R. Kelly isn’t as popular as he once was. After Lifetime dropped the stunning Surviving R. Kelly docuseries, the legendary R&B singer was nearly discarded from the culture. Kells made an appearance at the Dirty South Lounge in Illinois on Saturday night, and prior to the event he kindly asked the media to take it easy on him. “I got an event to do tonight in Springfield, Illinois,”  he stated. “So, I want the media to take it easy on me, man. This is how I gotta get paid now. So, I gotta go do this event and it’s a party. So, when you see me in the club with a couple of drinks in my hand and chilling, please take it easy.”

We’re not sure if the media will ever take it easy on Kelly, but his fans at the Dirty South Lounge certainly showed him the love and attention he has been craving. As reported by TMZ, Kelly didn’t perform, but he was showered with love from fans. Excited supporters took selfies and hugged Kelly, but reports also claim that tickets were sold for a reduced price due to a low turnout. Kelly may be losing fans, but the ones that still love him refuse to throw him under the bus.

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