By Care2
Sony severed ties with R. Kelly last week in the wake of the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which details Kelly’s decades of sexual abuse perpetrated against young Black women and girls, and those in the music industry who have not only enabled him, but profited from him.
The announcement comes following a rally outside of Sony Music’s headquarters last Wednesday with members of #MuteRKelly, Black Women’s Blueprint, Care2, Color of Change, CREDO, Girls for Gender Equity, NOW-NYC and UltraViolet. The groups delivered over 217,000 signatures to RCA’s Manhattan offices, imploring the label to drop Kelly.
Rebecca Gerber, Senior Director of Engagement at Care2, issued the following:
“It’s long past time that Sony Music took a stand for black and brown girls and put a check on R. Kelly and his horrific abuse of young girls, which went on for decades with impunity.
“Black women have stood at the forefront of this fight, and for nearly two years, Care2 is proud to have worked with the #MuteRKelly founders, Oronike Odeleye and Kenyette Barnes, and countless others to hold RCA accountable for its continued partnership with Kelly. We applaud the label for taking the right step in the face of public outcry over its ties to him, and implore other corporations and artists to do the same.
“R. Kelly is a serial sexual predator and has no place in the music industry – or in any industry.”
Care2’s petition calling on Sony to drop Kelly has been live since July 2017, and has garnered over 110,000 signatures.
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Previously: After Premiere Of Surviving R. Kelly Docuseries, Nearly 75,000 Renew Call For Sony And Live Nation To #MuteRKelly.
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Posted on January 21, 2019