R. Kelly Finally Speaks!
Written by: Kim Sawyer
It took six years for R. Kelly to “clear” his name. On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, he chose to sit down with BET and discuss his trial and his acquittal. Kelly said he is relieved that the trial is over and that his upcoming album would feature less of the sexually charged material that has come to define his multi-platinum career. Kelly states, “I’m really trying to make this album a little bit different.” he said. “Take a little bit of the edge off, you know? And you know, clean up a few lyrics if I can, you know?
The 40-year-old performer was acquitted in Chicago in June of multiple child pornography charges. The verdict ended a six-year saga that began when a videotape surfaced of a man looking like Kelly having sex with a girl believed to be as young as 13. Kelly denied he was the man in the videotape, and the girl in the video never testified. When asked if he likes teenage girls, Kelly replied, “When you say teenage, how -how old are we talkin’ …19?” “I have some 19-year-old friends,” he added. “But I don’t like anybody illegal, if that’s what we’re talking about …underage.”
Kelly said he was worried that he might be convicted. “But at the same time I was very prayerful,” he said. “Verdict day …I couldn’t describe it and I wouldn’t wish it on …if I had a worst enemy, which I don’t.” When the innocent verdicts were announced, Kelly said he felt relieved that he would be able to see his three children -two daughters and a son- once again.
Despite the charges Kelly faced, he still managed to maintain one of the most successful careers of any artist, notching several platinum albums and hits during that period. His album, 12 Play 4th Quarter is scheduled for the fall.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Isn’t it funny how R can be prayerful when he is in trouble and the next day he will come out with a song talking about sex?
It would be very refreshing if recording artists got back to making songs about everyday life or love. Instead, we have some stuff straight from the gutter.
Welcome back R!
Oh, one more thing. Why couldn’t he see his kids during this time? If he couldn’t see his kids, was that during all these years where he had a case against him?
Tom Sawyers last blog post..R. Kelly Finally Speaks!
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