Iyanla Vanzant is apologizing to R. Kelly, arguing that the Black community failed the disgraced R&B singer long before he was sentenced to decades in federal prison for sexually abusing women and children. During an appearance on The Jason Lee Show , the spiritual adviser said she believes community elders should have intervened in Kelly's life instead of letting his problems go unaddressed.

"Forgive me as an elder in our community not being available to support you," Vanzant said, addressing Kelly directly. "Forgive me for ignoring your pain. Forgive me for abandoning you."

When Lee asked whether she genuinely believed she had abandoned the singer, Vanzant broadened her criticism.

"Our entire community abandoned him. As an elder, I'm going to own it," she said. "We did. We abandoned him."

Vanzant also brought up Michael Jackson, suggesting that people around both entertainers had opportunities to intervene but failed to .

"We abandoned him. We abandoned Michael," she continued.…