R. Kelly sings for fans in Springfield, Illinois nightclub

R. Kelly dipped into the Dirty South Lounge in Springfield, Ill. Saturday night, snapping cell phone shots with fans and singing some lyrics to one of his songs.

Dawn Onley

Apr 7, 2019

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R. Kelly dipped into the Dirty South Lounge in Springfield, Ill., Saturday night, snapping cell phone shots with fans and singing some lyrics to one of his songs.

According to TV stations WICS and WRSP, the R&B singer, whose full name is Robert Kelly, snapped photos and thanked his fans for their support in the midst of his ongoing criminal allegations of childhood sexual abuse. Kelly also danced and smoked cigars with his supporters, spending about 35 minutes hobnobbing with the crowd.

TV stations reported that roughly 100 people showed out to see Kelly in the club, a local dive which can hold up to 450 people. People paid $100 to see the embattled singer, who got to the club at 1:30 a.m. After Kelly arrived, the entrance fee was dropped to $50.

Kelly then gave the crowd a 28-second performance of one of his songs. Some fans told News Channel 20 that Kelly’s short performance did not warrant the $100 they paid to see him. They said they wouldn’t be duped again.

Others said they came out to support Kelly the artist and noted that they can separate the charges from the musician.

One fan interviewed by Channel 20 called sexual abuse charges against Kelly “all lies” and another was quoted saying she thinks “it’s some truth to it.”

Kelly announced that he would be performing at the Dirty South Lounge on his Instagram page earlier Saturday night. He also urged reporters to stop hounding him, explaining that he needs to perform in order to make money to defend himself.

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A post shared by R Kelly (@rkelly) on Apr 6, 2019 at 4:32pm PDT

“Yo, this your boy Kels and I got an event to do tonight in Springfields [sic], Ill. so I want the media to take it easy on me,” Kelly says in a video posted on his Instagram page. “Man this is how I gotta get paid now for right now. So I gotta go do this event. And it’s a party. So when you see me in the club with a couple drinks in my hand and chilling, please take it easy. Appreciate it y’all. Thanks.”