R Kelly: French Montana walks back on suggestion people should let singer enjoy his 'legacy'

Rapper appeared to realise his original comment would not go down well

French Montana has attempted to clarify controversial remarks he made about disgraced R&B singer R Kelly.

Shortly after appearing to claim Kelly should be allowed to “enjoy” his legacy, the New York rapper back tracked on his comment and said something completely different on Twitter.

In the original interview with TMZ, Montana said as he left the LA Coliseum: “All the greats went down like that.” He added: “Let somebody enjoy their legacy. Whatever happened, happened, man.”

Montana also appeared to suggest Kelly was being clear about his actions in the lyrics on “Bump and Grind” when he sang: “My mind’s tellin’ me no, but my body, my body’s tellin’ me yes.”

Asked whether people should stop listening to Kelly, he responded: “They [people] don’t let nobody have their legendary moments.”

Kelly is accused of multiple instances of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against a number of women, which are addressed in the new Lifetime documentary Surviving R Kelly. Kelly denies all of the allegations against him.

Following the interview, Montana posted on Twitter and said, in a rather drastic change in tone: “Let me be clear. My heart is with the victims.

“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 molesters and rapists. I am hoping we as a culture create better leaders. We need them.”