R. Kelly's management slammed the anti-sexual harassment movement in Hollywood, Time's Up, for calling for the boycott of the R&B singer.
Time's Up vs R. Kelly
On Monday, April 30, the Women of Color who are members of the initiative, posted a statement that encourages the public to #MuteRKelly. This is a response to the numerous sexual abuse allegations made against the 51-year-old in the past couple of months.
"The scars of history make certain that we are not interested in persecuting anyone without just cause," the statement published on The Root reads. "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."
Time's Up is a response to the multiple accusations of sexual harassment and abuse made against actors and movie executives throughout the movie industry. Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, Reese Witherspoon, America Ferrera, Emma Stone, Kerry Washington, and more are included in the movement.
The post lists R.Kelly's offenses which includes his indictment on 21 counts of child pornography possession, accusations of sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, furnishing illegal drugs to a minor, and imprisonment of women under threats of violence and familial harm.
The movement also slams the singer for marrying a girl below the age of 18. This recalls his marriage to Aaliyah in 1994 when she was reportedly 15 years old and R. Kelly was 27.
The movement called on the corporations who have ties to the singer, including his music label RCA Records and streaming sites Spotify and Apple Music, to join the boycott.
The effort comes months after Kitti Jones, R.Kelly's ex-girlfriend, accused the singer of abuse, punishment, and sexual coercion in an interview with the Rolling Stone. She claimed that the abuse went on for two years.
Concerned parents also came forward to BuzzFeed News and revealed that the singer is holding their daughters in an abusive "cult" against their will. Three former members of the "cult" (including Jones) revealed that R.Kelly controlled every aspect of their lives — from what they eat and what to wear, to how to pleasure him sexually.
R. Kelly Fights Back
Immediately after the call for boycott, R. Kelly's management issued a statement to defend the "Step In The Name Of Love" singer from the Time's Up movement and his critics.
"Mr. Kelly is aware of the repeated and now evolving claims of Ms. Kanika 'Kitti' Jones," a representative told E! News. "It is unfortunate that Ms. Jones, after public statements to the contrary, is now attempting to portray a relationship history with Mr. Kelly as anything other than consensual involvement between two adults."
They claim that R.Kelly never attempted to control Jones or anyone. They also added that any accusations of mistreatment of women by the multiple Grammy-winning singer are false and defamatory.
