An emotional R. Kelly says he鈥檚 being 鈥渁ssassinated鈥� and denies sexually abusing women and controlling their lives.
The R&B singer gave his first interview, to Gayle King of 鈥淐BS This Morning,鈥� since being charged last month with sexually abusing four females dating back to 1998, including three underage girls. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
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鈥淎ll of them are lying,鈥� Kelly, one of the bestselling music artists of all time, said in a segment of the interview broadcast Wednesday. 鈥淚 have been assassinated.鈥�
Kelly, out on bail following his Feb. 22 arrest in Chicago, said he has done 鈥渓ots of things wrong鈥� when it comes to women, but said he has apologized. He denies doing anything against their will. The singer said he believes social media is to blame for creating the allegations against him.
At one point during the interview, Kelly stands up and rants, saying: 鈥淚 have been buried alive, but I鈥檓 alive.鈥� He says he needs someone to help him 鈥渘ot have a big heart.鈥�
鈥淵ou all don鈥檛 want to believe the truth,鈥� he said.
When pressed about whether he was attracted to younger women, the 52-year-old Kelly said: 鈥淚鈥檓 an older man who loves all women.鈥�
The recording artist has been trailed for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves. Kelly has consistently denied any sexual misconduct and was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008. Those charges centred on a graphic video that prosecutors said showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13.
As part of his current case, Kelly is forbidden from having any contact with females younger than 18.
Interviews with two women who live with Kelly will air Friday, including one woman whose parents say is being held against her will. Kelly suggested the young woman鈥檚 parents were in it for the money and put blame on them for their relationship, saying they brought their daughter as to watch him perform when she was a teenager.
CBS said it interviewed Kelly for 80 minutes. More of the interview is expected to air Thursday,
In an excerpt that aired Tuesday night, Kelly told King that allegations of him having sex with and abusing underage girls were 鈥渘ot true,鈥� calling the claims 鈥渞umours.鈥� When King asked Kelly if he has held women against their will, he replied: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 stupid!鈥�
The Associated Press
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