CHICAGO: R. Kelly’s day began with a nationally televised broadcast in which he whispered, cried and ranted while pleading with viewers to believe him: He’d never had sex with anyone under 17 and never held anyone against her will.
The day ended with a trip to jail after the embattled R&B singer told a judge he could not pay $161,000 in back child support he owes his children’s mother.
Kelly no doubt hoped the raw interview aired Wednesday on “CBS This Morning” would help sway public opinion about the charges filed last month that accuse him of sexually abusing three girls and a woman. The interview was his first public defense since being charged and the first time he addressed allegations in the Lifetime series “Surviving R. Kelly,” which aired in January. The documentary alleged that he held women captive and ran a “sex cult.”
But experts said his appearance was also risky and could backfire if it gives prosecutors more information to use against him at trial. That’s why most defense attorneys urge clients to keep quiet.
“In my history as a prosecutor, I loved it when a defendant would say things or make comments about his or her defense,” said Illinois Appellate Judge Joseph Birkett, who said he did not watch the Kelly interview and was speaking only as a former prosecutor. “I would document every word they said ... (and) I could give you example after example where their statements backfired.”
There have been cases in which people who spoke up pointed to evidence that ultimately helped win their freedom, but, Birkett said, “historically it’s a bad idea.”
One recent example was “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who was charged with falsely reporting a racist, anti-gay attack in Chicago. In charging documents, prosecutors cited statements he made during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” identifying two people in a still photo of the surveillance video as his attackers. Two brothers pictured in the photo later told police that Smollett had paid them to stage the attack because he wanted a raise and to further his career.
In Kelly’s case, he and his attorney might have decided they had nothing to lose after the Lifetime series, said Fred Thiagarajah, a prominent Newport Beach, California, attorney and former prosecutor.
“A lot of the public already thinks he’s guilty, and there is a very negative image of him, so the only thing he might think he can do is try to change their minds,” Thiagarajah said. If the evidence against him is overwhelming, “this kind of interview might be kind of a Hail Mary” to influence a potential jury pool.
But the dangers of such an interview might outweigh any benefits if Kelly locked himself into a particular defense, Thiagarajah said. “He may not know all the evidence against him.”
In the CBS interview, for example, he denied ever having sex with anyone under 17, even though he married the late singer Aaliyah when she was 15, and a videotape given to prosecutors in his current case purports to show Kelly having sex with a girl who repeatedly says she’s 14. Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, has said his client did not “knowingly” have sex with underage girls.
Thiagarajah said he might allow a client to do such an interview — but only if he were confident the client could keep his emotions in check and “stick to a script.”
“If you get someone who is ranting and raving, I would never let that kind of person ever do an interview,” he said.
On Wednesday’s broadcast, Kelly’s emotions swung wildly as he explained he was simply someone with a “big heart” who was betrayed by liars who hoped to cash in.
In a particularly dramatic moment, he angrily stood up and started pacing, his voice breaking as he yelled, “I didn’t do this stuff! This is not me!” He cried as he hit his hands together, saying, “I’m fighting for my (expletive) life.”
He insisted people were trying to ruin his 30-year career, but then said his fight was “not about music.”
“I’m trying to have a relationship with my kids and I can’t do it” because of the sex-abuse allegations, he shouted. “You all just don’t want to believe it.”
Hours later, Kelly went to the child-support hearing “expecting to leave. He didn’t come here to go to jail,” said his publicist, Darryll Johnson, who said Kelly was prepared to pay $50,000 to $60,000. He said Kelly did not have the whole amount because he has not been able to work.
A spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said Kelly would not be released from jail until he pays the full child-support debt. His next hearing was scheduled for March 13.
After his Feb. 22 arrest in Chicago, Kelly spent a weekend in jail before someone posted his $100,000 bail. His defense attorney said at the time that Kelly’s finances were “a mess.”
Following the court hearing, the publicist said that the singer “feels good” about the TV interview.
CBS said it interviewed Kelly for 80 minutes. More of the interview is expected to air Thursday.
