R. Kelly broke down in tears during a March 2019 interview with CBS News, categorically denying allegations of sexually abusing underage girls as he faced new criminal charges. The R&B singer, indicted on February 22, 2019, for 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four victims, called the accusations "not true" and invoked his 2008 acquittal on child pornography charges to argue against double jeopardy.
"This is not me. I’m fighting for my fg life," Kelly said, rejecting claims that he raped or coerced minors. Prosecutors allege he met a teenager during his 2008 trial, another at a 16th-birthday party, and his hairdresser when she was 24. A 2000 video depicting a 14-year-old girl is also part of the indictment, though no victim testimony was presented in the earlier case.
Kelly argued that prosecutors were attempting to re-litigate his 2008 acquittal, stating, "You can’t double-jeopardy me like that." He dismissed accusations as "old rumors, new rumors, future rumors" and questioned the fairness of holding him accountable for alleged past actions. The charges emerged amid heightened scrutiny following the #MeToo movement, which has encouraged more survivors to come forward.
Attorney Michael Avenatti, representing multiple accusers, disclosed a second 2000 video showing a 14-year-old girl, though none of his clients appear in the footage. Lawyers for six women, including those featured in the Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly, have filed complaints with agencies beyond Illinois, including New York and Georgia authorities. Kelly’s legal team maintains his innocence as the case continues to unfold.
