Despite allegations of R. Kelly having multiple sexual relationships with underage Black girls, people are still rocking to his tunes. In a recent interview, R’uh maintains that he’s not into minors, despite a well-documented history of settling out of court with accusers.
New York magazine interviewed the Chicago native about his new album, but of course the allegations against him were a focal point—along with the dilemma of liking an alleged dirtbags’s great music.
R. Kelly is aware of haters, he just believes he has exponentially more supporters, which all help keep him as popular as ever.
“I’m going to always have the gift along with the curse,” he told New York. “I feel like I got a million people hating me, I’ve got maybe 8 million loving me. So I’ve got 9 million talking about me, and in a strange, magical way, it keeps me in the game.”
After meeting with R. Kelly in person to listen to his forthcoming album, The Buffet, the writer did ask the questions everyone asks, by phone, about a week later.
Reports New York:
Do you have a sexual attraction to underage girls? I ask.
“That’s a rumor that comes from the Earth, like all rumors,” he says, sounding almost bored.
So it’s not true?
“No. It’s not true. I love women, period. If I wasn’t a celebrity, people wouldn’t be saying these things about me.”
How do you explain people close to you saying that you have a problem?
“I don’t know those people you’re talking about.”
I clarify: his brother, his ex-publicist, his former friend and longtime personal assistant.
“All those people have been fired by me. If you’re going to ask me these questions, you have to make sense out of it. It wasn’t until after they got fired that they said these things. Go figure. I got one life, and I don’t want to spend it talking about negativity. I’ve moved on. Maybe you haven’t.”
It’s not crazy to think that where there’s smoke there’s fire.
“Let’s correct that,” he says. “Smoke can be anything. I’ve seen smoke and then I looked and there was no fire.”
And what about all the settlements? All the rumors?
“I understand the game,” Kelly says. “Get as much dirt as you can on somebody, get it all together, and make it real juicy so we can sell some papers. I understand the job you guys have to do.”
How do you explain the tape that Jim DeRogatis got?
“I don’t have no recollection of none of that. My lawyers handled that, what, eight, nine years ago?”
Robert can certainly stay on brand.
Do you believe the allegations or are you Team R. Kelly regardless? Let us know where you stand in the comments.
—
Photo: WENN.com
