R. KELLY ERUPTS IN THE GAYLE KING INTERVIEW: "I AM FIGHTING FOR MY F---ING LIFE"

By Mona Austin

Embattled R&B singer R. Kelly had a melt down while denying sexual abuse charges in an interview with Gayle King of "CBS This Morning." Breaking his silence for the first time since his arrest, he told King that the charges against him were all based on false rumors.

When Kelly, 52 sat down one-on-one with King he passionately maintained he is innocent despite what appears to be a mountain of evidence against him.  He said he did not "do this stuff" and the latest allegations are an attempt at double jeopardy. He said he "beat his c    it is unfair to connect the current charges to the former charges for which he has already been prosecuted.  “But the past is relevant with you with underage girls,” King pointed out. " Retorted Kelly:  "Absolutely no it is not.  Because for one I beat the charges. . ."

King did not let up: "I am not talking about the one case  for which you were acquitted.  I'm talking about the other cases where women have come forward and said "R. Kelly has sex with me when I was under the age of 18'. . ." Ke

King further pressed the Chicago-bred artist   to clarify his statements alluding to the  stories of numerous women who claimed he kept them hostage in his Chicago home, some claiming he deprived them of meals and abused them physically and emotionally.    "Correct me if I'm wrong," King inquired. "That you have never  held anyone against their will?" Kelly broke down in tears, eventually staring into the camera appealing to fans' common sense:  " I don't need to. Why would ?. . . Forget the blogs. Forget how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to, love me if you want to just use your common sense. [I don’t] need to be a monster and hold girls against their will and chain them in my basement. . .This is not me. I'm fighting for my f--king life!”

Decades of sexual abuse accusations came to a head last month after  the "Surviving R. Kelly" docuseries aired, pressure from activists and the #metoo movement. 

Three of the alleged victims were underage girls. The singer was acquitted of all 21 child porn charges in 2008.  But, he married late singer Aliyah when she was 15 and a woman emerged in 2017 alleging Kelly had sex with her when she was 16.

R. Kelly has had a 30 year career in music, most of which has been marred by sexual abuse related scandals that had little to no affect on his livelihood, until now.  The history of charges has taken a toll on the singer's finances. His label dropped him and many radio stations refuse to play his music.

Unable to post bail due to paying legal fees and loss of work, a Chicago daycare owner paid $100,000 for his release after spending 3 days in jail.

R. Kelly will face 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault in court on March 22.