Interviews with two women who live with Kelly — Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary — also are set to air Thursday. Savage’s parents insist she is being held against her will. Kelly suggested during the interview that her parents were in it for the money and blamed them for his relationship with their daughter, saying they brought her to watch him perform when she was a teenager.
A lawyer representing the couple bristled at the allegation, saying Timothy and Jonjelyn Savage never asked for or received money from Kelly. The couple said they have not spoken to their 23-year-old daughter for two years and asked Kelly to make her available to talk to them.
“At no point did this family sell their daughter to anyone or provide their daughter for anything for money,” attorney Gerald Griggs said Wednesday during a news conference.
Kelly acknowledged in the interview that he had done “lots of things wrong” when it comes to women, but he said he had apologized. The singer blamed social media for fueling the allegations against him. He also said that all of his accusers are lying.
The 52-year-old recording artist has been trailed for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves. Kelly has consistently denied any sexual misconduct and was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008. Those charges centered on a graphic video that prosecutors said showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13.
He has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
Rising from poverty on Chicago’s South Side, Kelly broke into the R&B scene in 1993 with his first solo album, “12 Play,” which produced such popular sex-themed songs as “Your Body’s Callin’” and “Bump N’ Grind.” He has written numerous hits for himself and other artists, including Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga. One of his best-known hits is “I Believe I Can Fly.”
R. Kelly in jail over child support
R. Kelly in jail over child support
- The interview was his first public defense since being charged of sexually abusing three girls and a woman
- His next hearing was scheduled for March 13
Al-Wadi and Al-Jabal: embracing Ramadan’s cherished traditions
- Villagers, with unwavering devotion, pass down their customs, fostering a strong sense of community and shared experience
- Kitchens come alive with the aromas of local dishes — recipes passed down through generations — prepared with fresh ingredients from their own farms
RIYADH: Al-Wadi and Al-Jabal village in the Taif governorate in the western part of Saudi Arabia exemplifies the enduring power of cherished traditions during the holy month of Ramadan.
The villagers, with unwavering devotion, pass down their customs, fostering a strong sense of community and shared experience.
Throughout the holy month, the village displays a rich tapestry of noble practices, interwoven with the villagers’ daily agricultural work.
At dawn they tend to their fields, harvesting fruit and flowers, maintaining water channels for their ancient trees and livestock, and completing essential tasks such as wall construction and material transport.
Families in Al-Wadi and Al-Jabal village observe Ramadan traditions by thoroughly cleaning their homes, encouraging children to fast, and celebrating the first day with gifts.
Their kitchens come alive with the aromas of local dishes — recipes passed down through generations — prepared with fresh ingredients from their own farms.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, farmer Khalaf Al-Nemri explained how fasting provides a sense of focus for daily tasks.
“My father and I continue the cultural practices passed down from our ancestors, including the tradition of sharing iftar in our rural community,” Al-Nemri said.
“Our village traditions emphasize love and unity with family and friends after Isha and Taraweeh prayers, often held in traditional Ramadan tents,” Al-Nemri added.
“These enduring bonds strengthen solidarity, family unity and neighborly ties, positively influencing children’s behavior during Ramadan.”
World Monuments Fund strengthens its presence to support heritage in Arab countries
- Organization has made significant contributions to the preservation of tangible heritage and has carried out 68 projects in 13 Arab countries since the mid-1990s
- Dr. Elie Flouty: We can now say that the WMF has an official presence in the region, which is rich in world heritage sites
RIYADH: The World Monuments Fund, which celebrates its sixth decade this year, has strengthened its official presence in Arab countries, organizing an exploratory tour in several countries including Saudi Arabia.
The organization has made significant contributions to the preservation of tangible heritage and has carried out 68 projects in 13 Arab countries since the mid-1990s.
At the end of last month, WMF organized an exploratory tour in several countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The delegation, composed of 45 individuals, was led by the fund’s president and CEO, Benedicte de Montlaur, with the attendance of Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, board member of the fund, and Dr. Elie Flouty, the fund’s representative in the Arab countries, along with other members of the organization.
