Bantu: Thank you for reminding me about the "Boondocks" quote: “ Every black man arrested ain’t Nelson Mandela." I felt rage when Bill Cosby Invoked the name of Nelson Mandela; that he was channeling the spirit of Mandela as he prepared to survive his possible incarceration.
6
R. Kelly, people like you have been around for too long. Your feeling of being entitled to sexually abuse women and label it otherwise is aping the behaviour of many so called men. Male attorneys specializing in defending accused rapists made reputations demeaning the offended parties. Laws and those employed to enforce them have also played a large part. So Mr. Kelly, welcome to the House of Cosby, Simmons, Weinstein and countless others. Persons like me need no finding of guilt by a jury of your peers. We have had enough. Ye doth protest to deaf ears. Enjoy.
5
Many rappers deserver this same treatment based on their misogynistic lyrics. What are we waiting for?
3
Entertainers are paid according to the box office. If you don't like someone, don't give them your money. This is one business that simply disappears once people turn their gaze away. Poof! It's gone. So easy.
4
As the stack of abusers continues to grow it's a question of sorting out those that truly deserve the scrutiny of public attention. Cosby's reputation seemed impeccable till hordes of victims surfaced to chip him down to nothing because of his behavior. Although Cosby's victims were mostly adult, Kelly's delved into underage abuse and for that alone should follow a stiffer condemnation than Cosby's.
3
My daughter told me about the rape/urination videos when she was 13 years old. She explained that was why she’d never have any of his CDs & would change the station when she heard him on the radio. She and her 8th grade classmates all knew about R. Kelly before I’d ever heard of him. Glad to know #TimesUp will finally catch up with him.
6
Note to parents of girls, don't let your daughters grow up to become music groupies, especially of vile, misogynistic men who are sexually exploiting them.
9
"Never argue with someone when they show you who they are."
5
Consider that he has only lasted as long as he has, as long as all the men so accused have lasted, because he is a money maker to corporations and business interests who care less the collateral damage so long as the profits keep piling up. So to all of those of that ilk I say you'd best wake up. All that damage piling up is come down right on you.
John~
American Net'Zen
9
Black or white, yet another entertainment industry figure.
A challenge to the New York Times: go out and find the head of a "Big Bank" who does this. It will not take long, if you actually look.
Note: Yes, some of our politicians have also been exposed, but they are actually a sub-division of our entertainment industry.
10
So who is surprised. One after another - american cultural icons, not to speak of political and religious leaders are falling like nine pins. This is an affliction that seems to be everywhere, across the spectrum - affecting so many of our dearly held heroes. Shock and surprise has no meaning no more.
So where do we go from here? How did we get here? How did we end up with a culture that produces so many great achievers and yet also makes them so cheap, monstrous and deviant.
7
When i read this article Immediately thought about how R Kelly came up with the song Bump and Grind but now I know...The song starts off with this:"My minds telling me no!!! But my body! My body's telling me YES!... I dont see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind"
6
Oh, how I've been waiting for this. All the charges, trials, and videos and still he walked away free to continue assaulting and destroying the lives of so many underage black women swept away by his celebrity. And all the enablers who knew but didn't stop him because he made them money. Finally, #timesup!
24
I had NO idea that Kelly hadn't gotten in real trouble, and the idea that he's been able to continue (it seems) his abusive behaviour is saddening.
Hopefully some reckoning can correct things—he should not be able to continue doing things to others, particularly minors, who are not able to fully consent. And, if he has been up to all that is alleged, he certainly needs some time to slow down and heal, too. His type of acting out comes from damage, and he may well also once have been a victim of abuse who has not dealt with it yet...
2
"When a woman's fed up, there ain't nothing you can do about it."
- R. Kelly
13
What?! Misogyny and rape within the rap music industry?
Who would ever have thought this to be possible?
Such a nice group of gentlemen singing such nice lyrics, especially about women/girls.
Unbelievable.
25
Please don’t make an assumption because he is black that he is a rapper. He is not. I am not denying that misogyny is in some rap as well in the industry. But as the #metoo movement as pointed out, it exists in all industries. Rape is not something that is part of the rap music industry no more than it is any other music industry. Finally, what people are bringing to light is his having sex with underage women or more bluntly children. Black female children are viewed by mainstream society as being more sexualized and thus, ignored when predators strike.
13
As Lindy West wrote in one of her columns, “Yes, it’s a witch hunt. I’m a witch and I’m coming for you.” It’s about time.
34
Never heard of him so when they shut him up and put him away I won't miss a thing.
13
One of the sad and tragic problems that are never mentioned, is that lots of women are drawn to guys like this! Obviously a gentleman and a scholar! It's about time we examine that!!!
