Last night, R. Kelly sat down with the journalist Toure to talk about the aftermath of being found innocent on child-pornography charges, and the future of his musical career. Thanks to other commitments (including my perhaps unwise decision to torture myself by watching the last half-inning of the Phillies-Braves game unfold via MLB.com’s diagrammatic app Gameday), I missed the show, but MTV has helpfully provided us with some highlights. A few quotes from the hour after the jump.
On the press conferences he’s apparently having in his head, given that this is the first time he’s answered questions about this to any members of the media: “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 found innocent.”
On the power of whether or not 12 people can serve as influencers for the world, Malcolm Gladwell-style: “If the 12 people who didn’t know me, after hearing the facts and listening to everything, could find me innocent, [I hope that] people around the world could do the same thing.”
On whether he’s still attracted to teenaged girls: “How old are we talking? … Nineteen? I have some 19-year-old fans. I don’t like anybody illegal, if that’s what you’re talking about.”
On whether or not he’s lived any part of “Trapped In The Closet”: “I wish people wouldn’t connect the R. Kelly image — of champagne, girls … sex, sex, sex — to Robert. … 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.”
On that note, in news that will no doubt further confuse all the people on the Internet who are still grappling with whether or not they can like him after all this, even though the jury did find him innocent and all but what about that whole Aaliyah thing, which wasn’t mentioned in the interview but come on, he mentioned to Toure that his music will remain grown and sexy. Hooray! (?)
R. Kelly Speaks Out About Child-Pornography Trial For First — And Possibly Last — Time [MTV]
The “How old are we talking? … ” part says it all.
“If you was charged with something and you was found innocent, then you can’t be found guilty for being found innocent.”
R. Kelly, I’d like to introduce to someone. His name is O.J. Simpson. You two have a lot to talk about.
@SomeSound-MostlyFury: …”introduce YOU to someone”
@Nicolars: But this article does not even do that part justice. His reaction was hilarious in that it did not promote his case ONE IOTA. The fact he had to even ask where the age limit was……..crazy.
My other favorite part was when he was talking about the ex-employer haters that were spreading lies about underaged girls, including R’s own brother. He said that he had fired all those people, including his brother, and why didn’t they ask about why he had to fire his brother instead. To which Toure said “Why did you fire your brother?” and R said “I can’t go into that”. CLASSIC!!