Family of R. Kelly’s alleged victim outraged at Gayle King for giving singer a platform

Joycelyn Savage's parents feel that the singer was trying to be manipulative and should not be given a way to try to gain sympathy

Blue Telusma

Mar 6, 2019

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While many are praising Gayle King keeping her cool during her explosive interview with R. Kelly, the family of one of his alleged victims is upset with the journalist for giving him an opportunity to speak to the public.

According to The Blast, Joycelyn Savage’s parents were both shocked and dismayed after seeing the teaser clip of King speaking with the singer for “CBS This Morning,” which started making the rounds on Monday evening.

“If you’re going to have Mr. Kelly on the show, why not put Joycelyn Savage on the show, or have her parents on to speak about the situation?!” said the family’s attorney, Gerald Griggs, adding, “That’s the easiest way to prove it’s not true.”

The family said it did not appreciate King giving Kelly a platform to look like a victim and are worried that the public will be manipulated by the R&B singer’s outburst.

During the instantly viral clip, Kelly can be seen screaming about his innocence while weeping and telling viewers that he’s “fighting for my f*cking life!”

R Kelly isn’t even talking to Gayle so much as he’s talking to the camera. He wants this interview to be another performance. He wasn’t ready for Gayle’s stellar and unflappable style. pic.twitter.com/jxYisuGT1N

— deray (@deray) March 6, 2019

In response to Kelly’s claims that he is being railroaded by the media, the Savage family said that if Kelly is truly innocent, then “put the young ladies in front of their parents … it’s been two-and-a-half years!”

Although Joycelyn Savage has repeatedly claimed she’s living with Kelly on her own free will, during Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly docu-series her parents publicly shared their fears that she’s been brainwashed and intentionally isolated from her loved ones.

Griggs says his clients believe King should have been “more intentional with her questions,” instead of allowing the 52-year-old to go off on a long winded rant about his innocence. They also say the sit-down has put King “on the wrong side of history” when it comes to advocating for the alleged victims.