Benzino believes that R. Kelly is being punished for sex crimes that he says aren’t uncommon and he questions where the line is drawn.
During a recent appearance on the “We In Miami” podcast, the 58-year-old “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star gave his thoughts as to why the disgraced R&B singer should get leniency on the jail sentence he received for his convictions.
“Everybody deserves a second chance,” Benzino asserted. “But I know that Elvis [Presley]… a lot of m——f—— f— with 14, 15, [year olds.] N—– f— with young girls. To keep it 100. I’m not into that. Again, the legal age is 16 years old, so does that make it right if a n—- does it? Yes or no?”
“If it’s legal, does it make it right if a n—- dates a 16-year-old?” he questioned.
“But, it’s legal in America. So why the f— is R. Kelly doing all this time?” Benzino continued. “Because you know why? They’re 14, and 13. Two years younger. But, you don’t think that the ones that … You don’t think that the people who cleared it for 16 years old didn’t know that they’re f—— with 13 and 14, too? Even to make an age that young to be the law, you already know they going under that.”
“I’m not condoning n—— f——- with little girls. It’s sick,” the “Rock The Party” rapper attempted to clarify. “But I don’t think R. Kelly should rot in jail for 30 years either.”
Benzino also said he believes the criminal justice system failed Kelly by not taking his traumatic childhood into account when sentencing him and that the numerous documentaries detailing his crimes only served to exploit him.
“Them parents of them girls knew what they was dealing with, with R. Kelly,” he said of some of the documentary testimonials. “A lot of people knew that s—.”
R.Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking in New York as well as production of child pornography and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity in Chicago.
