R Kelly’s Crisis Manager Resigns After Telling Gayle King He Wouldn’t Leave His Daughter With Singer

Darrell Johnson cites “personal reasons” when announcing his resignation to CBS

Darrell Johnson
CBS News

Hours after telling CBS’ Gayle King that he would never leave his own daughter alone with an accused pedophile, R. Kelly’s crisis manager announced he is stepping down from his role.

Darrell Johnson appeared on CBS This Morning on Monday to discuss Kelly’s forthcoming appearance at federal court to face new sex crime charges. There, he initially defended the singer, but admitted he would “absolutely not” leave his daughter “with anyone that is accused of being a pedophile.”

King, who earned praise for her notoriously explosive interview with Kelly earlier this year, asked: “That doesn’t seem like a contradiction to you? You’re sitting here defending R. Kelly but at the same time saying you wouldn’t leave your own daughter with him.”

“I wouldn’t leave my daughter with anyone, I’m going to say it again, that’s accused of being a pedophile,” he said.

Later Monday afternoon, CBS reported that Johnson had announced his resignation. “I step down as crisis manager for personal reasons. Mr. Kelly is in good hands with Mr. Greenberg,” he said, referring to Steve Greenberg, head of Kelly’s criminal defense team in Chicago.

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