Tone Deaf

R. Kelly slams Lady Gaga as “not professional” and unintelligent as public meltdown continues

Following on the heels of his on-camera meltdown with CBS’ Gayle King, embattled singer R. Kelly has lashed out at Lady Gaga for pulling their duet from online streaming services.

Kelly & Gaga recorded the song, “Do What U Want,” back in 2013 as part of her album Artpop. Following sexual assault allegations in the docu-series Surviving R. Kelly, Gaga issued an apology for the collaboration and expressed support for Kelly’s accusers. She also referenced her own history of sexual trauma.

Kelly, for his part, isn’t having it.

In an extended clip of his interview with King, he referred to Gaga as a “great talent,” before tearing into her.

“It’s unfortunate,” Kelly told King, “that her intelligence go to such a short level when it comes to that…it’s not professional.”

He adds that “something like this could happen to any artist.”

Chicago prosecutors charged Kelly with 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault in February following the airing of Surviving R. Kelly. The six-part series lodges a litany of allegations against the singer, ranging from sexual assault to physical abuse.

The docu-series also reveals that he married singer Aalyiah when she was only 15 years old, and shows clips of Kelly admitting to an attraction to teenage girls. Perhaps most shockingly, the film accuses Kelly of keeping a harem of women–many of whom are underage–as a sex cult.

Kelly, for his part, has denied any wrongdoing.

Related: R. Kelly goes off on Gayle King in unhinged rant that can’t be unseen

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