I Admit

File:Time's Up logo.svg advocated for a boycott of Kelly's music in 2018.]]

"I Admit" was Kelly's first release since his 2016 holiday album, 12 Nights of Christmas.

In July 2017, Jim DeRogatis contributed an article to BuzzFeed News detailing legal investigations from three families regarding their daughters' alleged kidnappings after they established relationships with Kelly. The article characterized Kelly's operations as a "cult" and included interviews with three of Kelly's former associates.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jimderogatis/parents-told-police-r-kelly-is-keeping-women-in-a-cult|title=Parents Told Police Their Daughter Is Being Held Against Her Will In R. Kelly's "Cult"|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|author-link=Jim DeRogatis|website=BuzzFeed News|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724091215/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jimderogatis/parents-told-police-r-kelly-is-keeping-women-in-a-cult|url-status=live}} Both Kelly and the daughters rejected the claims at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40639378|title=R Kelly denies holding several women in 'abusive cult'|website=BBC|date=July 18, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725131422/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40639378|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/parents-accusing-r-kelly-of-holding-daughters-in-cult-to-hold-press-conference-1202497833/|title=Parents Accusing R. Kelly of Holding Daughters in Abusive 'Cult' to Hold Press Conference, Writer Says|last=Aswad|first=Jem|website=Variety|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726032109/https://variety.com/2017/music/news/parents-accusing-r-kelly-of-holding-daughters-in-cult-to-hold-press-conference-1202497833/|url-status=live}}

In April 2018, the Women of Color branch of the Time's Up movement announced their support for the Mute R. Kelly social media campaign, which advocated for music venues to cancel Kelly's concert dates and for Sony Music to terminate Kelly's recording contract.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8407461/women-of-color-of-times-up-join-muterkelly-campaign|title=Women of Color of Time's Up Join #MuteRKelly Campaign|magazine=Billboard|date=April 30, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|first=Gail|last=Mitchell|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725180505/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8407461/women-of-color-of-times-up-join-muterkelly-campaign|url-status=live}} The organization published a demand on The Root for RCA Records, Ticketmaster, Spotify, Apple Music, and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex to end their business relationships with Kelly.{{cite web|author=Time's Up|author-link=Time's Up (organization)|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=Women of Color Within Time's Up Join #MuteRKelly Protest|url=https://www.theroot.com/women-of-color-within-times-up-join-muterkelly-protest-1825646793|website=The Root|date=April 30, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072511/https://www.theroot.com/women-of-color-within-times-up-join-muterkelly-protest-1825646793|url-status=live}} Spotify removed the music of Kelly, XXXTentacion, and Tay-K from their playlists after introducing a "hate content and hateful conduct" policy in May 2018,{{cite news|first1=Joe|last1=Coscarelli|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=Spotify Pulls R. Kelly and XXXTentacion From Playlists, Stirring a Debate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/arts/music/rkelly-spotify-accusations-xxxtentacion.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 10, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510222039/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/arts/music/rkelly-spotify-accusations-xxxtentacion.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=Spotify Announces New Hate Content and Hateful Conduct Public Policy|url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2018-05-10/spotify-announces-new-hate-content-and-hateful-conduct-public-policy/|date=May 10, 2018|website=Spotify|archive-date=January 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111081104/https://newsroom.spotify.com/2018-05-10/spotify-announces-new-hate-content-and-hateful-conduct-public-policy/|url-status=live}} but rescinded the policy in June 2018 after people in the music industry, including Kendrick Lamar's and Top Dawg Entertainment's representatives,{{cite web|access-date=January 12, 2019|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-24/spotify-said-to-plan-to-restore-xxxtentacion-music-after-outcry|title=Spotify Plans to Change XXXTentacion Policy After Outcry|first=Lucas|last=Shaw|date=May 24, 2018|website=Bloomberg|archive-date=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112195051/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-24/spotify-said-to-plan-to-restore-xxxtentacion-music-after-outcry|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|first=Dan|last=Rys|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=Top Dawg Explains How He Warned Spotify's CEO That Kendrick Lamar, Others Would Pull Music Over Conduct Policy|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/8458892/top-dawg-explains-how-he-warned-spotifys-ceo-that|date=June 1, 2018|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112205325/https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/8458892/top-dawg-explains-how-he-warned-spotifys-ceo-that|url-status=live}} accused the company of censorship.{{cite news|first1=Ben|last1=Sisario|author-link1=Ben Sisario|first2=Joe|last2=Coscarelli|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=Spotify Cancels 'Hateful Conduct' Policy After an Industry Uproar|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/arts/music/spotify-hateful-conduct-policy-r-kelly-xxxtentacion.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 1, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112150107/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/arts/music/spotify-hateful-conduct-policy-r-kelly-xxxtentacion.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=January 12, 2019|title=Spotify Policy Update|url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2018-06-01/spotify-policy-update/|date=June 1, 2018|website=Spotify|archive-date=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112195008/https://newsroom.spotify.com/2018-06-01/spotify-policy-update/|url-status=live}}

