R. Kelly was found guilty on all charges in his ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering case at a Brooklyn federal court on Monday (September 27), leading countless people to hop on Twitter and share their conflicting views on the problematic R&B singer.
Public Enemy’s Chuck D was among the many weighing in on the latest R. Kelly development but unlike the majority of people, he became a trending Twitter topic for expressing his polarizing views.
Now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member has issued a statement both to HipHopDX and Twitter, apologizing for how his statements were perceived.
“JUST TO BE CLEAR, I’m not the R. Kelly fan here,” he wrote. “75 million sold somewhere & I ain’t got 1 of his songs. And his actions were criminal apologies if the wings of perception loomed beyond than the words on this slaveAPP. My clarity launch on my own RsTvapp.com Oct. 1.”
In a statement to DX, Chuck D reiterated, “JUST TO BE CLEAR, I’m not the R. Kelly fan here. I ain’t got any of his songs. And his actions were trash.”
Chuck D originally enflamed some Twitter users after weaving Ike Turner and Rick James into the conversation, two music icons with murky pasts involving drug addiction, domestic abuse and jail time.
His intent was the pose a question about how long R. Kelly or any man in general should have to serve in prison before they can be considered a changed man — but that’s not how it was perceived.
“Abused in his youth… an addict as a adult,” he said of R. Kelly. “Ike Turner served 18 months in prison. Rick James did similar time Ike came out a changed positive human being. How long should R Kelly spend in prison -and does a USA system give a man a chance for a man to change his world around?”
Aware of what would likely follow, he added, “It’s not a sympathetic question at all. Not the least.”
Almost immediately, Chuck D’s critics began to pounce and challenge the longtime revolutionary voice for appearing to play devil’s advocate for the imprisoned Kelly. As he continued to get pressed, he explained how the music industry aided R. Kelly’s predatory behavior — or at the very least, looked the other way.
“Mixing grown folk lifestyle with black youth was so endorsed financed perpetuated as so urban cool by radio,” he said. “Black audiences were abused while 25yrs poppin’ champagne in the sandbox. The boundaries were sloppy w head nods. That dude & others gave clues that the gatekeepers ignored.”
R. Kelly was convicted of one count of racketeering along with eight other charges, including sexual exploitation of a child, bribery, racketeering and sex trafficking involving five victims. His sentencing is scheduled for May 4 and he faces 10 years to life in prison.
The 54-year-old crooner’s defense attorney, Deveraux Cannick, spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and said he and his client were both shocked by the guilty verdict. He also suggested he planned on filing an appeal.
Chuck D Becomes Twitter Public Enemy With R. Kelly Debate: 'It's Not A Sympathetic Question'
“Of course Mr. Kelly is disappointed,” he said. “He was not anticipating this verdict because based on the evidence, why should he anticipate this verdict?… You saw witness after witness giving three, four, five different versions as to what they said happened here.”
Why celebrities say something and then apologise. I am standing by my word. I won’t sell out for money or some bodies feelings. I don’t feel sorry for none of them women. They did it to themselves. Just to think they doing something after they banged a Star for 15 minutes of Fame.
What about the kids he fucked? Or the child porn he was caught with? What about how he married a 15 year old and was fucking her when she was 14? I guess it’s true……birds of a feather flock together
Stop apologizing for your damn opinion. This is such bs.
I THINK ITS A LEGIT QUESTION. I FEEL THE JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDS TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF R KELLY BUT I’M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD SENTENCING FOR HIM THOUGH.
Ain’t nuthin wrong with Chuck original statement. He ain’t said Kells shud skip da tym if he guilty of da crime. He simply askin how much tym do da justice system “allow for a man to change his world around?” All of a sudden n*ggaz be in dey feelins talkin bout “take it back” n I think I know why. Dat cancel culture done started again! smh
Bro, how was nothing wrong with that? Instead of offering sympathies for victims he questions if there’s a path to redemption for a man who has taken advantage of children and sexually abused women for decades. That same man has shown no remorse for his actions continues to insist he’s done nothing wrong. There is no path to redemption for a man like that. Death is his redemption, and honestly even that is too good for him. I looked through the comments on his tweet and not one person told him to take it back. He received backlash because what he said was foolish, he came to his senses, and he apologized of his own volition. He voiced his opinion and people did the same simple as that.
You missed da point homeboi. In case you forgot, Chuck statement was focussed on on reform n da journey to get there. Da fact dat Kells ain’t live up to wat people expectin from him don’t mean dat he won’t or dat he can’t. He just gettin his due process n seein his truth. The court gone put it all to rest. Nuthin foolish bout dat. Dem cats on twitter ain’t have to say take it back. Dey actions speak for deyself.
N$$GA Let’s not act all shocked and righteous now…I can’t speak for Chuck “offering sympathies for victims” but some of us have been sympathetic for almost 2 decades!!! Including the 2008 trial and The Boondocks 2005.
Well…. now we know what the D stands for, Chuck.
Chuck Dick is my new pornstar name. Thank you for this.
Why are celebrities so scared of a mob of nobodies on twitter ? If you have an opinion, stand by it and dont apologize for shit. Fuck twitter and everyone on there. You a rapper, worry about what rap fans, not random milenials who never even listened to your music before.
Lol he backtracked pretty fast
Chuck is definitely allowed to have an opinion, but saying how much time to rehabilitate him??? Everybody knows sex offenders and pedophiles can’t be rehabilitated or change they ways, they are a danger to our daughters, sisters and mothers. I have no sympathy for this mf, ain’t nobody put a gun to his head and said “fuck kids”
That’s the answer Chuck needed…but many “Twitter Folks” never understood the question or forming their own narratives and quick ti assume. Chuck said something too smart for most people to catch.
Reasons being a person with following is fucked. Having to apologize just because a bunch of fucks did not even understand what was said in the first place. People are ducking retards it is what it is. I see why he backed up, having to fuck with all those tweeter fucks must be tiring as a motherfucking duck
Weird world we live in nowadays
the people have spoken! i agree with most of your comments on this topic, R Kelly and his crimes towards underage females and little boys and fake marriages plus child trafficking and whatever else that sick perverted pig did to people while he had his freedom. he is going to go to jail because he got caught for being way too illegal and he deserves it because he in not a really positive person. if you heard about some of the stuff he was accused of doing, it ruins his legacy as a love song musician in R&B because it is some negative garbage and doesn’t make sence if he is doing things like that in real life. i never was a fan of that man and i always thought he was a little bit homo , to tell you the truth…lol. i hope his fans stop supporting a convicted criminal who is completely guilty of crimes and his victims are just as bad as him. but he is the worst one of them all. and also his supporters need to stop being blind to justice and truth coming to the light in a case where it was pretty easy to see who is guilty…R Kelly. RIP. (don’t play his music anymore. it’s garbage and sick stuff)
Someone deleted my comment.