10
stop already! let the man live unless legit woman come forward.
6
This guy is a predator, pure and simple. The fact that he remains so popular in some circles is an indictment on our popular culture, and the r&b/rap/hip hop world in particular. I still believe that it is possible that all of his bad conduct, past , present and future will catch up with him , and Justice will be done to R. Kelly.
34
I'm shocked, shocked I say to find musicians involved in sexual misconduct.
14
Indeed I thought all those 'groupies' were autograph hunters.
2
He's a celebrity entertainer, not a musician.
4
Dang the reference to "lynching" clinches it for me.
Just as with Clarence Thomas, for a black man accused by black women to call it a "lynching" is SO in apropos that it's a tell.
Just to point it out, in case you didn't no, black women never DID lynch black men.
And black men using that excuse are just trying to play on the guilt of white men, both for (a) lynching black men, and (b) sexually harassing and abusing women.
BIG tell. Unfortunately, Clarence Thomas playing the 'lynch' card worked to get him a lifetime appointment of 1/27 of our federal government (one ninth of one third). Shunning an entertainer who can be replaced in popularity within weeks, if not days? Not quite the same in terms of prizes, but we'll take what we can get.
#MeToo
36
Another story perpetuating the stereotype of black men as sexual predators.
6
This man is perpetuating a stereotype by choosing to engage in the behavior of a sexual predator. The story is not perpetuating the stereotype. He is.
61
Another comment diminishing crimes against women of color.
35
My comment was meant to be ironic. Obviously I didn’t make that clear to the readers.
4
"Mr. Kelly “controls every aspect of their lives: dictating what they eat, how they dress, when they bathe, when they sleep, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records.”"
I remember when Cosmopolitan used to publish stories like this under headlines like "12 Kicky, Zazzy New Ways to Please Your Man".
Yes, R. Kelly is a sick man. Yes, America is a sick culture.
20
Believe me. Somehow, he will get away. Hip hop, aside from Russell Simmons, which is still ongoing, seems to get a play free card with the sexual abuse and defamation of women
19
Saw a documentary on him, one of his childhood friends just said "Brother's got a problem."
33
He is notorious in Detroit for hanging out at middle and high schools looking to pick up/groom young girls in the 90s/00s. Just like Aaliyah. It's incredibly sad that our city still supports him, but young women of color seem often to not matter here.
36
NYT, the accusations against R. Kelly are well beyond a "#metoo reckoning," and Kelly is not accused of "sexual misconduct." He is accused of raping black children. This did not happen 40 years ago, and this is not a civil case for cash.
The way black lives are trivialized is astonishing. How trite the media have allowed "MeToo" to become.
42
It bothers me when reporters say “women as young as 13.” Use the correct term. They are girls. Also rape is not “sexual misconduct.”
149
The #MeToo campaign should come up with its own Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. All men can apply to the #MeToo campaign to get a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. This way all the women of the world will know who they should date & who they should spend time with.
Granted, I profile like crazy every day of the year that's why I stay out of trouble. I understand the PC Police don't like profiling so consequently, we have a lot of victims running around the hen house. Obviously, I told my sisters & my loved ones to stay away from R. Kelly, Harvey Weinstein and the like.
8
"Women" as young as 13? When you are in 7th grade, you are still a girl. R. Kelly does not respect the childhood of Black girls but I expected better from the New York Times. #themoreyouknow
115
Exactly. Black girls get treated like adults by our society in many ways. In reality they are vulnerable children, just as vulnerable as little white girls with big blue eyes and wispy blond hair. This projection on black kids that they are somehow not really kids is one force that enables predators like Kelly.
56
Exactly. When adults use children for their sexual purposes it is rape. The child should not be labeled as an adult because they have been victimized by a predator. Children do not have the capacity to consent, thus it is never consensual and is always criminal. Period. Language matters.
31
Good milk supposedly comes from contented cows and is good for children. Considering who the music kids are listening to these days is coming from, they all better drink a lot more milk to try and undo the damage from what they hear.
5
It's past time that this rapist is FINALLY brought to justice. This man's assault of young Black girls has been common knowledge for decades, especially in the Black community. It doesn't surprise me that non-Black people don't know or care about his crimes; Black girls aren't exactly high on the list of their concerns. Maybe if he was abusing puppies....? But I will never stop being enraged over the Black people who have defended this creature for year. It's time that Black people put Black girls before their favourite jam.
Nobody is going to save us for us BUT US!
73
His behavior has been well-known for many years so the celebrity outrage is pretty phony. Kudos to Jim DeRogatis for the hard work he has done on this after everybody else ignored it. Why did Lady Gaga make a record with him when she herself claims to have been sexually assaulted?