Kelly played a preview of "I Admit" on Instagram Live one day prior to its full debut. On July 23, 2018, the song was released on the SoundCloud account of Julius Darrington, CEO of the AudioDream record label. Kelly promoted the release with a post, "Today is the day you've been waiting for", across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly|first=R.|last=Kelly|author-link=R. Kelly|url=https://www.facebook.com/Rkelly/posts/10156226679645831|via=Facebook|date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825220823/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRkelly%2Fposts%2F10156226679645831|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|first1=R.|last1=Kelly|author-link=R. Kelly|user=rkelly|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=Today is the day you've been waiting for. 🎶 I ADMIT 🎶|number=1021384575388446721|date=July 23, 2018}}{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R Kelly on Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Blk1YhYhco2/|via=Instagram|author=rkelly|author-link=R. Kelly|date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=February 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201105559/https://www.instagram.com/p/Blk1YhYhco2/|url-status=live}} RCA Records, his label at the time, did not confirm whether they were associated with the song when asked by Variety.{{cite web|first1=Jem|last1=Aswad|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly Responds to Sexual Misconduct Allegations in 19-Minute Song 'I Admit'|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/r-kelly-responds-to-sexual-misconduct-allegations-in-19-minute-song-i-admit-1202880888/|date=July 23, 2018|website=Variety|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107232953/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/r-kelly-responds-to-sexual-misconduct-allegations-in-19-minute-song-i-admit-1202880888/|url-status=live}}

After the January 2019 broadcast of the Surviving R. Kelly documentary series chronicling the extent of the allegations against Kelly, the singer appeared in a CBS This Morning interview on March 8, 2019, in which Gayle King asked him whether "I Admit" was his "way of confessing". Kelly responded, "That question makes no sense, no offense, but what I'm saying is this: 'I Admit' was me expressing my feelings about the things I was going through. If you're listening to it, you can hear exactly what I'm admitting."{{cite web|access-date=May 7, 2019|first=Gayle|last=King|author-link=Gayle King|title=The Gayle King Interview with R. Kelly|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-interview-full-coverage-of-the-gayle-king-interview-with-r-kelly-on-cbs-2019-03-08/|website=CBS News|date=March 9, 2019|archive-date=March 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309155817/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-interview-full-coverage-of-the-gayle-king-interview-with-r-kelly-on-cbs-2019-03-08/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=May 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly Discusses "I Admit" Song In Full Gayle King Interview|url=https://www.vibe.com/2019/03/r-kelly-gayle-king-full-interview|date=March 9, 2019|website=Vibe|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507052402/https://www.vibe.com/2019/03/r-kelly-gayle-king-full-interview|url-status=live}}

{{Listen

| filename = I Admit - R. Kelly.ogg

| title = "I Admit"

| description = A sample of "I Admit" containing the "I admit it, I did it" chorus and the first four lines of the seventh verse, in which Kelly questions the definitions of the terms cult and sex slave{{cite web|first1=Alison|last1=Millington|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R Kelly released an explosive new track called 'I Admit,' where he addresses the 'sex cult' allegations and says he sleeps with 'young ladies'|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/r-kelly-song-i-admit-addresses-sex-cult-underage-sex-allegations-2018-7|website=Business Insider|date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107181127/https://www.businessinsider.com/r-kelly-song-i-admit-addresses-sex-cult-underage-sex-allegations-2018-7|url-status=live}}

