Just When You Thought You Were Safe, R. Kelly Returns

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 17, 2008 5:45PM

Embattled R&B singer R. Kelly, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in June, has resurfaced for an interview about the trial. Noting that it was time to "move on," Kelly said, "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." Ah, the legal wisdom of pop stars. But he didn't stop there.

• On his image, Kelly said: "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 his attraction to underage girls: "When you say 'teenage,' how old are we talking?"

• On the fact former employees and even his own brother have expressed concern over his attraction to teenagers: "Issues of concern? 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."

• On being blackmailed: "I've been blackmailed a billion times. I've been sued for ridiculous things. At one point in my life, I was an ATM machine. But I'm used to that. You don't get used to it, but I'm used to the fact that people will do this, even your own family members, and I don't hate none of them. A lot of people are out to get me, especially when I was vulnerable. When you're R. Kelly, they want a piece of you."