R. Kelly’s management is speaking out against the #TIMESUP movement after several YBF heavy hitters spoke out in support of the #MUTERKELLY, including Lupita Nyong’o, Ava DuVernay, Kerry Washington, Viola Davis and Shonda Rhimes. More inside…
The #TIMESUP movement has turned its attention to R. Kelly. And now his camp is responding.
After Kelly’s lawyer, publicist and longtime assistant cut ties with him, the Women of Color of Time’s Up called for the boycott of the Grammy Award winning singer’s music. Over the years, there have been rumors about R. Kelly being sexually involved with underage women.
Most recently, a woman came forward claiming R. Kelly gave her herpes and she has pulled the trigger on a lawsuit. Also, he has been accused of having a “sex cult” where several women have come forward sharing their stories on what it was like being one of his “pets.”
Well, enough is enough.
The #TIMESUP movement wants to #MUTERKELLY, asking big companies to step in and make the conscious decision to NOT sell, play or share his music. Radio personality Tom Joyner already agreed to stop playing Kelly’s music on the radio when #TIMESUP founder Tarana Burke called into the show last week. Now, they’re asking big names like Apple and Spotify to do the same.
In an open letter, the Women of Color of Time’s Up write:
Together, we call on the following corporations and venues with ties to R. Kelly to join us and insist on safety and dignity for women of all kinds:
• RCA Records: The venerable music label currently produces and distributes R. Kelly’s music.
• Ticketmaster: The popular ticketing system is currently issuing tickets for R. Kelly’s show May 11.
• Spotify and Apple Music: The popular streaming platforms are currently monetizing R. Kelly’s music.
• Greensboro Coliseum Complex: The North Carolina venue is currently hosting an R. Kelly concert May 11.
The scars of history make certain that we are not interested in persecuting anyone without just cause. With that said, we demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by women of color and their families for over two decades now. And we declare with great vigilance and a united voice to anyone who wants to silence us: Their time is up.
Kelly’s management team is now responding to the boycott and claims the boycott is nothing more that a modern day “lynching of a black man who has made extraordinary contributions to our culture." They also bashed the movement for not speaking with women who DO support him.
Read the full statement (sent to BuzzFeed) below:
Several YBF women stepped up to support the #MUTERKELLY movement, including Lupita Nyong’o, Ava DuVernay, Kerry Washington, Viola Davis and Shonda Rhimes. Peep their tweets below:
We demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse. #MuteRKelly#TIMESUPpic.twitter.com/T1Rj6DzhYK
— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) April 30, 2018
We join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on the safety + dignity of all women. We demand investigations into R. Kelly’s abuse allegations made by women of color + their families for two decades. We call on those who profit from his music to cut ties. #MuteRKelly#TIMESUP#WOCpic.twitter.com/TYmDRVIH00
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018
Today we join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on safety & dignity for all women. We demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by women of color & their families for over two decades now. #WOC#TIMESUPhttps://t.co/CG7Y5ZmKyR
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 30, 2018
Today we join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on safety and dignity for women of all kinds. #TIMESUPpic.twitter.com/VcX0xLRnTi
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) April 30, 2018
We join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on the safety + dignity of all women. We demand investigations into R. Kelly’s abuse allegations made by women of color + their families for two decades. We call on those who profit from his music to cut ties. #MuteRKelly#TIMESUP#WOChttps://t.co/RTco2ZeetZ
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) April 30, 2018
It should be noted that actress and #TimesUp activist Mira Sorvino also spoke up in defense of #MuteRKelly. R&B singer John Legend is also standing with women:
I stand with the women of #timesup#muterkelly. https://t.co/B0yaRj7zdZ
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 30, 2018
Interestingly, there's a battle going on with people - both men and women - defending R.Kelly. And others aren't here for it.
As for Kellz....
He jetted to Chicago to attend church and visit his "second mom." We guess he needed to find himself after he claims to not understand why cities have been cancelling his shows.
Peep the clip above.
By the way, we know R. Kelly got evicted from one of his GA homes, which became the center of the sex cult allegations, recently. Get that infor HERE.
EXTRAS:
EXTRAS:
1. Over 100 Uber and Lyft drivers have been accused of sexual assault in the past 4 years. STORY
Photo: Getty
