Family of Jocelyn Savage responds to R. Kelly interview
The singer’s girlfriend also contacted her family after several years of being estranged.
After R. Kelly broke his silence during an emotional interview with CBS on Wednesday morning (March 6), family members of Jocelyn Savage, the woman currently living with the disgraced singer, have also issued a series of statements in response.
During a press conference taking place outside of attorney Gerald A. Griggs’ office in Los Angeles, members of Savage’s family addressed specific statements made by Kelly during the interview, including refuting the claim that her family had been accepting money from the R&B singer. Additionally, Griggs also countered the claim that Jocelyn’s father had offered his daughter to Kelly during a concert, implying that they had met before.
“Mr. Kelly stated on Gayle King’s show that Mr. Timothy Savage provided his daughter on stage at a concert that Mr. Kelly was performing at,” the family’s attorney said. “That is absolutely not true.”
He then addressed the allegation the Savages were accepting money from the singer.
“[Kelly] also indicated that these parents came forward after the money stopped, I can stay here unequivocally that at no point have the Savages requested any money from Mr. Robert Sylvester Kelly,” Griggs said.
Elsewhere during the press conference, Jocelyn’s middle sister spoke, explaining how she feels her estranged sister “would’ve been home by now” if she wasn’t being manipulated or abused.
“I know for a fact my sister is not okay. I know for a fact R. Kelly is mentally destroying her, and I just want her home,” 18-year-old Jailyn said. “He has put a lot of things in her head that makes her think the world is out to get her.”
Jocelyn’s father and mother also commented on the matter, with the former referring to Kelly’s interview as “emotionally disturbing.”
“What I saw on TV this morning about the way he acted when he got upset, I [can only] imagine what he does behind closed doors when he is not in [front of the] camera,” Mrs. Savage said. “Allegedly, he has a bad temper, he’s very controlling, and when the girls don’t do something or say something that he likes, he really throws a rage and becomes physically violent.”
Jocelyn, who has been separated from her family for several years, and Azriel Clary, another of Kelly’s girlfriends, will appear on an episode of CBS “This Morning” on Friday to discuss their relationship with Kelly.
According to reports, Jocelyn contacted her family hours after the singer’s interview with CBS aired and the press conference took place. The docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” explored the family’s attempts to reconnect with their daughter. According to Griggs, Wednesday marked the first time she had spoken to her parents since 2017.
“We are glad to finally hear from Jocelyn today,” Griggs shared in a statement with Rolling Stone. “After speaking with her little sister, Jocelyn paused from the seemingly prepared script and was able to share her love for her family. We hope that today was the first step to re-establishing a loving relationship with her family.”
During a snippet of the phone call, Jocelyn can be heard telling her parents, “I have told you guys a million, million times that I am OK where I am and I’m happy, so I just want to let you know that.”
Last month, R Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuseinvolving four women, of three who were minors at the time. He has pleaded not guilty and is facing up to 70 years if convicted.
Take a look at footage from the press conference and of Jocelyn Savage contacting her family below.