French Montana on R. Kelly: 'Whatever Happened, Happened'

While many celebrities are speaking out against R. Kelly, French Montana has a different take.

Following his halftime performance at the Rams game on Saturday (Jan. 12), the “Unforgettable” rapper was asked what he thinks of the embattled singer amid his sex abuse scandal.

He responded by quoting lyrics from Kelly’s 1994 hit “Bump n’ Grind.” “He already told you, ‘My mind was tellin’ me no, and my body is tellin’ me yes,'” French told TMZ as he was leaving the L.A. Coliseum after the game. “He warned us.”

He went on to share his support for the R&B crooner, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women over two decades. “They don’t let nobody have their legendary moments,” said French, who compared Kelly to Michael Jackson.

“They did Michael Jackson like that. They did R. Kelly like that. All the greats went down like that,” he said before adding, “Let somebody enjoy their legacy, man. Whatever happened, happened, man. He fought in a court of law and won.”

R. Kelly, who was found not guilty in 2008 on child pornography charges, has denied all accusations. “Someone with an agenda has done a hit piece,” his attorney, Steve Greenberg, told CNN of Lifetime’s “Surviving R. Kelly” docuseries. “[Kelly’s] out in public. He’s not hiding. There’s no secret compound with sex slaves.”

In the wake of “Surviving R. Kelly,” many artists have spoken out against Kelly including Chance the Rapper, Meek Mill, Ne-Yo, John Legend, Future, and Lady Gaga, who collaborated with Kelly on 2013’s “Do What U Want (With My Body).”

“I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner,” said the pop superstar, who has since pulled the song from streaming services.

UPDATE: Following backlash from social media, French Montana has released a statement clarifying his comments about R. Kelly.

“Let me be clear. My heart is with the victims,” he tweeted. “I never thought the people I looked up to as a kid, who sang and danced and gave me hope to become a superstar would become drug addicts, child molestors and rapists. I am hoping we as a culture create better leaders. We need them.”