Watch: R. Kelly pleads for the press to 'take it easy' on him while he's 'chillin' as he faces 10 counts of sexual abuse

Singer R. Kelly is evidently feeling the heat after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse — against at least three minors — after begging the media to "take it easy" on him while he lounges in public.

What are the details?

Kelly, 52, surrendered to the Chicago Police Department in February after being formally charged with abusing girls between the ages of 13 and 16 over a 12-year span, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The singer's presence in law enforcement's spotlight has been renewed after he was acquitted of 14 counts of child pornography in 2008.

The self-proclaimed king of R&B took to Instagram hours before a Sunday appearance, asking the press to back off.

"Yo, this is your boy Kells and um, I gotta event to do tonight," he began, scratching his brow with a cigar in hand, "in Springfields (sic), Illinois. So I want the media to take it easy on me, man, this is how I gotta get paid now, for right now, so I gotta go do this event, and it's a party. So when you see me in the club, with a couple of drinks in my hand, and chillin', please, take it easy. Appreciate it, y'all. Thanks."

According to The Daily Caller, Kelly needs the money. He was bailed out by friends after his February arrest and again in March. Page Six pointed out that the singer also owes his ex-wife more than $160,000 in back child support payments.

One follower posted in response to Kelly's message, "I need to be on this level of unbothered."

Anything else?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Kelly didn't wear himself out too much at Sunday's event. He arrived at Springfield's Dirty South Lounge, sang for a whole 28 seconds, and spent another 30 minutes at a "meet-and-greet."

Fans paid $100 to attend, but the price was dropped to "$50 once Kelly arrived at 1:30 a.m."

Roughly 100 people showed up, according to the Journal-Constitution, with "some fans saying it wasn't worth the $100 and that they wouldn't pay again," while others "defended showing up at the event, saying they separate the accusations from the artist."