French Montana clarifies his apparent defense of R. Kelly: “My heart is with the victims”

ABC/Randy HolmesFrench Montana is doing some serious damage control following his recent comments about R. Kelly, which made it seem as though he was defending the embattled R&B singer.

Over the weekend, Montana spoke to TMZ about Kelly, and said, “[People] don’t let nobody have their legendary moments,” and mentioned Michael Jackson as an example. “Let somebody enjoy their legacy. Whatever happened, happened, man,” said Montana.

The Bronx-bred rapper, however, has since made an addendum on Twitter. “Let me be clear. My heart is with the victims,” Montana wrote on Sunday afternoon.

“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 molestors [sic] and rapists. I am hoping we as a culture create better leaders. We need them.”

Kanye West has also appeared to defend Kelly during his recent Sunday Service livestream. In the clip, captured by his mother-in-law Kris Jenner, Ye can be heard saying: “They just gonna pull up full documentaries on him…then they gonna come with the Michael [Jackson] documentary…..We can all enjoy all their music all we want.”

Kanye’s mention of MJ was a reference to the upcoming doc Leaving Neverland, which focuses on two men who claim the late King of Pop abused them as children.

Following the airing of Lifetime’s six-part expose, Surviving R. Kelly, public opinion has turned against the chart-topping singer. TMZ reported Monday that Celine Dion has pulled her 1998 duet with Kelly, “I’m Your Angel,” from streaming services. Last week, Gaga did the same with her Kelly duet, “Do What U Want.”