Singer R Kelly has been taken into police custody in Illinois after allegedly failing to make child support payments, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office.
The arrest comes after excerpts from a shocking interview with CBS News were released in which Kelly shouted at interviewer Gayle King, and claimed his innocence on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse against four victims. Three of those were allegedly aged 13-17 when the attacks were said to have taken place.
“I didn’t do this stuff, this is not me, I’m fighting for my f***ing life,” Kelly said in the interview, arguing that he has been targeted. Before the recent charges, he was indicted on 13 counts of child pornography in 2002, but was acquitted on all of those charges in 2008.
“I beat my case,” he said. “When you beat something – we can’t double jeopardy me like that, it’s not fair, it’s not fair to nobody. When you beat your case, you beat your case.”
Kelly has faced scrutiny since the release of the Lifetime docuseries, Surviving R Kelly, which is said to have sparked the investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse.
Kelly is expected to be transferred to a county jail, where he will be held until he pays the child support that he owes.
His next court appearance is scheduled for March 13.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces.