}}

In "I Admit", Kelly admits to various acts, including dropping out of high school and not attending church. Kelly reveals he that was diagnosed with dyslexia and asserts that his inability to read his recording contract caused him to forfeit publishing rights to his music,{{cite magazine|first1=Daniel|last1=Kreps|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly Addresses Sex Cult Allegations, Spotify Ban on 19-Minute Song 'I Admit'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-addresses-sex-cult-allegations-spotify-ban-on-19-minute-song-i-admit-702419/|date=July 23, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072645/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-addresses-sex-cult-allegations-spotify-ban-on-19-minute-song-i-admit-702419/|url-status=live}} which contributed to the singer's financial troubles, including his $20{{nbsp}}million tax debt to the Internal Revenue Service.{{cite web|access-date=May 7, 2019|date=March 6, 2019|first=Charisse|last=Jones|author-link=Charisse Jones|title=R. Kelly says he's too broke to pay taxes and maybe even child support. Do you believe him?|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/06/is-r-kelly-really-broke/3081061002/|website=USA Today|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507224522/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/06/is-r-kelly-really-broke/3081061002/|url-status=live}} In the song, Kelly confesses that he has been sexually unfaithful and frequented strip clubs. Kelly reveals that he lost his virginity in his childhood when he was raped by an older female family member,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/r-kelly-i-admit-everything-we-learned-2358592|title=R Kelly's 19-minute mea culpa 'I Admit', dissected and analysed|last=Britton|first=Luke Morgan|website=NME|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725131210/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/r-kelly-i-admit-everything-we-learned-2358592|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5346077/r-kelly-i-admit/|title=R. Kelly Says He's 'Made Some Mistakes' on New 19-Minute Track 'I Admit'|magazine=Time|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723234944/http://time.com/5346077/r-kelly-i-admit/|url-status=live}} elaborating on the disclosures from his 2012 autobiography, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me.

Despite the song's title and Kelly's repetition of the lyric "I admit it, I did it" in the chorus,{{cite web|first1=Leila|last1=Ettachfini|first2=Sarah|last2=Burke|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Victimhood Doesn't Excuse His Alleged Sexual Misconduct|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/r-kelly-i-admit-sexual-assault-abuse-victim/|date=July 24, 2018|website=Broadly|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145505/https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvmvg7/r-kelly-i-admit-sexual-assault-abuse-victim|url-status=live}} "I Admit" does not contain any criminal admissions.{{cite magazine|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=A Defense Attorney Listened to R. Kelly's 19-Minute Song 'I Admit.' This Is What She Thinks|url=https://time.com/5346369/r-kelly-i-admit-defense-attorney/|magazine=Time|date=July 23, 2018|first=Mahita|last=Gajanan|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108140604/http://time.com/5346369/r-kelly-i-admit-defense-attorney/|url-status=live}} Kelly denies accusations of domestic violence, involvement in a "sex cult", and pedophilia in his lyrics, dismissing them as matters of opinion. Kelly does not admit guilt regarding the 2008 acquittal of his sex tape allegations, but maintains that he has been "falsely accused" and sings that his lawyer advised him to "don't say noth'". Although Kelly admits to having casual sex with "both older and young ladies", he states that all of them were "over age".{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/7/23/17602264/r-kelly-i-admit-19-minute-song-sex-cult-controversy|title=R. Kelly released a 19-minute song called "I Admit." It doesn't admit much.|last=Grady|first=Constance|website=Vox|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725122910/https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/7/23/17602264/r-kelly-i-admit-19-minute-song-sex-cult-controversy|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/r-kelly-i-admit-abuse-allegations-new-song|title=In a New 19 Minute Song, R. Kelly Admits to Nothing|last=Read|first=Bridget|website=Vogue|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725153301/https://www.vogue.com/article/r-kelly-i-admit-abuse-allegations-new-song|url-status=live}} The singer recounts a meeting with Wendy Williams in which he described his feelings for Aaliyah, who he illegally married in 1994 when she was 15 years old, as "love".

