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R&B performer R Kelly has denied allegations that he sexually abused women and girls in his first public interview since sex offence charges were brought against him.
In an emotional new interview with Gayle King for CBS This Morning the singer said: “I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me,” adding that he is now fighting for his life.
When questioned about the allegations, he replied they were rumours, saying: “Whether they’re old rumours, new rumours, future rumours – not true.”
Related: R Kelly’s daughter should not have had to address his allegations
The interview comes less than two weeks after Kelly pleaded not guilty in a Chicago court to 10 charges of aggravated criminal sex abuse. He spent three nights in jail but was released on $100,000 bail.
The 10 counts are against four victims, three of whom were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time the alleged acts took place. According to prosecutors, the incidents took place between May 1998 and January 2010.
In the interview, Kelly believes his past is being used against him, saying, “People are going back to my past, okay? That’s exactly what they’re doing.” In 2002, Kelly was charged with filming himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl and he was charged with possession of child pornography in 2008.
Related: ‘Day of Reckoning’: R Kelly charged with 10 counts of sexual abuse
The singer was acquitted of both, and he referenced this in the interview. “I beat my case,” he said. “When you beat something – we can’t double jeopardy me like that, it’s not fair, it’s not fair to nobody. When you beat your case, you beat your case.”
He also denied allegations that he held women against their will, saying, “I don’t need to. Why would I? How stupid would it be for R Kelly, with all I’ve been through in my way, way past, to hold somebody – let alone, four, five, six, 50 you said – how stupid would I be to do that? Use your common sense.”
The full interview will air on CBS in the US today.
Image: Twitter screenshot
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