Members of Women of Color committee are requesting authorities to look into long-standing sexual abuse accusations against the singer.
- May 1, 2018
AceShowbiz - R. Kelly is the focus of a campaign led by stars and activists from Time's Up movement demanding an investigation into sexual abuse allegations. Members of the anti-harassment and equality organization's Women of Color committee, who include the director Ava DuVernay, TV impresario Shonda Rhimes and the actress Jurnee Smollett, issued a statement on Monday, April 30, requesting authorities look into long-standing accusations levelled against the R&B star.
"We demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly's abuse made by women and their families for more than two decades now," their statement read. "And we declare with great vigilance and a united voice to anyone who wants to silence us - their time is up."
Kelly has been the subject of underage sexual allegations for years, and was acquitted on child pornography charges in 2008. Last year (2017), the families of two women and several former associates accused him of coercing young women into becoming his sexual pets. In a BBC documentary, a former girlfriend also alleged he had admitted grooming a 14-year-old girl. The 51-year-old singer denies the claims.
The stars have also backed a social media campaign with the hashtag #MuteRKelly seeking to prevent his music from being played and calling for any concerts to be canceled. Time's Up activists are demanding executives at Kelly's label RCA Records drop him, and they want the streaming services Spotify and Apple Music to no longer carry his songs
Committee members also penned an open letter published on The Root website, which cites the recent conviction of Bill Cosby and promises to "right" the "wrong" of the abuse of women of colour being ignored.
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
We join the campaign to #MuteRKelly. We're calling on corporations to cut all ties with R. Kelly and insist on safety and dignity for women of all kinds. @RCARecords@Spotify@AppleMusic@Ticketmaster#MuteRKelly#TIMESUP#WOCpic.twitter.com/ON9EkbpumD
— jurnee smollett (@jurneesmollett) April 30, 2018