The lyrics denounce DeRogatis for profiting from his reports of Kelly's scandals, and John Legend, Steve Harvey, and Tom Joyner for refusing to publicly defend Kelly from his accusers. In response to the Mute R. Kelly campaign,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/23/r-kelly-denies-sexual-abuse-allegations-in-19-minute-song-i-admit|title=R Kelly denies sexual abuse allegations in 19-minute song I Admit|last=Snapes|first=Laura|date=July 23, 2018|website=The Guardian|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724110455/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/23/r-kelly-denies-sexual-abuse-allegations-in-19-minute-song-i-admit|url-status=live}} Kelly sings, "only God can mute me".{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/23/entertainment/r-kelly-i-admit-song-trnd/index.html|title=R. Kelly answers his critics with a 19-minute song, 'I Admit'|last=Ellefson|first=Lindsey|website=CNN|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724024152/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/23/entertainment/r-kelly-i-admit-song-trnd/index.html|url-status=live}} Kelly expresses support for a "women's group", but also exclaims that "they tryna lock me up like Bill", referring to Bill Cosby, who at the time was awaiting incarceration after his April 2018 sexual assault convictions.{{cite web|first1=John|last1=Lynch|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=R Kelly sings 'they tryna lock me up like Bill' Cosby over 'sex cult' allegations in a new song|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/r-kelly-says-they-tryna-lock-me-up-like-bill-cosby-over-sex-cult-allegations-2018-7|website=Business Insider|date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172549/https://www.businessinsider.com/r-kelly-says-they-tryna-lock-me-up-like-bill-cosby-over-sex-cult-allegations-2018-7|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Graham|last1=Bowley|first2=Jon|last2=Hurdle|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=Bill Cosby Is Found Guilty of Sexual Assault|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/26/arts/television/bill-cosby-guilty-retrial.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 26, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717023609/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/26/arts/television/bill-cosby-guilty-retrial.html|url-status=live}} Kelly finishes the song by telling the audience to "stay the fuck out of my business",{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8466524/r-kelly-I-admit-sexual-assault-allegations|title=R. Kelly Appears to Hit Back at Sexual Assault Allegations in 19-Minute 'I Admit' Track: Listen|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724075950/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8466524/r-kelly-I-admit-sexual-assault-allegations|url-status=live}} and inviting his birthplace of Chicago to use his image as inspiration for city youth.

File:O.J. Simpson 1990 · DN-ST-91-03444 crop.JPEG, a book by O. J. Simpson (pictured).]]

