Dame Dash Reveals Why He Worked With R Kelly Despite Aaliyah Assault Allegations

BY Caroline Fisher
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Planet of the Apes World Premiere - Aaliyah
Singer Aaliyah and Damon Dash arrive for the world premiere of the 20th Century Fox film 'Planet of the Apes' at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City, 7/23/01. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images.
According to Dame Dash Aaliyah didn't want to "start any trouble."

Recently, Dame Dash explained why he decided to appear in R Kelly's “Fiesta (Remix)” music video, despite hearing rumors about his allegedly inappropriate relationship with Aaliyah. During an interview with America Nu Network, he said that Aaliyah was aware he'd be in the video and that he did his best to stay as far away from Kelly as possible. According to him, Aaliyah didn't want him appearing in scenes with Kelly, which he respected.

“I didn’t want any part of it, and I told them I don’t want a dollar from it,” he described. “Her exact words to me were, ‘I don’t want to start any trouble. I just want to heal and get as far away from it as possible...' She asked me not to be in any scenes with [R. Kelly] or take any pictures with him, and I respected that.” 

Dame Dash Recalls Discussing R Kelly Music Video With Aaliyah

“I did my shots with Jay, but I wasn’t in any scenes with R. Kelly,” Dash added. “You’ll never see me in a picture with him.” In his caption, Dash continued to elaborate, making it clear that he and Aaliyah discussed his appearance in the video beforehand.

“I’ve answered this before, but here it is again,” it reads. “When Jay chose to keep working with R. Kelly, I told Aaliyah. Her response was clear—she just wanted to heal, avoid any drama, and move forward in peace. So when it came to the Fiesta video, I made sure I wasn’t in any scenes or photos with R. Kelly. I stayed in the trailer unless my shots with Jay were being filmed. That’s the truth.” What do you think of Dame Dash's explanation for working with R Kelly after hearing rumors about him and Aaliyah? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is currently a News Editor at HotNewHipHop. Her time at HotNewHipHop began in 2023 when she began writing about music and pop culture full-time. Since then, she has helped cover major stories including the YSL RICO trial, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s explosive feud, Diddy’s ongoing legal battle, and awards shows such as the BET Awards. Being from Chicago, she also got the opportunity to attend Summer Smash 2024 and review Chief Keef’s historic homecoming show. She additionally covered sets by Flo Milli, Playboi Carti, Bktherula, and more.

Comments 1