Accused singer tried to present an 'ideal persona' but soon lost his cool in CBS interview, says Judi James
ACCUSED R Kelly was overwhelmed by a state of "aggressive arousal" during his blockbuster TV interview, a body language expert has told The Sun Online.
The sweating R&B star seemed to lose control of his emotions as he beat his chest, flailed his arms, screamed, wept and tore at his clothes while furiously hitting back at sex abuse claims.
Expert Judi James said it was clear Kelly started the interview with a plan to present an "ideal persona" - but soon lost his cool.
She said: "It was a contrite-looking performance that evaporated quickly to reveal much more powerful emotions and outbursts."
The 52-year-old singer - charged with assaulting three underage girls and a woman - yelled "I'm fighting for my f***ing life" and appeared to be restrained as he angrily loomed over CBS interviewer Gayle King.
But the expert said he showed signs of "hurt pride rather than distress" as he denied holding women hostage - saying he "didn't need to".
Ms James added: "The strutting, chest-thumping and the hands balled into fists all suggested what is called a state of aggressive arousal, which can suggest a desire to intimidate opponents to avoid a fight.
"Overall we seem to see a man turned almost inside out by his emotions, someone who appeared to start with the objective of being calm and rational but who became overwhelmed and apparently unable to control his responses
"Was this an act for the camera? His ploy of stepping out of an interview format and into a direct rant at the camera -and therefore presumably his fan - might have been planned defiance.
"And his body language traits of stabbing a finger and shouting did suggest that he thought that grabbing the opportunity to have his say direct without having to sit answering questions might inspire his audience and make them angry on his behalf.
"However the way the aggressive arousal builds and we see signs like self-hitting, the voice rising to a scream and of course the copious tears hints that he really did ‘lose it’ rather than keeping to any planned response.
"All the aggressive arousal symptoms suggest the kind of body language we’d see when a boxer primes for a fight and wants to look tough.
"When he gets to the point of leaping from his chair or when we see the tears, though, the suggestion would be a powerful mix of emotions from anger and arrogance to helplessness and frustration, suggesting a loss of control that would have risked countering his objective rather than a planned show for the camera."
Kelly lashed out at his accusers as "liars" in the interview and also blasted his ex-wife for "destroying my name" over claims he choked and hog-tied her during their abusive 13-year marriage.
Two of his live-in girlfriends also spoke out to defend him against claims he was holding them against their will.
Hours after recording the interview he was hauled back to jailed over £123,000 in unpaid child support.
The I Believe I Can Fly singer was last month charged with ten counts of aggravated sex assault.
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