"R. Kelly Speaks," Funkmaster Flex Reacts
R&B Star Does first Interview after Child Pornography Acquittal
Sep 18, 2008
Since being acquitted of child pornography charges three months ago, R.Kelly has been absent from the public eye with the exception of some “leaked” tracks posted to the Internet. But the self-professed “pied piper” of R&B came out of hiding on Monday to address the trial, his alleged preference for young women, and his public image.
“It’s time for me to move on,” Kelly told Toure during “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 innocent.”
Problem is: there is a difference between being not guilty and innocent. In the American court systems, the jury does not have the power to declare someone’s innocence. They can only weigh the evidence to determine if the state has a strong enough case to find a party guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
And according to documented reports on this particular case, some of the members of Kelly’s jury did have some doubts.
Kelly, however, did acknowledged those doubts as well as the concerns of his fans and the general public, claiming that his sexy image is to blame.
“I wish people wouldn’t connect to the R. Kelly image—of champagne, girls… sex, sex, sex—to Robert,” Kelly said. “R.Kelly is an image, a brand. That’s my job. There’s a whole other side of me that’s Robert, who is a father, a friend. But then I put on the game face and go into the studio and do the music. That’s just another day at the office.”
R. Kelly & His Alleged Preference For Young Girls
Although the subject of his annulled marriage to a 15-year-old Aaliyah did not come up, Toure did directly ask the “R&B God” if he liked teenage girls.
“How old are we talking,” Kelly responded.
“Girls who are teenagers,” Toure fired back.
“Nineteen? I have some 19-year-old fans. I don’t like anybody illegal, if that’s what you’re talking about.”
Toure then mentioned how some of Kelly’s former employees and his brother had some “issues of concern” about this area of his life.
“Issues of concern?” Kelly asked. “What do you mean? Let me put it to you this way, man. People who don’t work for me say that. The people who do work for me don’t say that. The people who don’t work for me were fired… Do not listen to the people who was fired. Don’t even listen to the people who was hired. Listen to the facts.”
Toure countered with the fact that his own brother has a deeper connection than just a disgruntled employee.
“Doesn’t matter,” Kelly said. “I fired him too.” Why? “I can’t get into that,” Kelly said. “But I fired him 1,000 times and I rehired him.”
Life After The R. Kelly Trial
Kelly said that he wants to focus on the music now that the trial is over. Although he says his music will still be sexually explicit, he says that he wants to explore his spiritual side and some humanitarian efforts.
He said he is planning a trip to Africa to not only tour, but to do “some humanity stuff.”
Kelly insists that the trial and sex tape scandal has been a huge lesson for him and is hoping that others are able to learn from it as well.
“If it has an impact, I hope it to be a positive impact,” he said. “If the 12 people who didn’t know me, after hearing the facts and listening to everything, could fine me innocent, [I hope that] people around the world could do the same thing.”
Funk Master Flex Blasts R. Kelly For Interview
Less than a week after R.Kelly's interview, New York DJ Funkmaster Flex expressed his feelings about what the singer revealed. During Flex’s 2 minute angry rant, he called Kelly a pedophile and said that people should not have their children around him.
“There is an issue here because we talking about little children, teenagers, kids. That’s what we’re talking about,” Flex said angrily into the camera. “And actually the interview was a waste of time cuz I don’t even understand. You was on tape, okay. We’re not talking about hearsay… even though your manager, your own brother, and all your other family members and everybody else said what you do. But you are on tape, fam.”
"Nobody should have their daughter or their kids around you, fam. I’ll tell you to your face,” Flex continued. “I hope you get to see this cuz I really want you to see this. You are ridiculous, you need help and you should seek help. And people embracing this dude need to think about it and think what he’s doing and think what he’s doing to kids.”
The question now becomes: Where was all of this anger 7 years ago when the allegations first came to light?