This tour marked the beginning of a stronger official presence of the WMF in the Arab region, coinciding with increasing official and unofficial Arab interest in heritage issues, preservation, and integrating this into economic, tourism and social development plans. This aligns with the WMF’s 60th anniversary celebration.
Dr. Elie Flouty said: “We can now say that the WMF has an official presence in the region, which is rich in world heritage sites. We will work with all Arab governmental and non-governmental entities and international institutions to safeguard our ancient Arab heritage. WMF is currently active in 14 sites across various Arab countries and collaborates with both governments and local communities to implement these projects, providing funding and expertise.”
Among the most significant initiatives of the WMF is the World Monuments Watch, a list of endangered sites issued every two years, which includes 25 historic places.
For the 2025 list, three sites from the Arab region were included — the Jewish heritage in Debdou in Morocco, the historic urban fabric of Gaza, and the water reservoirs (majels) in the Old City of Tunis.
The delegation’s tour in the Gulf region included several stops, starting in Kuwait where it visited the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and Dr. Mohamed Al-Rumaihi discussed the history of Kuwait and its major economic and social milestones. The delegation visited the Soof Center for Spinning and the Grand Mosque, designed by architect Mohamed Saleh Makiya.
In Saudi Arabia, it visited the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, explored the Old City of Jeddah, and toured the home of architect Sami Angawi, which reflects the architecture of Hijaz.
They also visited Madinah and its major religious landmarks and concluded their visit to AlUla, a site rich in human heritage, natural and cultural landmarks.
In Bahrain, the delegation visited the city of Muharraq and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pearling Path, the Bahrain National Museum, and several houses within the Sheikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research. They also visited Bahrain Fort and its museum, the Dilmun Burial Mounds listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
WMF is the world’s leading non-governmental organization for heritage preservation. Headquartered in New York, the fund has offices in Peru, London, Paris, Spain, Portugal, India and China, with projects in 112 countries. It has worked on more than 700 heritage sites. WMF’s mission is to save the most threatened landmarks, whether from war or climate change.
Saudi filmmaker Ali Kalthami, Kuwaiti photographer Abdullah Alshayji give iPhone photography workshop in Riyadh
RIYADH: Photography enthusiasts in Riyadh had the opportunity to refine their skills at an exclusive iPhone photography workshop on March 5 at Sima Creative Space.
The event, organized in celebration of Ramadan, featured renowned Kuwaiti photographer Abdullah Alshayji and acclaimed Saudi film director Ali Kalthami, offering attendees a unique learning experience.
The workshop explored the advanced features of iPhone photography, equipping participants with innovative techniques to enhance their social media content. The event fostered a dynamic and collaborative environment, bringing together creatives eager to develop their visual storytelling skills.
One of the highlights of the workshop was Kalthami’s talk on his recent experience filming an iPhone advertisement. Speaking to Arab News, he recalled his initial surprise when tasked with directing the project using an iPhone 16 Pro instead of traditional camera equipment.
Kalthami said: “When I was assigned to create the iPhone ad I asked about the camera lenses, and they told me I would be using the iPhone 16 Pro instead.”
He noted that the smartphone’s compact size helped create a more relaxed atmosphere on set, adding: “The actors acted naturally, which made the filming process enjoyable.”
Kalthami — known for his film “Mandoob” and as the co-founder of Telfaz11 — expressed enthusiasm for integrating iPhone technology into future projects, particularly those requiring a raw, immersive feel.
He said: “Using the iPhone is much more convenient than heavy camera equipment as it can be easily placed anywhere. Some projects benefit from an organic feel, which the iPhone can deliver.”
He also shared insights into the preproduction process, revealing that the ad was filmed in the desert during the golden hour to achieve a cinematic aesthetic. To maximize the capabilities of the iPhone, he incorporated professional filmmaking tools such as a large monitor and stabilizer, proving that smartphone technology can deliver high-quality results.
