Journalist Gail King, who conducted a landmark 2019 interview with R. Kelly highlighting the sexual assault allegations against him, recently shared her thoughts on the outcome of her September trafficking trial for the sexual exploitation of the singer.
In an interview published Tuesday by Bustle, King called the New York conviction “fairness” and expressed support for the musician’s R&B victims. Kelly was convicted on September 27 of racketeering and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation after dodging numerous accusations of sexual indecent behavior and abuse for decades.
“The judge said some of the evidence was so disgusting and despicable that they wouldn’t even allow it to be presented in court,” King said. “Let’s just say that some of the evidence was about feces. So to speak. It was so unpleasant. “
During the trial, which lasted several weeks, a number of witnesses detailed disturbing accounts of manipulation, bribery, ephebophilia and assaults, both physical and sexual.
One witness testified that Kelly intimidated her and another victim into defending him during a 2019 interview with King on CBS This Morning. According to her testimony, Kelly physically hovered over the set and coughed to warn women to stick to his script.
At the time, King also interviewed Kelly, who famously screamed, jumped out of his chair, punched himself in the chest, and burst into tears, while the news veteran calmly asked questions about the accusations piling up around him.
“My heart aches for [the victims] because I know how painful it was, ”King told Bustle. “This is news for us, but life for them. And I’m sorry it took so long for so many women. “
After a jury in Brooklyn found Kelly guilty on all nine counts, one of the women who performed with CBS This Morning two years ago reunited with King to reflect more openly on her experience with the disgraced artist.
“In the five years since I turned 17, I have not had any relationship with any other woman other than the women he was close to,” said Azriel Clary, who testified against Kelly during his September trial. …
“When I gave you an interview, I immediately regretted my reaction. … “Why am I acting like this? Why do I endure all this suffering? Why am I exploiting myself for the sake of the person who put me in this position? “And I really had to come to terms and understand that this is not love. You know love doesn’t hurt? “
During his conversation with Bustle, King generally reflected on the burden of bringing tough and disturbing news to the general public, ranging from mass shootings and “toxicity in politics” to “black men killed by the police.”
“Gabby Petito’s story was complex. R. Kelly’s story was complicated, she said. “There are a lot of tricky things actually.”
“I love my job and sometimes the news is difficult,” she added. “But I’m glad that I was able to convey this to you. And I hope we can navigate this and go through it together. “
