Photo: Getty Images
Teddy Riley has decided to scrap his planned project involving R. Kelly following the intense backlash he received.
The iconic producer-songwriter recently sat down with the Los Angeles Times to discuss his forthcoming memoir, Remember The Times. During the interview, Riley was asked about his support of R. Kelly amid his plan to work with the imprisoned artist on a new album. He defended Kelly by saying "everybody deserves a second chance," and said he was actively looking for investors to help release portions of the 25 albums Kelly claimed to have written in prison.
"People miss his music," Riley said. "I’m the messenger to bring R&B back.”
Riley first told fans about his plans to support R. Kelly's music career from behind bars last month. He uploaded a clip of Kelly's rendition of Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller's "It Depends." The verse, which was recorded over the phone, has Kelly singing about his love for his fans and his daughter, Joann Kelly a.k.a. Buku Abi. In his caption, Riley said he still considers Kelly the "King of R&B" and told fans he planned to release more new music from Kelly. In a statement he shared on Instagram on Thursday, February 19, Riley clarified that the proposed project "will not move forward."
"As a producer, I’ve always been excited about the possibilities of music and creative collaboration," Riley wrote. "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. 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."
Teddy Riley's "Remember The Times: A Memoir" is out now. He spoke about his book at length during his recent appearance on The Breakfast Club. You can watch the entire interview on Netflix, but catch clips from their discussion below.