R. Kelly’s Lawyer Says He’s Very Emotional In Jail: I’ve Seen Him Cry

R.Kelly mugshot

R. Kelly’s Lawyer Says He’s Very Emotional In Jail: I’ve Seen Him Cry

R. Kelly’s downward spiral has been in full swing for a few months. And it looks like it’s going faster as his lawyer revealed that he’s not doing so well behind bars.

Kelly is in prison on obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering charges. A judge denied his request for bail as prosecutors said he could tamper with witnesses and should be considered a flight risk.

Weeks later, his lawyer Steve Greenberg still claims Kelly’s innocence and said,

“I’ve seen him get very emotional. He’s dealing with a lot of stories that have been made up. He’s not a fighter. I’ve seen him cry when he talks about the situation.”

He also said that Kelly is “soft-spoken” in real life and confirmed reports that he is illiterate. He added that Kelly 

“has a stage persona who is used to having people around him all the time. His life in solitary is now minus TV. No radio. No music. And no books. He’s also a spiritual guy, has a Bible with him in his cell, but he can’t read it. It’s basically there for comfort. Now he’s been placed in the MCC’s ‘SHU’ — a cell in solitary confinement away from the jail population and is constantly being moved from cell to cell. He has only the guards to talk to.”

Despite the claims against him, Kelly is still getting support from fans.

“But he is receiving plenty of mail, which is 97% positive and he pores over it.”

While he can’t read well, Greenberg said Kelly is able to recognize a few words here and there. And he’s keeping his style in check. Greenberg said,

“And, I swear, every time I visit him, he’s dressed in a different colored jail suit.”

Along with letters, Greenberg said he’s been sent

“more money online to buy food from the jail commissary than he’ll ever spend. Whatever food he could buy in the commissary is a far cry from his favorite steak on Rush or McDonald’s. Right now McDonald’s looks like Alinea (notably Chicago’s most upmarket eatery) to him.”

As for Azriel Clary, 21, and Joycelyn Savage, 23, his his girlfriends who lived with him before his arrest, Greenberg said,

“One of his two girlfriends just visited the jail — I don’t know which one, but they can only visit via video. Only his lawyers can see him face to face in solitary.”

R. Kelly, Azriel Clary, Joycelyn Savage

An uncle has also stopped by to visit him.

Meanwhile, Kelly is still adamant about releasing new music. Greenberg said they’re no longer fighting for him to get access to a computer, but they still want a project released sooner than later.

“We gave up on it for now. He’s got a new album he needs to release, but it’s backed up into the cloud now. But he needs to get that album out. People are waiting for it.”

What do you think about R. Kelly’s experience behind bars? Tell us in the comments!