In a desperate attempt to avert accountability and clean up his reputation, R. Kelly now says all of his troubles and pedophilia allegations were caused by “disgruntled groupies.”

According to the New York Daily News, the singer is now placing blame on his victims, saying they were “dying” to be with him. During Kelly’s filing before his arraignment in New York, his lawyer Douglas Anton shamed the victims and said they acted voluntarily before and are now dealing with “groupie remorse.” He also adamantly refutes the claims that Kelly ran a racketeering enterprise and sex trafficking ring. 

“If this was the ‘pattern’ or ‘enterprise’ the government seeks to make it out to be, [it] is five disgruntled groupies, not all of which are alleged to be under age, who now show groupie remorse so many years later,” Anton said, according to Reuters. 

Kelly faces numerous federal charges between New York and Chicago, including production of child pornography, operating a sex trafficking ring, kidnapping and sexual exploitation of a child. According to court documents, Kelly is also accused of “hiding the fact that he had a sexually-transmitted disease … and asking his alleged victims to call him ‘Daddy.'”

The alleged pedophile’s federal case in Chicago includes 13 indictments. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, the federal judge overseeing the case has granted a protective order forbidding both sides from discussing evidence before the trial.