#MuteRKelly Campaign is Happening
#MuteRKelly Campaign is Happening

The Women of Color of Time’s Up Throw Their Support Behind the #MuteRKelly Campaign

Time's up for R. Kelly

The Women of Color of Times Up,a subdivision of the Time's Up collective, released a letter on Monday urging the music industry to separate themselves from R. Kelly, a singer who has had numerous sexual abuse allegations thrown at him over the years.

In the letter, which was published in The Root,The Women of Color of Times Up throw theirsupport behind #MuteRKelly, a campaign that's been trying to get justice for Kelly's alleged victims.

WATCH:Vince Staples Calls R. Kelly A Child Molester For History Of Alleged Abuse

Using the recent prosecution of Bill Cosby as a jumping point, The Women of Color of Times Up announced why they were joining the #MuteRKelly campaign.

In the article, they write:

Over the past 25 years, the man known publicly as R. Kelly has sold 60 million albums, toured the globe repeatedly and accumulated hundreds of millions of plays on radio and streaming services.

During this time, he also ...

  • Married a girl under 18 years of age;
  • Was sued by at least four women for sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and furnishing illegal drugs to a minor;
  • Was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography;
  • Has faced allegations of sexual abuse and imprisonment of women under threats of violence and familial harm;

READ: R. Kelly Accused Of Training 14-Year-Old Girl As His Sex "Pet"

They also asked a number of R. Kelly's partners to join the campaign. This includes RCA Records, his label;Ticketmaster; Spotify and Apple Music; and Greensboro Coliseum Complex, a North Carolina-based venue holding an R. Kelly concert on May 11th.

A number of members and supporters of Times Up tweeted in support of the #MuteRKelly campaign. This included Ava DuVernay, Shonda Rhimes, and more.

Allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse have dogged R. Kelly for years, something veteranpop music reporterJim DeRogatishas covered extensively. The latest allegations have Kelly training a 14-year-old to be his sex "pet."

Source: The Root

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