Teddy Riley is walking back the comments he recently made about R. Kelly after facing intense public backlash.
While promoting his new memoir Remember The Times, the legendary producer told the Los Angeles Times that Kelly, who is serving a federal prison sentence for sex crimes, had shown remorse and deserved forgiveness. Riley even suggested he would consider working with the singer again and helping release music Kelly claims to have recorded while incarcerated.
“He’s asking for forgiveness. He has repented,” Riley said at the time. “What does that mean to everybody?”
The remarks sparked immediate criticism, prompting Riley to issue a lengthy apology on Instagram.
In a statement, the hitmaker behind Blackstreet and Guy acknowledged the harm his words caused and said his passion for music clouded his judgment.
“As a producer, I’ve always been excited about the possibilities of music and creative collaboration,” Riley wrote. “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.”
He made clear that any idea of working with Kelly would not move forward.
If my comments caused hurt, I sincerely apologize,” Riley added. “Loving music and recognizing its cultural impact does not mean condoning harmful behavior.”
Riley concluded by stressing that survivors and their families “deserve to be acknowledged with care and respect.”
