With R. Kelly, Gayle King delivers a master class in de-escalation and dogged journalism | By Roxanne Jones for CNNOpinion
Roxanne Jones, a founding editor of ESPN Magazine and former vice president at ESPN, has been a producer, reporter and editor at the New York Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Jones is co-author of"Say it Loud: An Illustrated History of the Black Athlete." She talks politics, sports and culture weekly on Philadelphia's Praise 107.9 FM. The views expressed here are solely hers. Read more opinion on CNN.
Watching CBS anchor Gayle King's emotional interview this week with musician R. Kelly about the sexual assault allegations he faces, it would be easy — for some -- to fall into false cultural stereotypes of the menacing, violent black man. Easy to see Kelly as a threat to King. And I don't doubt that that was the gut reaction of many people in America this week who watched the first segment of a three-part interview on"CBS This Morning.
Roxanne JonesBut that reaction is a mistake. If you saw only the stereotypes, you missed a demonstration of the courage and code-shifting required of black women every day — both in our professional lives, and in our personal lives. Gayle King saw past this cultural trap. As R. Kelly's agitation grew -- as he raised his voice, cried into the camera, and finally stood, yelling and gesturing forcefully over King -- she was unflappable, in control.
This case will not be simple. It is not good vs. evil. So little in life is, no matter how much we want it to be. But I don't buy Kelly's tearful, angry denials. I don't believe he's"being assassinated," as he told Gayle King. And I definitely don't believe that the dozens of women over decades who have accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse are all liars. Kelly has had his say and now he will have his day in court .
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