Iyanla Vanzant Explains Why She Rejected "Fixing" R. Kelly: "He's Still In Denial"

BY Erika Marie 6.1K Views
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Iyanla Vanzant, R. Kelly
The motivational host said Kelly was making way too many demands.

Months before R. Kelly sat down with Gayle King to deliver an emotional, meme-worthy interview, the singer's team allegedly first requested a meeting with Iyanla "Fix My Life" Vanzant. However, the interview never happened, even though many believe it would have been beneficial to Kelly—as well as used as entertainment for the masses. As Kelly's various cases and investigations for sexual abuse, sexual assault, tax evasion, and sex trafficking loom over him, it seems as if everyone is trying to get an exclusive tell-all with the singer. Not Vanzant.

She recently sat down with The Breakfast Club and shared that she rejected fixing Kelly's life because he made too many demands. "I’m very clear about mental imbalance when I see it," she said. "I’m very clear about distortion in energy when I see it. Not that I won’t work with it but you’ve got to own it. And I’m very clear when somebody’s coming to me to tell their story, not to get healing. I don’t process stories. I do the healing and I don’t think he was ready. He’s still in denial. Just the mere fact that he was making demands of how he wanted this thing to happen. And I’m like, ‘I ain’t on that committee brother.’

She added, "I’m not coming to you, you come to me. Iyanla Vanzant ain’t coming to you boo. Not because I’m Iyanla Vanzant, but because doctors don’t make house calls anymore. And he needed emergency triage at this point." Check out what else she had to say about working with DMX and how "he's not ready to do the work" below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.