Several reviewers characterized "I Admit" as an act of trolling, since the name of the song overstates the magnitude of the admissions contained within the lyrics.{{cite web|first1=Kevin C.|last1=Johnson|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=Muting R. Kelly: Our music critic is finished with the Pied Piper of R&B|url=https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/muting-r-kelly-our-music-critic-is-finished-with-the/article_f0a8f675-17dc-5dc1-b2f5-ebe10e3bd51c.html|website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324030648/https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/muting-r-kelly-our-music-critic-is-finished-with-the/article_f0a8f675-17dc-5dc1-b2f5-ebe10e3bd51c.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Stereo|last1=Williams|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Delusional Response to Sex Cult Allegations in 'I Admit': I'm the Victim Here|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/r-kellys-delusional-response-to-sex-cult-allegations-in-i-admit-im-the-victim-here|website=The Daily Beast|date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324030648/https://www.thedailybeast.com/r-kellys-delusional-response-to-sex-cult-allegations-in-i-admit-im-the-victim-here|url-status=live}} Multiple critics noted similarities between this song and If I Did It,{{cite web |last1=Crenshaw |first1=Kimberlé Williams |author1-link=Kimberlé Crenshaw |title=I Believe I Can Lie |url=https://thebaffler.com/latest/i-believe-i-can-lie-crenshaw |website=The Baffler |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=17 January 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Read |first1=Bridget |title=In R. Kelly's New Song, He Admits to Nothing |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/r-kelly-i-admit-abuse-allegations-new-song |website=Vogue |access-date=12 June 2025 |date=23 July 2018}}{{cite news|first1=Elyse|last1=Wanshel|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=R. Kelly Releases Song 'I Admit' And It Does The Opposite Of That|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/r-kelly-releases-song-i-admit-and-it-does-the-opposite-of-that_us_5b5616a2e4b0de86f48f7ad0|website=HuffPost|date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110002318/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/r-kelly-releases-song-i-admit-and-it-does-the-opposite-of-that_us_5b5616a2e4b0de86f48f7ad0|url-status=live}} a book by O. J. Simpson that contains a hypothetical description of the alleged murder in Simpson's murder case.{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=O.J. book sparks new outrage|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2006/11/16/oj_book_sparks_new_outrage/|date=November 16, 2006|publisher=Associated Press|via=The Boston Globe|archive-date=October 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011231530/http://archive.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2006/11/16/oj_book_sparks_new_outrage/|url-status=live}} Writing for The Daily Beast, Stereo Williams described the song as "20 minutes of defensive rambling and R. Kelly nailing himself to a cross". Williams asserted that Kelly "paints himself as the victim: the victim of the media, of sycophants, of his childhood abuser, of his own illiteracy" while "baiting his critics with a number of shockingly brazen lyrical references to his behavior".

In a review for The Atlantic, Hannah Giorgis compared the song's structure to Kelly's rap opera Trapped in the Closet and remarked, "The specter of harmful actions is softened by the harmonies of the lullaby." Giorgis described Kelly's delivery as "a stomach-churning mix of self-pity and hubris" and criticized Kelly for refusing to address the alleged victims directly. She noted that "at no point does he speak to—rather than at or about—the women who have come forward" and wrote, "none of the women who have recounted tales of Kelly's abuse is worthy of being the hero in this story. Kelly, and Kelly alone, occupies that mantle."{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/r-kelly-is-the-hero-of-his-own-disingenuous-epic/565892/|title=R. Kelly Is the Hero of His Own Disingenuous Epic|last=Giorgis|first=Hannah|website=The Atlantic|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724204112/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/r-kelly-is-the-hero-of-his-own-disingenuous-epic/565892/|url-status=live}}

Ann-Derrick Gaillot of The Outline considered "I Admit" a "bad song" and "a 20-minute long plea to save his dying career", stating that the release of the song demonstrated that Kelly was "no longer invincible".{{cite web|url=https://theoutline.com/post/5500/r-kelly-i-admit-reaction|title=The R. Kelly boycott is working|last=Gaillot|first=Ann-Derrick|website=The Outline|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725153342/https://theoutline.com/post/5500/r-kelly-i-admit-reaction|url-status=live}} In Rolling Stone, Michael Arcenaux lambasted Kelly for attempting to "invoke his own trauma to excuse the grief he is alleged to have caused in so many women and girls".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-opinion-i-admit-contemptible-703171/|title=R. Kelly's Latest Song Is the Same Old Two-Step From the Most Contemptible Man in Music|last=Arcenaux|first=Michael|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725011119/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-opinion-i-admit-contemptible-703171/|url-status=live}} Broadly{{'}}s Leila Ettachfini labeled the song as "a bizarre attempt to garner some sympathy from the public in hopes that it could somehow absolve Kelly for his alleged crimes against women and girls", but remarked that "the song doesn't seem to be achieving Kelly's desired effect".

File:Drea Kelly - Trending Report interview portrait.png (pictured), shared lyrics to "Admit It", her remix of "I Admit".]]

