♪ this is "nightline." >> tonight, r. kelly insider. ♪ i believe i can fly ♪ >> the "i believe i can fly" singer facing accusations that may land him in prison for life. now his former assistant breaking her silence. >> he's charismatic, and i think that's one of the reasons why people kind of say he has two personalities. >> what she says about allegations against the singer, who is accused of sexually abusing and controlling young women, some underage. >> my johnstons at the threshold of his bedroom door. plus the people's champion. we're with one of the greatest boxers of all time. how canelo alvarez beat the odds and is lifting a latino community.

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good evening. thank you for joining us. singer r. kelly unless the legal fight of his life, facing disturbing allegations brought up at his federal sexual assault trial in brooklyn, new york, on charges that could land him in prison for life if found guilty.

now the exclusive abc news interview with his former assistant, telling michael strahan about life inside r. kelly's home, telling about what she witnessed working for him for more than a decade. >> reporter: it's the bombshell trial making headlines. r&b superstar r. kelly in federal court. at various points over the span of two decades, allegations from sex trafficking to child pornography has swirled around r. kelly. but he has not been found guilty of any crimes. the singer now back in court and claiming his innocence again, pleading not guilty to multiple federal charges including racketeering and sexual abuse. >> there were women always, you know, coming at him. >> reporter: diana copeland served as r. kelly's executive assistant off and on for 16 years, taking the stand, sharing details from her experience working in his homes. ♪ i believe i can fly ♪ >> reporter: at the time, kelly

was one of the biggest-selling male artists and music producers. his hit song "i believe i can fly" winning him three grammys. how would you describe him as a person? >> he's charismatic. and i think that's one of the reasons why people kind of say he has two personalities. because when you meet him, he has, you know -- he's a really personable person. if you see him angry, that's a whole different person. >> reporter: inside kelly's homes where she worked, copeland said there were rules, like guests were not allowed to roam the homes. where did they stay? >> he would have live-in girlfriends, they had their own rooms. guests would just come, maybe sit in the studio with him. he had, like, three properties. and those properties, there was, like, a certain decorum that was expected. they -- he pretty much didn't want not just the girls to move around, but he didn't want anybody to be able to just roam his house, you know, like a

museum. >> reporter: as executive assistant, copeland says she had freedoms other guests didn't. but she says everyone was required to walk on the wall when entering a space to announce their presence. copeland says that rule was put in place by r. kelly's ex-wife but stayed in place after their divorce. why were you told to do that? >> i did ask him that question. and he said, listen, i have people in my house 24 hours a day, the least that everybody can do is just knock to let me know you're there. and so i understood that. >> that didn't come across as a little odd? >> no. it didn't. i know that celebrities have unique rules based on their likes and their dislikes. this is his home. he wants us to knock. it wasn't a big deal for me. >> reporter: copeland says she was asked to accompany his guests on outings. she says during shopping trips, the women often didn't interact

with male salespeople. >> they asked me during the trial, did you notice their reaction with males? and i did. they didn't want to speak to the males. in fact, sometimes they would ask me to interact with the male. >> so they didn't want to speak to the males, or were they told not to speak to the males? >> well, that part, piece, i can't speak to. because i don't know if they were told. but i would say that you can pretty much surmise that that was probably the case. >> reporter: she says while outside a fitness center waiting for kelly to work out, she was in a van with multiple women and one of his girlfriends needed to use the restroom, but she says refused to go because she did not have permission from kelly. was she afraid of him? was she afraid if she went to the bathroom, she would be in trouble? >> hm, that's -- you know -- a question, i guess, for her. but what i can say is this. there are certain rules that are put in place for safety.

because when he gets out of the vehicle, he's highly recognizable. so whoever gets out of that vehicle, there's a spotlight, a target, on that person. >> the knocking on the wall, the no speaking to men, the texting to use the bathroom. none of that raised an alarm for you? you didn't think any of that was a little strange? >> i know robert's the family man, the businessman. his personal life is robert's personal life. so my job stops at the threshold of his bedroom door. >> reporter: copeland says multiple live-in girlfriends and other women would visit her homes and one of her jobs was making their travel arrangeme arrangements. in court kelly has been accused of some women of traveling them across state lines when they were underage. another alleged victim telling the jury she was held captive for several days. copeland maintains she didn't see anything like that. when you're making travel arrangements, of course you need a date of birth. how old were these women?

