Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
I didnt enjoy writing it.
I dont think people will enjoy reading it, but I think its important.
So its just additional charges, as if what happened to her wasnt horrifying enough.
This case doesnt begin to scratch the surface of the true magnitude of Kellys crimes.
you could say, Well, theyre of legal age.
They have a right to be where they choose.
It seems like youve been screaming about his crimes into a void for years.
It cant bring closure, but does having the book out take any weight off your shoulders?No.
My phone keeps ringing from young women who want to tell their stories.
I dont give a fuck about that.
All of those women cannot be lying, despite what Kelly and his attorneys say.
That the people who love Aaliyah are liars.
That they are all liars.
He claimed to love them.
I want to see what his face looks like.
But I also think hes a sociopath who probably doesnt have any emotional feeling for anybody but himself.
But you know what?
None of thats a secret.
Its been in the music from Honey Love to I Admit.
Theres a Dostoevsky-like element here of him being torn apart by this guilt and singing about it.
At the same time, hes bragging about his actions in song.
Theyve sold 100 million records.
Theyre not hard to find.
If listening to the lyrics is too hard, read [his autobiography]Soulacoasteror watch his interviews.
Watchthat incredible performance with Gayle King.
People say, I never really understood.
Well, Robert was trying to make you understand.
You call it the rape tape.
To see itreduced to a jokewhen you have this 14-year-old being violated …
I have a really difficult description in the book of exactly whats on that tape.
Theres nothing sexy about it.
Its the document of an [alleged] assault.
She has the look of an automaton who was following orders.
There is stomach-churning, vile, evil disgust on that tape.
Its shown in court a dozen times; those jurors see it and Kelly is acquitted.
I know its too little, too late for those 48 women.
I have no idea what justice looks like for them.
The heroes of the book are those young women who had the courage to speak out.
I hope people will begin to take every rape victim a little more seriously.
Beyond that, I especially hope young black girls begin to be seen as being of worth.
Dont these women matter?
These were not women anybody cared about.
And yet, one young, beautiful white college girl goes missing in Mexico and its 24/7 cable news.
Nobody knows these black girls.
What other plans do you have to keep telling this story?
There was talk of a documentary, right?Well, the documentary fell apart.
Can I talk to you about this?
Im not going to not take that call.
I havent not taken that call in 19 years.
I would really like to stop talking about R. Kelly at some point.
Id like for it not to be necessary.
If Im not talking about him anymore, it means theres been some resolution and people arent being hurt.
This interview has been edited and condensed.