R. Kelly (real name Robert Sylvester Kelly) sat down for an interview with Gayle King for CBS This Morning, during which he directly addressed the cameras and denied any wrongdoing. “Quit playing! I didn’t do this stuff! This is not me! I’m fighting for my f-cking life!” he said, through tears. Now, it’s his girlfriend’s turn.
Azriel Clary, 21, and Joycelyn Savage, 23, sat down King as part of the interviews with the two women and Kelly this week. The sit-downs mark the first time the Grammy-winning singer has spoken publicly since he pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse last month. King noted that Kelly was nearby as they filmed the interview, though his team had agreed he would not be present, and the women were aware he was there.
While Clary and Savage’s parents have long alleged that the star has manipulated and brainwashed their daughters, the two women have presented a very different version of the story.
RELATED: A Rundown Of All The Allegations Made Against R. Kelly
“When I first met Robert, my parents told me to lie about my age, so when I met him he thought that I was 18,” Clary alleged to King, denying that she ever had sex with R. Kelly when she was 17. “On top of that, when I was 17, my parents were actually making me, trying to get me to take photos with him, take sexual videos with him – all kinds of stuff…because if they ever have to blackmail him, what they’re trying to do now, they can use it against him, which is exactly what they’re doing.”
Savage was in agreement with the allegations as she visibly nodded. “Everything she’s saying is true. Our parents are basically out here to get money. Both of our parents are basically out here to try and get money and scam because they didn’t agree on what happened with music or wherever it could be and they’re just very upset.”
Clary further alleged that her parents began to threaten her and R. Kelly that they would release naked photos of her if he doesn’t send thousands of dollars to a bank account. “You’re trying to solicit me like I’m some f–king hoe. I’m not. I’m your child.” Both sets of parents have publicly denied ever asking or receiving money from R. Kelly.
Reacting to her claims, Angelo and Alice Clary’s attorney released a statement on Thursday that read: “Azriel Clary is presently suffering from years of mental abuse and manipulation by R. Kelly. Sadly, like so many girls before them, Azriel and Joycelyn Savage have been manipulated and convinced by Kelly to lie to protect him from serious criminal charges. Azriel’s parents never attempted to blackmail anyone and never suggested their daughter take nude photos or sexual videos. And they have never asked R. Kelly for a single penny. These are absolute lies fabricated by R. Kelly and we have evidence to show that these claims are bogus.”
In the interview, Clary grew emotional and began to cry as she warned the public against their parents’ allegations. “I’m crying because you guys don’t know the truth. You guys are believing some f–king facade that our parents are saying. This is all f–king lies for money and if you can’t see that, you’re ignorant and you’re stupid as f–k because you want to be all—because that’s the world we live in. Negativity sells, gossip is what sells, rumours are what sell.”
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