A representative for R. Kelly has responded to the #MuteRKelly campaign. “Kelly supports the pro-women goals of the Time’s Up movement,” reads the statement via Variety. “We understand criticizing a famous artist is a good way to draw attention to those goals–and in this case, it is unjust and off-target.”
Additionally, the rep said Kelly supports Time’s Up. “We fully support the rights of women to be empowered to make their own choices,” the statement continues. “Time’s Up has neglected to speak with any of the women who welcome R. Kelly’s support, and it has rushed to judgment without the facts. Soon it will become clear Mr. Kelly is the target of a greedy, conscious and malicious conspiracy to demean him, his family, and the women with whom he spends his time, Kelly’s music is a part of American and African-American culture that should never and will never be silenced,” they said. “Since America was born, black men and women have been lynched for having s*x or for being accused of it. We will vigorously resist this attempted public lynching of a black man who has made extraordinary contributions to our culture.”
The Time’s Up movement and Women of Color coalition called on all corporations and venues to boycott R. Kelly due to numerous sexual abuse allegations over the years. On Monday (Apr. 30), the Time’s Up organization announced the #MuteRKelly initiative.
“To our fellow women of color,” reads the statement. “Together, we call on corporations and venues with ties to R. Kelly to join us and insist on safety and dignity for women of all kinds.”The Women of Color committee includes director Ava DuVernay, television mogul Shonda Rhimes, and actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell. DuVernay addressed the initiative on Twitter, explaining the campaign’s demands and goals.
Multiple women have accused R. Kelly of abusive behavior for more than a decade. In 2008, he was linked to14 charges of making child pornography. This year, he was accused of keeping a 14-year-old girl as a s*x “pet.” Last year, others accused him of underage s*x, physical abuse, and keeping women in a cult-like environment. Kelly denied these allegations.
Many other artists have also blasted R. Kelly over repeated accusations. Vic Mensa called him a “sc**bag,” while Vince Staples declared him a “f**ing child molestor.” “He’s a child molester and he pees on people, and he can’t read or write, and he didn’t go to jail,” Staples said. “I’m a good person. R. Kelly is a piece of fucking sh*t.”
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