last month.

The singer — who has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against four alleged victims — sat down with CBS This Morning‘s Gayle King for an emotionally charged interview set to air Wednesday.

Ahead of the full interview with the embattled star, the outlet shared several clips from the conversation with Kelly, who adamantly denied allegations that he had sex with underage girls and kept women as sex slaves.

“People are going back to my past and they’re trying to add [up] all of this stuff… to make all of this stuff that’s going on now feel real to people,” Kelly, 52, explained referring to the previous times he has been accused of having sex with underage girls.

Though King insisted that his past was relevant because of the underage girls, Kelly shut down that idea and claimed those reports were simply “rumors.”

“Absolutely, no it’s not [relevant] because, for one, I beat my case,” he said, referencing the 2008 case where he was acquitted. “When you beat something, you beat it.”

But King, 64, quickly clarified that she wasn’t referring to that specific case, prompting Kelly to argue that his current case can be considered “double jeopardy” — a clause from the Fifth Amendment that prohibits a person from being prosecuted twice for the same offense.

“You can’t double jeopardy me, it’s not fair to nobody!” he said, before going on to reiterate that the sexual abuse claims from the women were false. “Not true! Whether they’re old rumors, new rumors, future rumors… not true!”

After being asked why the alleged victims would have made up these claims against him, a once-poised Kelly began to crumble and angrily argued that holding women against their will and sexually abusing them was unnecessary and “stupid.”

“I don’t need to [hold anybody against their will.] Why would I?” he said. “That’s stupid, guys!”

Kelly then faced the camera where he continued his heated rant, despite several attempts by King to interrupt the singer.

“Forget how you feel about me! Hate me if you want to, love me if you want, but use your common sense!” he exclaimed. “How stupid would it be for me with my crazy past and what I’ve been through to be like, ‘Oh right now, I think I need to be a monster and hold girls against their will, chain ’em up in my basement and don’t let ’em eat and don’t let ’em out?'”

“Stop it. Y’all, quit playing! I didn’t do this stuff,” he added while getting choked up. “This is not me! I’m fighting for my f—ing life!”

Kelly was released from jail on Feb. 25 after being indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against four alleged victims, Cook Country Sheriff confirmed to PEOPLE.

The R&B singer secured his release by paying 10 percent of his $1 million bail amount.

Hours earlier, Kelly’s attorney Steven Greenberg pleaded not guilty on Kelly’s behalf, reported the Associated Press

RELATED VIDEO: New Accuser Alleges R. Kelly Kissed Her as a Teen as Former Manager Surrenders to Threats Warrant

Kelly’s alleged behavior came to the media forefront again in July 2017, when BuzzFeed published a bombshell report accusing the star of running a “sex cult” out of his Chicago and Atlanta-area homes.

The star allegedly seduced a number of young women with the promise of helping them kickstart a music career, only to “groom” them into being his personal sex objects for whom he allegedly controlled every aspect of their lives.

Kelly has repeatedly denied all claims against him. He is due in court again on March 22.

CBS This Morning‘s interview with Kelly airs Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. ET.

If you suspect domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.