In interviews with Variety and Billboard, DeRogatis denied that his reporting of Kelly's allegations had been a significant factor in his own career growth. DeRogatis defended his continued coverage of Kelly by disclosing that he still received calls from sources. He said, "You're not a journalist or a human being if you get those calls and do not do your job." Regarding the song's composition, DeRogatis saw "I Admit" as a continuation of Kelly's 10-minute remix of "I Believe I Can Fly" from his unreleased album, Loveland, in which Kelly sings a plea to Saint Peter at the gates of heaven.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/r-kelly-jim-derogatis-responds-trying-to-destroy-him-i-admit-1202881002/|title=Jim DeRogatis Responds to R. Kelly, Who Says Reporter Has Been 'Trying to Destroy' Him|last=Aswad|first=Jem|website=Variety|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725122915/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/r-kelly-jim-derogatis-responds-trying-to-destroy-him-i-admit-1202881002/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=Journalist Jim DeRogatis on Being Named in R. Kelly's 'I Admit' and What the Song Means for the Singer's Future|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8466838/r-kelly-i-admit-allegations-jim-derogatis-interview|magazine=Billboard|first=Dan|last=Hyman|date=July 24, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107090807/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8466838/r-kelly-i-admit-allegations-jim-derogatis-interview|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Kelefa|last1=Sanneh|author-link=Kelefa Sanneh|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=THE NEW SEASON/MUSIC; The Adventures Of 'Loveland'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/arts/the-new-season-music-the-adventures-of-loveland.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 8, 2002|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725123007/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/arts/the-new-season-music-the-adventures-of-loveland.html|url-status=live}}

Andrea Kelly, R. Kelly's ex-wife, shared lyrics to her remix titled "Admit It" on Instagram on July 24, 2018.{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=Drea Kelly on Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bln9ywJhxPq/|via=Instagram|author=officialdreakelly|author-link=Andrea Kelly|date=July 24, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825220822/https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's ex-wife responds to song 'I Admit' with her own remix|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4352181/r-kelly-ex-wife-i-admit-remix/|date=July 25, 2018|website=Global News|first=Katie|last=Scott|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107124804/https://globalnews.ca/news/4352181/r-kelly-ex-wife-i-admit-remix/|url-status=live}} In her remix, Andrea alleges that R. Kelly physically abused her and neglected their children.{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Remixes 'I Admit,' Calling Singer an Abusive 'Deadbeat'|url=https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/r-kellys-ex-wife-remixes-i-admit-abusive-deadbeat/|date=July 25, 2018|website=Ebony|first=Jessica|last=Bennett|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107124516/https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/r-kellys-ex-wife-remixes-i-admit-abusive-deadbeat/|url-status=live}} In response to a lyric on "I Admit" where R. Kelly describes his relationship with his deceased mother, Joanne Kelly, Andrea sings that Joanne would disapprove of his actions.{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Responds to "Admit It" With Her Own Remix|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/07/r-kelly-ex-wife-calls-him-deadbeat-dad-in-i-admit-remix|website=Complex|first=Joshua|last=Espinoza|date=July 24, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107124624/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/07/r-kelly-ex-wife-calls-him-deadbeat-dad-in-i-admit-remix|url-status=live}} Andrea also accuses R. Kelly of being a "dead beat dad" and urges him to obtain "professional help".{{cite web|first1=Kyle|last1=Eustice|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Responds To His 19-Minute Confessional With Scathing "Remix"|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47791/title.r-kellys-ex-wife-responds-to-his-19-minute-confessional-with-scathing-remix|date=July 25, 2018|website=HipHopDX|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107124518/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47791/title.r-kellys-ex-wife-responds-to-his-19-minute-confessional-with-scathing-remix|url-status=live}}

