Azriel Clary Claims People Warned R. Kelly About Being With Underage Girls

BY Erika Marie 6.2K Views
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Azriel Clary, R. Kelly
In an interview, she called him "greedy," "selfish," and a "pedophile."

The relationship between R. Kelly and Azriel Clary was put on display when she and Joycelyn Savage sat down for an interview with Gayle King. The two young women were in a polyamorous relationship with the singer, and the revealing, yet explosive interview with King placed their names in headlines. Clary has since ceased contact with Kelly and has vocalized her determination to speak up against him, and now she returns to CBS Mornings for a second sitdown. 

"R. Kelly’s defense attorney said after the verdict came in R. Kelly was surprised that he was found guilty," said King in a preview. "Are you surprised that he’s surprised that he was found guilty? And that he was actually angry and surprised that he was found guilty?"

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"I feel like, you know, I know that he knows that he is guilty," Azriel answered. "People told him. People tried to warn him. People tried to help him. He didn’t care. He was selfish. He was greedy. He was a pedophile. And he never, not once, wanted to get help." King wanted to know how people attempted to warn Kelly.

"Meaning, like, assistants. They would tell him, you know, “These people are minors. You can’t be flying these people in. I don’t know what you’re doing with them." King questioned what Kelly's response would be to those alleged warnings, according to Clary.

“'Mind your business,' 'You’re fined,' or 'You’re fired,'" said Azriel. "That’s the only options that he would give people that worked for him and I feel like it’s very disturbing for him to sit and think that he is still innocent when he knows of all the trauma that he's put us through." Kelly was convicted on all counts relating to his New York sex crimes trial and is awaiting sentencing.

Watch the clip 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.