In 2012 CeeLo Green, whose real name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, was arrested and charged with one felony count of furnishing Ecstasy to a woman. Although the woman accused him of rape, a court ruled that there wasn’t enough evidence. In 2014 Green pleaded no contest and entered a special plea maintaining his innocence. Green did not receive any jail time, but he was put on three years’ probation and was required to attend 360 hours of community service and 52 Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
Shortly after his plea deal, Green got himself into hot water with a series of tweets that many people deemed problematic.
The singer tweeted, “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
“If someone is passed out they’re not even WITH you consciously! so WITH Implies consent,” he added.
When Green felt the backlash, he said the tweets could be attributed to someone else, but then he eventually apologized.
Now, a year later, Green, who has a new album, Heart Blanche, is speaking out in an interview with Steve Harvey. The singer spoke highly of those fans who have stuck by his side.
“I’m fortunate to still have fans who are forgiving, who are forgiving and understanding, and they do realize that we are but human beings and we make mistakes, but I am not my mistakes,” he told the talk show host.
“Either it be by default or design, I am here humbled and humanized and with a heartfelt new album that really does address the wisdom and understanding that I got out of the experience. And so I’m very fortunate for that,” he continued.
“I do sincerely apologize for anybody that I may have offended,” he said. “I’ve been entertaining you for the last 20 years, and I would love to continue if you’ll have me.”
Harvey asked Green if he’d been in contact with the woman who accused him of the drugging, and although Green didn’t get into specifics, he did admit to not having contact with her. “No. We have not had the opportunity to speak. The last time that we did, it was amicable. We walked away from it. Really unfortunate and inconvenient to both of us, and we both agreed that we would just like to resume back into real life,” he explained.
“It was something that was blown out of proportion. Something that I’m not even at liberty to be so detailed about—but just to answer the question, it was amicable,” Green continued.
Some people may say that being accused of rape isn’t something that should be referred to as something “blown out of proportion,” but the former judge on The Voice seems to be trying to move on.
Green’s episode on Steve Harvey will air the week of Dec. 7.