Alshayji led hands-on demonstrations, showcasing the iPhone camera’s features and sharing expert tips on capturing high-quality images. Using models and objects, he guided participants through techniques to elevate their photography skills, ensuring they left the workshop with practical knowledge to apply to their creative pursuits.
REVIEW: Arab Australian debut cultivates hope, solidarity in rural New South Wales
JEDDAH: Escaping personal strife, a Muslim single mother carves a space for herself in the heart of rural Australia in “Translations,” an engrossing debut novel by Australia-born Palestinian-Egyptian writer Jumaana Abdu.
Set in New South Wales in the period just after the COVID-19 era with the threat of bushfires looming, the novel explores one woman’s efforts to cultivate not only the land but also a sense of belonging and identity on foreign soil.
In this story of self-discovery and resilience, Abdu intricately weaves in the broader theme of solidarity between First Nations of Australia and Palestinians — two nations grappling with colonization, dispossession and cultural erasure.
The novel’s title could be a reference to not just the transformation of the land through re-vegetation and restoration, but also the translations that characters undertake to bridge linguistic, cultural and emotional gaps between them — translation in this sense is portrayed as the language of solidarity and resistance.
Hidden within the trope of new beginnings in a small town, Abdu paints a powerful picture of mutual recognition and respect, of shared struggles, and the healing potential of intercultural bonds.
This is unveiled through Aliyah’s interactions with the community into which she slowly, and sometimes reluctantly, begins to integrate, including her conversations with Shep, the reserved Palestinian man from Gaza who she hires as a farmhand, and Billie, the wise and nurturing Kamilaroi midwife.
Love and faith are also focal elements in the story. Love in its many forms — romantic, familial, and communal — acts as a balm to past wounds for the Arab and Aboriginal characters, while faith, both in the divine and in human resilience, guides Aliyah, and her childhood friend Hana, through despair toward hope.
“Translations” is a profound exploration of not just the complex interplay between identity and trauma, but also a look at how love can bridge divides, and how shared histories of resistance can unite different peoples in their quest for peace and understanding.
In one pivotal moment in the story that carries a deep message, Shep discusses displacement and the “chain of loss and expulsion” with Billie’s husband Jack, an Aboriginal character, who poignantly says: “You want to wish for something, wish for the return of the land’s dignity.”
Beirut’s Nuhad Es-Said pavilion aims to ‘unite all Lebanese people’
- Dedicated to memory of Lebanese art connoisseur and curator
- Nation has ‘beautiful’ culture, says heritage expert Lama Salam
DUBAI: The recently inaugurated Nuhad Es-Said pavilion at the National Museum of Beirut is envisioned as a space where Lebanese from all walks of life can unite to celebrate culture and art.
Dedicated to the memory of Lebanese art connoisseur and curator Nuhad Es-Said, it occupies a special area within the museum, creating an environment that encourages artistic and cultural conversations.
“We want to reiterate the museum’s position in society and the pavilion will be viewed as a cultural hub and unite all Lebanese people,” Lama Salam, a member of the National Heritage Foundation in Lebanon, told Arab News.
“As Lebanese people, our culture and heritage unite us. The more we sit down, research and discuss our heritage and see that we have so much to be proud of the more we realize how beautiful our culture is,” she added.
The pavilion features a restaurant and multi-purpose seating area that can be rented out and used for galleries, showcases and events.
Salam said the design of the pavilion features large gates and archways as an ode to the museum’s architecture.
“Gates were already part of the museum’s foundation but we chose to incorporate them more to symbolize something more significant,” said Salam.
“The gates act as symbolic portals from the past leading to the present and hopefully into the future. As you pass through all these gates you walk through the past, the present and, God willing, through to the beginning of the future.”
Salam described visiting the pavilion as a unique experience unlike offerings at traditional museums.
“When you sit in the restaurant, you are surrounded by history, the preserved iron gates, the historic wall, and a beautiful view of Beirut’s green racetrack with pine trees in the background.
“Since this pavilion is an annex to the national museum, which we consider a cultural treasure, it offers a unique experience,” she said.
