R Kelly's ex-wife has spoken out against the convicted sex offender after he was found guilty on all nine charges he was faced with during his highly-publicized trial.
On Monday, September 27, the 'I Believe I Can Fly' singer was convicted of one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating a law prohibiting the transportation of people across state lines for sexual purposes, per Sky News.
Eleven of his accusers - nine women and two men - testified against the disgraced performer during a six-week trial.
According to Sky News, Kelly, who will be sentenced on May 4, 2022, faces up to 20 years in prison.
Now, Drea Kelly, the singer's ex-wife, has opened up about the devastation she feels for her children following their father's conviction and impending sentencing.
Speaking to UK breakfast show Good Morning Britain, she said:
"I feel that my heart is in two places. My heart definitely goes out to the survivors and the courage that it takes to come forward and tell the story, but my heart breaks as a mother because this is now the legacy that my children will have to deal with and their children's children.
"At the end of the day, you cannot walk away from your bloodline. I have the ability to separate and distance myself from it, but his blood runs through my children's veins and it's part of their DNA and they couldn't escape it even if they wanted to. So it's very difficult for me to sit in that position.
"I can only speak of my journey as his ex-wife and a survivor and an advocate, but I think that goes for any child. It doesn't matter if your parents have a problem with drug addiction - you are still going to love them because they are a part of your DNA, you share blood with them."
Drea went on to say that she "supports" her children wholeheartedly in "whatever they feel."
She added: "Because at the end of the day, whether he ever sold another song, found guilty or not guilty, what is true and what will always be true is that it's their father, so they have the right to feel whatever they feel."