R. Kelly Speaks Out About Child-Pornography Trial For First Time
Published: Wednesday - September 17, 2008
Words by Allen Starbury
R. Kelly (Photo: Jive Records)
R. Kelly finally spoke out about his recent acquittal on child porn charges during an interview on BET Tuesday night (September 16), in which he pretty much said he's ready to move on, and that the not guilty verdict should speak for itself.
"It's time for me to move on," Kelly told interviewer Touré during BET's special called "R. Kelly Speaks." "I can't keep answering these questions. If you was charged with something and you was found innocent, then you can't be found guilty for being found innocent."
Kellz says that he hopes fans and critics will finally give him his life back, adding that he hopes the trial's outcome results in a positive impact on his life.
"I hope people can give me my life back," he said.
When asked directly if he likes teenage girls, Kelly asked in response, "How old are we talking?" Touré responded, "Girls who are teenagers." Kelly then asked, "Nineteen? I have some 19-year-old fans. I don't like anybody illegal, if that's what you're talking about."
However, if people remember correctly, Kelly married singer Aaliyah when she was just 15, but it was later annulled. That didn't come up in the interview.
Over the course of the past seven years, several people including the singer's assistant, publicist, and even his brother had expressed their concerns regarding Kelly's alleged escapades with underage girls. Kellz, however, says these people were giving skewed opinions because he'd fired them.
"Unfortunately the people that don't work for me say that ... and the people that don't work for me were fired," said Kelly. "Do not listen to the people that were fired, listen to the facts. I know people are out to get me because I'm very vulnerable, especially during a seven-year trial."
Kelly went on to say that he's been blackmailed before, during, and after the trial. "I've been blackmailed a billion times," Kelly said. "I've been sued for ridiculous things. At one point in my life, I was an ATM machine. But I'm used to that. You don't get used to it, but I'm used to the fact that people will do this, even your own family members, and I don't hate none of them."
With the allegations and trial behind him, the singer hopes to move forward in his life doing the thing he knows how to do best -- make music.
"I'm not going to let this affect my gift," he said. "I've done vintage R. Kelly songs during the trial because I said no matter what, I'm not going to let this make me run under a rock and not do my job. Some people fall off and I chose not to do that."
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