R Kelly says his past is 'absolutely not relevant' in explosive interview about sexual abuse claims

R Kelly appeared on CBS in his first interview since being charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse last month – and it's caused a lot of controversy online.

In clips of the interview, conducted by Gail King, Kelly defended himself and insisted that he is innocent. He also appeared visibly emotional as he told her the sexual abuse claims levelled against him by a number of women - many of whom appeared on the documentary Surviving R Kelly - are "not true".

Speaking to King, he said people are "going back to my past".

That’s exactly what they doing. They trying to add all of this stuff now to that.

To make all of the stuff going on now feels real to people.

He refers to the year 2008, when he was acquitted of all charges in a child pornography trial that had gone on for six years and could have led to up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He had been found not guilty on 14 counts. The trial had occurred after a video tape was mailed to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2002 showing the musician allegedly engaged in graphic sex acts with a 13-year old girl (both he and the alleged victim denied they were the ones on the tape).

King, and people online argued the past is actually very relevant.

Given that many of the current accusations against him are from women who say they were underage at they time they were sexually involved with Kelly.

Another Twitter user added:

R Kelly is pissed they are bringing up evidence from his past cases & allegations. Dude thinks that since he won the case it can't be reopened. Or since he won, then he didn't do it & even if he did, his win erased it all.

Others pointed out the semantics of his answer didn't work in Kelly's favour.

And they are calling on him to face his past.

People are also questioning the timing of the interview, given that 23 people are dead in Alabama following a powerful hurricane.

“Absolutely no it’s not,” Kelly responded when King pointed out that his past is important in the conversation.

Because for one, I beat my case. When you beat something, you beat it. You can’t double jeopardy that. It’s not fair.

Double jeopardy refers to a procedural defence that prevents an accused person from being tried again on the same or similar charges on the same facts after a valid acquittal.

He’s not being tried on the same accusations. In fact there are multiple new alleged victims who have come out to accuse the star.

How stupid would it be for R Kelly, with all I’ve been through in my way way way past to hold somebody…let alone four, five, six, 50 you said. How stupid would I be to do that?

That’s stupid, guys.

He continued by pointing directly at a camera: “Is this camera on me? That’s stupid. Use your common sense."

Forget how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to. Love me if you want. But just use your common sense.

How stupid would it be for me with my crazy past and what I’ve been through, ‘Oh, right now I just think I need to be a monster and hold girls against they will, chain ‘em up in my basement and don’t let ‘em eat. And don’t let ‘em out. Unless they need some shoes down the street from they uncle.’

Stop it. Y’all quit playin'. I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me.

“I’m fighting for my f**king life.”

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