K.Michelle recently opened up about her relationship with R.Kelly. According to the Love & Hip Hop alum, their connection went far beyond mentorship. “I loved him,” she tells Jason Lee in a new interview. Rumors had swirled for years that the two shared an intimate relationship. However, their romance was short-lived. K.Michelle claims things soured because she was far more invested in the relationship than Kelly. “Robert Kelly always saw me as nothing,” she says.

“I might have loved him, but he didn’t see me as anything more than motivation for writing. I wasn’t the woman he wanted, even though I wanted him.” That said, K.Michelle credits him for shaping her knowledge of songwriting. “If it wasn’t for Robert Kelly, I would not know the business,” she said. “I would not understand the skills of songwriting.”

K.Michelle Addresses R.Kelly’s Sexual Abuse Convictions

The reality star also addressed Kelly’s sexual abuse cases. He is currently serving out a 30-year federal prison sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking. Prior to his conviction, Kelly faced repeated allegations of sexual violence against young girls, dating back to 1991. In her opinion, while she admits Kelly’s behavior was indefensible, he’s not the only person who should be held accountable. Lee recalled a prior comment K.Michelle had made prior to Surviving R. Kelly airing about “the mothers cooking in the kitchen” who seemingly looked past his actions, which is a possible shot at Kelly’s ex-wife, Drea Kelly.