>> they ranged in ages. no one under 18. in fact, when this case came up, i'm reading that women are locked up, and you know, kidnapped, things of that nature. and that's not what i'm seeing. i'm not seeing anybody that's trying to leave or any locked doors. >> reporter: while testifying, copeland was asked about an incident where kelly confronted her about letting a woman, quote, escape. when he said escape, what went through your mind? >> there was an employee that was trying to start trouble. she calls him. she says, you know, diana let anna escape. and he comes to me and tells me exactly what that person said. and i said to him, that was concerning to me. like, why would you say that? why would you even repeat that? i want to make very clear, those were words that he was using

from someone who had called him. >> because if someone used the word escape, i think somebody's being held against their will. >> absolutely. >> escape, get out from -- >> yes, yes. he never -- he's never asked me or anyone else that i know to make sure, you know, women don't leave. every woman that's left has walked right out the door. >> reporter: copeland testified on cross examination at trial that the year she worked for him, kelly never tried to prevent someone from leaving or asked her or anyone else to try to prevent someone else from leave leaving. in 2018, copeland is named in a civil complaint pending against r. kelly. the accuser saying kelly used copeland to enforce his rules. allegations he denies. she alleges that kelly locked her in secluded areas -- rooms, studios, motor vehicles -- as punishment, and that he would instruct you to, quote, stand

guard outside the door. >> uh-huh. >> what is your response to that? >> so i can't speak to her experience with him. but i can speak to the piece that mentions me. that is absolutely impossible. anybody that knows me, knows i would never do anything like that. >> reporter: during the latest trial, copeland herself was named as someone who took part in the alleged mistreatment, but denies it. one woman testified that you took her for an std test. was that part of your duties, was that something that happened? >> i don't even recall that, so -- >> you don't recall that -- because she even said that you withheld the results from her. >> first of all, let me just say, they don't give results to other people. but i have no recollection of it. >> did he ever ask you to recruit women for him? >> he's never asked me. but at the time, i'm only saying

that he was r. kelly, a mega superstar. he needed no help -- i mean, absolutely no help to recruit women, or to get women. >> is there anything that you think you could have, would have done differently? >> you know -- looking back, i think that i would have done things the same way i did. i don't think that anything that i did was wrong or -- and i also don't think that anything that i could have done would have changed what robert did. i can only control diana. >> our thanks to michael. coming up, the boxing great. how canelo alvarez fought through adversity and lifted the latino community.

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♪ as part of abc news' coverage of hispanic heritage month, we sit down with canelo alvarez, considered the number one boxer in the world. his hook, jabs, and punches almost unstoppable. now his life in and out of the ring. here's abc's john quinones. >> reporter: in the pantheon of sports legends where greatness is measured in moments of glory, there's always existed a special place with the very best fighter on earth. revered icons whose names echo throughout history. ali. tyson. marciano. sugar ray. the greatest boxers to ever walk

this planet. well, they now found in their ranks a young man from mexico. his trademark red hair, stoic smile, and thunderous power have risen him to the precipice of global superstardom. >> reporter: when canelo alvarez steps into the ring this november, he'll be fighting to make history. an undisputed world championship. just the sixth boxer to do it in the modern sports era. but most importantly, he'll be carrying the pride of latinos around the world. on his shoulders. >> canelo alvarez! >> reporter: in mexico's second-largest city, guadalajara, in the state of

jalisco, a family of eight children, the youngest, a redheaded boy they name saul. particular particular >> reporter: you used to sell ice cream? >> reporter: what was your dream? >> reporter: boxing has long been a path to sporting success for young mexicans.

with a mean left hook and the audacity to dream, a path forged by latino legends, like julio cesar chavez, salvador sanchez. the championship ethos, to reach glory in the ring, was very much built into saul's dna. >> reporter: the alvarez brothers learned many of life's lessons with their fists. but among his brothers and most of his peers, saul, well, he was different. his ruby hair and cherry complexion garnered hip the nickname "canelo." spanish for "cinnamon." you were bullied as a child?

>> reporter: it wasn't long before canelo took to the ring and fuego, becoming a professional boxer at just 15 years old. dominating grown men twice his age. by 21, he's undefeated, a world champion. headlining blockbuster pay-per-views against the sport's biggest stars. including floyd mayweather in a feature bout on showtime. >> oh, counter jab by canelo! >> 56 wins, 1 loss, against floyd mayweather. what did that teach you?

>> reporter: keep winning he did. racking up championship after championship. outside the ring, he's become one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet. and he's exploded into a social media star, with millions of followers tuning in to his torrid training videos, all filmed right here at his private gym in san diego where they meet right hooks. the sense of familia makes you feel like you're celebrating hispanic heritage month every day. you are a maniac in the ring. what do you -- look at these.

>> reporter: but throughout the trials and turmoils of a career in combat sports, canelo has tried to maintain the meek nature of that boy selling ice cream on the streets of guadalajara. he's become a father, raising a beautiful family with his wife, fernanda, and investing in his community, building up businesses and funding charities throughout mexico. and championing causes for mexicans around the world. you're a world-famous athlete. is it your responsibility to speak out against injustice, social causes? >> lebron james, colin kaepernick?

>> hispanic heritage month in september, october. what do you want the world to know about latinos and their ability to succeed and make it in this country? >> reporter: hard work. little by little. mantras that have defined the career of this young man. but more than a sportsman, more than a boxer, he's become a beacon of hope for the spanish-speaking world. the people who look like us, talk like us, live like us, can

sell out the arena. >> middleweight champion of the world -- >> reporter: can have a name on the marquee. and will have a place in the halls of sports history. >> "corazon de america" celebrating hispanic culture airs on hulu tomorrow. we'll be right back.

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