R. Kelly's brother, Carey "Killa" Kelly, released a diss track named "I Confess" on YouTube on August 3, 2018.{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Carey|title=I Confess. "Carey Killa Kelly" Clap Back Song To I Admitt [sic] By - R-Kelly|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlZCru2jP-Y|via=YouTube|access-date=January 7, 2019|date=August 3, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825220822/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlZCru2jP-Y|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Shawn|last1=Grant|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Brother Blasts Singer in New 'I Confess' Single|url=http://thesource.com/2018/08/08/r-kelly-brother-i-confess/|date=August 8, 2018|website=The Source|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107181039/http://thesource.com/2018/08/08/r-kelly-brother-i-confess/|url-status=live}} Replying to R. Kelly's claim on "I Admit" that Carey abandoned him, Carey echoes an April 2018 sexual misconduct allegation in which a woman accused R. Kelly of intentionally giving her a sexually transmitted infection.{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Brother Releases Diss Track Accusing Singer of Giving Women STDs|url=https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/r-kellys-brother-releases-diss-track-accusing-singer-of-giving-women-stds/|date=August 8, 2018|website=Ebony|first=Jessica|last=Bennett|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107124532/https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/r-kellys-brother-releases-diss-track-accusing-singer-of-giving-women-stds/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Geoff|last=Edgers|author-link=Geoff Edgers|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=Singer R. Kelly accused by woman in Texas of giving her sexually transmitted disease|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/r-kelly-faces-a-new-accuser/2018/04/15/e11db282-40c9-11e8-ad8f-27a8c409298b_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107180946/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/r-kelly-faces-a-new-accuser/2018/04/15/e11db282-40c9-11e8-ad8f-27a8c409298b_story.html|url-status=live}} In "I Confess", Carey also implies that R. Kelly had sex with other men.{{cite web|first1=Tosten|last1=Burks|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Brother Accuses Him of Spreading STDs on Diss Track|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/08/r-kelly-brother-diss-track-i-confess-carey-kelly/|website=XXL|date=August 7, 2018|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115181838/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/08/r-kelly-brother-diss-track-i-confess-carey-kelly/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=May 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Brother Accuses Him Of Dating Men And Spreading STDs On Diss Track, "I Confess"|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/08/r-kellys-brother-exposes-singer-diss-track-listen|date=August 7, 2018|website=Vibe|archive-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414113158/https://www.vibe.com/2018/08/r-kellys-brother-exposes-singer-diss-track-listen|url-status=live}}

Black Twitter responded negatively to "I Admit", with many users expressing disgust at the song's lyrical content.{{cite news|first1=Jason|last1=Parham|author-link=Jason Parham|access-date=January 7, 2019|title=R. Kelly's Empty Confessions, Meet Black Twitter's Wrath|url=https://www.wired.com/story/r-kelly-black-twitter/|newspaper=Wired|date=July 24, 2018|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172541/https://www.wired.com/story/r-kelly-black-twitter/|url-status=live}} The song was poorly received by other artists; Talib Kweli remarked that Kelly's "lack of self awareness is atrocious"{{cite tweet|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=I just read the lyrics to R Kelly's new 19 minute song called 'I Admit It I Did It.' His lack of self awareness is atrocious.|number=1021411400206487554|date=July 23, 2018|last=Greene|first=Talib Kweli|author-link=Talib Kweli|user=TalibKweli}} and Questlove tweeted, "#IAdmit I want my 19 mins back".{{cite web|access-date=January 8, 2019|title=R. Kelly addresses sexual assault allegations in 19-minute song 'I Admit'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/sexual-misconduct/r-kelly-addresses-sexual-assault-allegations-19-minute-song-i-n893776|website=NBC News|agency=Associated Press|first1=Chandelis R.|last1=Duster|date=July 23, 2018 |archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110141936/https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/sexual-misconduct/r-kelly-addresses-sexual-assault-allegations-19-minute-song-i-n893776|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |number=1021390931516379136 |user=questlove |title=Uh #IAdmit I want my 19 mins back |author=Questlove De La Rose |author-link=Questlove |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111081123/https://twitter.com/questlove/status/1021390931516379136 |archive-date=January 11, 2019}} The co-founder of the Mute R. Kelly social media campaign, Oronike Odeleye, called the song a "19-minute sex trafficking fundraising anthem" and interpreted its release as an indicator of Mute R. Kelly's success. In an interview with the Associated Press, Odeleye reaffirmed the campaign's efforts to eliminate Kelly's remaining concert dates.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/23f57aaee9c14bd2ad69f4e8a42a3719|title=Once untouchable, 'I Admit' shows that R. Kelly is hurting|last=Fekadu|first=Mesfin|website=Associated Press|date=July 28, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2018|archive-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728165828/https://apnews.com/23f57aaee9c14bd2ad69f4e8a42a3719|url-status=live}}

