While promoting his new memoir, Remember the Times, Teddy Riley reflects on his six-decade career, his creation of the new jack swing sound and his extensive work with some of music’s biggest names. However, recent comments about R. Kelly and the backlash that followed prompted the famed R&B producer to apologize.
What did Teddy Riley say about R. Kelly?
In a Los Angeles Times interview, Riley confirmed that he and Kelly, who’s currently serving a 30-year federal prison sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking charges, have spoken “a few times” and considered “bringing in investors” to release portions of more than 25 albums the disgraced R&B singer recorded while in prison.
The Harlem native explained why he would consider working with Kelly, despite the accusations and charges against him.
“Everybody deserves a second chance,” Riley said. “Everyone deserves to repent, and everyone gets forgiven by God when you come to him. People miss his music. I’m the messenger to bring R&B back.”
Riley on the backlash he received: ‘I sincerely apologize’
On Friday, Riley released a statement on his Instagram account, walking back his initial comments about collaborating with Kelly after receiving swift backlash.
“As a producer, I’ve always been excited about the possibilities of music and creative collaboration,” Riley began. “That excitement has defined my career. But I also understand that words carry weight, and I never want my passion for music to overshadow the very real pain that many people have experienced.”
He continued, “If my comments caused hurt, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention. I take seriously the impact that abuse and misconduct have had on survivors and their families. Their experiences matter, and they deserve to be acknowledged with care and respect.
“The idea mentioned in the interview in correlation with a previous post I made was simply that, a creative idea discussed in passing. It is not something that will move forward. Loving music and recognizing its cultural impact does not mean condoning harmful behavior, and I want to be clear about that.
“I have spent my life building a legacy rooted in innovation, integrity, and love for the art form. That remains my focus. I appreciate the dialogue, and I remain committed to moving forward with intention and accountability,” Riley concluded.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Riley shared a snippet of Kelly covering Chris Brown’s “It Depends” on social media last month, calling him “still the king of R&B,” and promising new music would be released soon.
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