Syleena Johnson Says R. Kelly Is “Misjudged” Should Not Be In Jail

Singer-songwriter Syleena Johnson shared her thoughts on R. Kelly recently, suggesting that he shouldn’t be in jail. She voiced the controversial opinion on a recent appearance of “Cocktails With Queens” which drew some backlash on Twitter.

The show’s hosts Claudia Jordan, LisaRaye McCoy, Vivica A. Fox, and Syleena Johnson spoke on recent reports that R. Kelly was trying to bargain with prosecutors for a reduced sentence by giving up the names of other celebrities who have preyed on children.

Guest Syleena Johnson shared her thoughts on the disgraced singer, “I’m not gonna cry. I think he has really been misjudged here. I don’t think he needs to be in jail. I think he needs to be in an insane asylum. Real talk.”

“Don’t get it twisted,” she continued. “I think he needs to be in a straitjacket. I think some of the behavior that has been going down has been erratic, and I think that a lot of Black men in jail have been misjudged.”

After suggesting R. Kelly is one of the over-represented mentally ill Black men in prison she went on, “This dude needs real help. He needs to be in an insane asylum. Insane asylum! Real talk. On meds, drugged to the point where – constant therapy – it’s too much. It’s too much.”

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The “Baby I’m So Confused” singer suggested that R. Kelly was said to be bipolar and not taking his medication. Host LisaRaye McCoy challenged her on this saying medication was not the issue at hand but the Syleena was undeterred.

“I just think he needs to be in an insane asylum because he’s crazy…I think he has mental illness. I think he’s a narcissist, I think he has mental illness. You’re very narcissistic if all this time you had this information on other people that were hurting people, and then it wasn’t until you found out you got in trouble, that now it’s pertinent.”

“That also means you didn’t ever think you were guilty of anything. You never thought you were gonna get caught. That’s crazy.”

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See some of the Tweets in response to Syleena Johnson’s comments below.

𝙰𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚊

@sincerelyalana

Claudia Jordan asked Lisa Raye if she still considers R. Kelly her friend and her response was, “he didn’t do it to me.” Is that what it takes for her to support his victims and let go of that awful ass man? Then there’s Syleena Johnson…just cancel the whole show.

10:28 PM · Oct 5, 2021

WAPesha Mitchell

@FramedRed

Syleena Johnson really fixed her mouth to defend Robert K. to say he’s been misjudged, and needs to be in an insane asylum vs jail. GWORL, whet? ATP investigate all artist he worked with defending him saying stupid shit like this. Idgaf how much he put you on. He’s a pedophile!

7:17 AM · Oct 6, 2021

Anne Marie Latrassi ♒

@hotcheri

Girl, no. He deserves all the jail time he can get https://t.co/uYZSWATfMO https://t.co/9dVCizpp5o

5:32 AM · Oct 6, 2021

IG: TheReal_Gemini

@TheReal_Gemini2

@Syleena_Johnson I like you your music and all. But I feel you was wrong for saying that shit about #RKelly that's what is wrong with us black people we will tear each other down. You could've kept that in private especially after you work with him back in the day. Wrong PERIODT

4:12 AM · Oct 6, 2021