R Kelly receives £17,000 for one-hour nightclub appearance in wake of sex abuse charges

R Kelly (Credit: Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)

R Kelly has reportedly been paid £17,000 for a one-hour nightclub appearance, despite facing several charges of sexual abuse.

According to TMZ, the R&B artist received as much as $22,000 to make a brief appearance at the Dirty South Lounge In Springfield, Illinois on Saturday.

In a 28-second stage performance, Kelly (real name Robert Sylvester Kelly) sang the opening line of his song Bump N’ Grind to a small room of fans, and then spent the remainder of the evening taking selfies with them.

Before attending the venue, the singer shared a video on in his Instagram account, pleading with the press to “go easy” on him over the nightclub appearance.

Read more: R. Kelly accuser says he threatened to reveal her sex life

“I gotta event to do tonight in Springfield Illinois, so I want the media to take it easy on me man, he said. “This is how I gotta get paid now for right now.

“So I’ve got to go do this event, and its a party, so if you see me in the club with a couple of drinks in my hand and chilling please take it easy.”

Kelly’s nightclub appearance is believed to be his first public outing since being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sex abuse.

The 52-year-old was arrested after being charged for the sexual assault of four women – three of which were between 13 and 16 at the time – and he is now out on bail as he awaits trial.

Read more: R. Kelly turns himself in to the police

In March, Kelly told CBS that he “didn’t do this stuff” and that he was “fighting for his f***ing life” in wake of the allegations.

Back in 2008, Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges. He was accused of making a 27-minute sex tape with an underage female, but his defence team were able to convince the jury that the identity of the girl was not conclusive.