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network spokeswoman Jodi Omear criticized the song's lyrics and stated, "Laws aren't opinions". An attorney representing the family of Joycelyn Savage, one of the daughters mentioned in DeRogatis's BuzzFeed News article, rebuked Kelly for trying to "shift the narrative" and demanded Savage's release.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/954116/r-kelly-addresses-sexual-abuse-allegations-in-explicit-new-song-i-admit|title=R. Kelly Addresses Sexual Abuse Allegations in Explicit New Song "I Admit"|last=Cohen|first=Jess|website=E! Online|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724122023/https://www.eonline.com/news/954116/r-kelly-addresses-sexual-abuse-allegations-in-explicit-new-song-i-admit|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=March 29, 2019|title=Untangling R. Kelly's Sordid Web of Scandal|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1001814/untangling-r-kelly-s-sordid-web-of-scandal-in-the-wake-of-lifetime-s-damning-docu-series|date=January 5, 2019|first=Billy|last=Nilles|website=E! Online|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329011021/https://www.eonline.com/news/1001814/untangling-r-kelly-s-sordid-web-of-scandal-in-the-wake-of-lifetime-s-damning-docu-series|url-status=live}}

Kelly was convicted of nine criminal counts, including racketeering (involving sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery, and sex trafficking) and violations of the Mann Act, on September 28, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Whitten |first1=Sarah |title=R&B artist R. Kelly found guilty on all counts in sex trafficking and racketeering trial |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/27/r-kelly-found-guilty-in-sex-trafficking-and-racketeering-trial.html |website=CNBC |access-date=February 26, 2022 |language=en |date=September 27, 2021}} A few fans of Kelly played "I Admit" beside the courthouse shortly after the judgment was issued.{{cite web |last1=Adler |first1=Dan |title=The R. Kelly Guilty Verdict Was Nearly 30 Years in the Making |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/09/r-kelly-racketeering-trial-ends |website=Vanity Fair |access-date=February 26, 2022 |date=September 28, 2021}}

On December 9, 2022, a bootleg album titled I Admit It, containing 13 unreleased, previously leaked, and previously released tracks by Kelly, briefly appeared on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services before it was taken down on the same day. The collection included "I Admit" divided into three separate tracks that were identically named "I Admit It (I Did It)".{{cite magazine |last1=Mamo |first1=Heran |title=Here's How a New R. Kelly Album Got Uploaded to Streaming Services |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/r-kelly-new-album-streaming-how-did-it-get-there/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=13 June 2025 |date=9 December 2022}} An attorney for Kelly and a representative of Sony Music both denied involvement in the album.{{Cite web |last=Fekadu |first=Mesfin |date=December 9, 2022 |title=R. Kelly's Lawyer on His 'I Admit It' Album: "It's an Unauthorized Release of Music" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/r-kelly-releases-album-i-admit-it-1235278899/ |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rebecca |title=A seemingly new R. Kelly album 'I Admit It' is a bootleg and not real, reports say |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/seemingly-new-r-kelly-album-i-admit-is-bootleg-sony-2022-12 |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Its copyright notice carried the name of Legacy Recordings—the catalog division of Sony Music, but lacked a Sony Music Entertainment copyright notice used by the division's actual releases. A source disclosed that the bootleg was released by the Los Angeles–based label Real Talk Entertainment and distributed by Ingrooves, which led to Ingrooves—a subsidiary of Universal Music Group—ending its relationship with Real Talk following the album's release.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=December 9, 2022 |title=New R. Kelly Album, 'I Admit,' Is a Bootleg — Not an Official Release, Sony Rep Confirms |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/new-r-kelly-album-i-admit-bootleg-sony-1235455870/ |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

• Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations
• Me Too movement

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{R. Kelly singles}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2018 songs

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:R. Kelly songs

Category:Songs about casual sex

Category:Songs about domestic violence

Category:Songs about sexual assault

Category:Songs based on actual events

Category:Songs written by R. Kelly

Category:Song recordings produced by R. Kelly