“He never forced anyone to do anything, he never held anyone captive, he never abused anyone.”
R. Kelly has moved to categorically deny accusations of sexual misconduct that have surfaced in the wake of a new documentary.
Surviving R. Kelly aired in America last week, detailing and attributing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct involving the 52-year-old, relating specifically to women and underage girls.
The fallout has seen the launch of a fresh police investigation, while several high profile musicians who previously collaborated with R. Kelly have spoken out against him, including Chance the Rapper, Phoenix and Lady Gaga, who apologised and pledged to remove her duet with Kelly from streaming services.
His estranged daughter Buku Abi, meanwhile, condemned her father as “a monster” in a statement issued via Instagram.
“I am well aware of who and what he is,” she said. “I grew up in that house.”
According to reports, Kelly has not watched the documentary series and is said to be “disgusted” by the charges levelled against him.
On Friday, his lawyer Steve Greenberg gave an interview with the Associated Press in which he strongly denied the allegations levelled at his client.
Clip via Associated Press
“The allegations aren’t true because he never knowingly had sex with an underage woman, he never forced anyone to do anything, he never held anyone captive, he never abused anyone,” he said.
Greenberg noted that Kelly’s spirits are high and that “he’s out and about” while also praising him as a “phenomenal” artist and highlighting that there has been an increase in streams of his music since the documentary aired.
“He gets royalties from his songwriting,” said Greenberg.
“My understanding is that his streams are up since all of this has happened. His millions of fans love him and they’re listening to him.”
Greenberg explained that he and Kelly “have not looked at all of the women” that appeared in the documentary, adding that “all that matters is that whatever any of them are saying did not happen.”
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