Actor Isaiah Washington has insisted that late R&B legend Aaliyah wasn’t R. Kelly’s victim, saying “she was in control of that whole situation.”
During an interview with Vlad TV, Isaiah said the singer was “in control of that situation” in regard to her alleged relationship with R. Kelly while still a young teen. The actor had reportedly been friends with Aaliyah, as the two starred in the popular film Romeo Must Die (2000).
“Years later, R. Kelly has been convicted with 30 years, and now the Aaliyah story about how he got her pregnant, tried to get married to her and everything–that’s always been the rumor–now it’s actually come forward and established in a court of law. When you heard about that…how did you feel?” DJ Vlad asked.
“She was very in control of her being, but she was a businesswoman too. Super smart,” Isaiah weirdly responded about her being an alleged victim. “I think she was in control of that situation even at her age. 100 percent.”
“At 15?” a shocked DJ Vlad interjected.
The 59-year-old continued, saying Aaliyah was “15 going on 30” and that he didn’t “believe one minute” that she was forced to do anything against her will.
“She was 15 going on 30, so she was in control of that whole situation,” he later added. “I don’t judge her, but she was very smart and very mature and very in control of her situation. I don’t believe one minute that Aaliyah was made to do anything that Aaliyah didn’t want to do.”
According to Billboard, R. Kelly’s tour manager, Demetrius Smith, spoke out during the Chicago musician’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial in 2021. Smith said he believes R. Kelly and Aaliyah wed after he allegedly impregnated her while she was still a minor. However, the marriage ended shortly after.
Isaiah even admitted to having a “crush” on the “mysterious” musician while filming Romeo Must Die 20 years ago. Aaliyah starred in the film as Trish O’Day and he portrayed the character Mac.
“She was a doll baby…very mysterious…I had a crush on her. I could see why people would fall in love with her. She was just a beautiful human being,” he said.
In 2001, the legendary singer tragically died in an airplane crash in the Bahamas at just 22 years. She and eight others passed away in the accident.
