We had a pretty candid
conversation.
>> Glad to have you here.
>> Thank you for having me.
When you look back at some of
those clips, you have been
fearlessly honest and opened.
Is it difficult for you to talk
>> At first it was very
difficult because of the fear
because again he has a machine
and a team behind him.
You don't know who's watching or
lurking or coming for you.
It is scary to come out, I felt
like it was necessary and
needed.
You talked about some of the
details of what you endured with
him.
In this show you kind of go
further with some of those.
You also say there is something
you will never repeat.
>> I will never speak.
>> Really?
>> I am a firm believer of the
power of the tongue and what you
put out into the universe.
I don't want to give life to
something.
Certain things I don't think we
should speak.
To relive it is retraumatizing
yourself.
I live in that space of certain
things I know will take me to
the dark side.
I may not come back.
To speak your own truth is one
challenge.
To hear your children to speak
their own truth.
You have three children with R.
Kelly, right?
>> Yes.
>> To hear them go talk about
what it was like to see you and
experience that, I think it was
boku talking about it on the
show.
I want to take a look about
that.
>> It is different for me verses
at a certain point you can
actually detach yourself from
him.
We can't.
>> I don't know what it is like
to be R. Kelly's child.
I know what it is like to be his
ex-wife.
I should disconnect from him.
His blood runs through your
vein.
>> That line.
His blood runs through your
veins.
How do you prepare them for,
that's the desire for want to
love their father and know and
have experience these horrible
sides of him.
>> And I have never crossed that
line and put the two together
because I have always wanted my
children to whatever my
relationship you have with your
father, I want to base on that
because of the father he showed
he was.
I have to be clear that my ex
would like to go out and make
the world that I brainwash my
children.
I don't have to say anything to
make my children believe you are
not a good father.
It is the lack of your presence
and the lack that you don't even
pay child support.
That's not something I have to
tell them, it is something you
have done to them.
Their relationship in the strain
is the lack of his presence, it
is a domino effect.
The fact that you don't take
that into consideration, I don't
have to make you look like a bad
father.
Your actions make you a bad
father.
>> What did you
think -- speaking of actions in
particular, the interview with
Gayle king?
That was one of those situations
where a lot of people are like
okay, let's hear his side and
hear what he got to say.
That thing just went off the
rail.
>> It was an oscar-nominating
Emmy award, Tony nominating
performance.
>> You think?
>> That was the joke of the
century.
People are out to forgive when
you live in your truth.
Tell the truth.
Everyone is not lying.
This is not a joke, lives are in
jeopardy and the way you heal is
first you admit that you even
have a problem.
If you can't do that, you are
never going to heal and no one
want your healing more than you
do.
That's one of the reasons I left
Robert.
You have to be better for you.
When you don't want it, there is
nothing else I can do.
Going on TV and having an
interview with Gayle, Gayle's
sympathy is not going to heal
you.
Robert will.
>> One of the things I heard you
say before, you dealt with your
own fair share of criticism and
all of this.
Women come up to you and I
mention in the show, let's take
a look.
>> I have been going through
lately with Robert and here I am
putting myself in the position
because I want to help women and
they are attacking me.
>> Yeah.
>> It is a really raw reaction.
Had something just happened when
you had that conversation.
>> It just happened and
continues to happen.
The majority of my victim
shaming of blaming.
>> You are still getting victim
shaming?
>> Yes.
>> People are still messaging
you crazy things?
Cut it out.
It is enough.
No one would want to adopt and
bring this on.
>> Who would in their right mind
would say let me put my friends
and family and children.
It affects everyone.
Even people that are your
co-workers, who would put
themselves in front of a firing
squad.
>> Doing shows like this may
open you up to that criticism.
What do you think to that?
>> Bring it.
Because I know for every person
that has something negative,
there are others trying to heal
and I believe in building a
living example of what it looks
like to go from victim to
survivor to advocate.
I have gotten to the point now
that it is okay.
It is fine even though you feel
you may say I am lying or a
money grab.
There is people who say I didn't
say anything because I got
at the end of the day, there is
no price tag on my soul.
Why did she wait so long to
speak?
There is no expiration date on
your story.
I have to find my own power.
If you are upset that it took me
ten years or 20 years or 30
years.
The nay-sayers, you may be the
one dialing 911.
A lot of criticisms I have
heard, is this another effort to
tear down a black man.
>> You can't tear something down
that he tore down himself.
Let me not say everyone, a lot
of people who attack me do say
that.
How could you bring the black
man?
I didn't bring him down.
Drea is not on trial because of
something falsely said about
he's on trial because of his
that's where responsibility
comes in.
You don't heal if you are not
going to be responsible.
Do I deserve what Robert did to
you?
Am I fully responsible for how
long I allow him to abuse me?
When I figure it out, that's
when I got my power back.
>> Drea, thank you so much.
>> It was not an easy
conversation.
It was one of those
conversations that needed to
happen.
>> I agree.
>> I hope she inspires other
feels like she finally found her
voice and really will help
others.
>> And change her own lives and
and the lives of her family.
We reached out to R. Kelly's