34
Not being proven guilty is not to be equated with innocence.
The black community will have to shoulder the burden for bringing justice in the case of R. Kelly. In our current political/racial climate, there is little other choice. It appears that this is understood and that appropriate steps to bring Mr. Kelly to account are underway. May they succeed with all prudent haste.
13
You first think "how is it possible someone so famous and successful does this stuff?! He must be innocent!" ....well we have seen the Jimmy Savilles and Harvey Weinstein's of this world to know that money and power actually make it even easier to commit crimes and receive no punishment. When you start researching the allegations against him they are incredibly disturbing and at a minimum warrant a proper investigation by police and the broader public to be aware of the danger this man poses to society. I mean he started grooming Aaliyah when she was 13!
20
The prosecutors said, it would cost too much money. He's already been acquited in the 2006 case. He is Teflon against the charges. That's odd, the cost didn't seem to bother them with Bill Cosby (well past his Prime drawing power). Same with the retrial. Or Michael Jackson. I think they are afraid of R.Kelly. He's got a whole lot of money. He is still very popular. I would assume he has a very large, well paid crew that would do nearly anything for him.
And then there is the fact that he is a young black man. We've already saw his representative start with the, "Another lynching of a black man...", I can imagine that the next would be, "It's because he's black....", which many, many people are afraid to be accused of, even if it has no merit whatsoever. "It's because you are a racist", is also being weaponised. No, it's because he has sex with preteen and teen girls. "No, it's because you’re racist and he's black." And right then, a whole bunch of people will be in his corner.
And I'm sure that figures greatly, in why they are not going after him with much effort.
15
you are forgetting that his lawyers were able to continue the case intil
his victim aged out of the system. by the time she reached 18, she declined to cooperate with prosecution. just stating facts
2
It would be very satisfying if all the men in recent years,accused of being sexual predators did go to court and had a jury trial. I'm not sure what's holding up taking Weinstein or Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer, R Kelley etc. to court. Maybe they all just got fired with big fat severance checks. But shouldn't there be action taken on these slimy guys? What does it take to bring them to trial? Seeing how long it took Cosby to be found guilty, their court cases should be showing up any year now.
5
I have a lot of conflict about this effort. I have an opinion about R Kelly and need to look no further than him marrying a 15 years old child, when he was 27. No way he thought she was any age over 12. Mr. Robert Kelly is a bit notorious among women my age who've ever met him, and his chatter says that he likes "young." My opinion is that he is a sick perverted predator.
My opinion, however, extends as far as my daughter and my pocketbook. I pray that the wheels of justice will eventually rollover him, but in the meantime, I think prudence requires that we educate people to the allegations and allow them to vote their dollars and their dating habits according to their conscience. I am not aligned to mob mentality because the mob is not always right and their hands are never completely pure.
May God have mercy on the parents who have allowed this accused child and women sex-predator to roam among us seeking his next prey. That 13 year old girl in the video, and any more who's abuse was not filmed, is the cost of their (e.g., Aaliyah's parents') silence.
16
"...has outrun his reputation. In the age of #MeToo, it may finally be catching up to him.
Wait, Joe. First it "outran" and now is "catching up" ?
6
It’s despicable that R. Kelly’s spokespeople compared his treatment by the #MeToo movement to the treatment of black men in America. There are evidence and witnesses of R. Kelly’s shameful behavior. I am appalled that anyone would try to cover that up.
17
Calling what R Kelly does "misconduct" is like calling the Korean War a "police action."
27
Never heard of him. What school did he attend? What degree did he earn? What professional career did he pursue? Short of that, who did he play for?
2
It’s been well known in Chicago what R Kelly had done. In recent days, there have been memes shared thousands of times on social media asking why other prominent white men haven’t been prosecuted and Bill Cosby has. Well, this is your “WhatAboutIsm.” And his defense: This is a “public lynching.” Identity politics won’t be your shield forever, R Kelly.
10
It surprises me that this article does not mention Vince Staple's recent interview in which he unabashedly calls out R Kelly and (re-re-re) catalyzed this conversation. While the #metoo movement had the momentum of hundreds of celebrities backing it, the #muterkelly movement does not receive the same outrage from the general public.
Why? Because 1) R Kelly's victims were/are women of color and 2) being a black celebrity in hop hop or rap still means you're black in the eyes of white moms everywhere and so you're probably capable of such crimes anyway, no?
Staples critique of R Kelly was raw and honest and best of all, came from a black rapper performing at a white music festival (coachella) who keenly recognizes that even the nice white liberals repeatedly fall short of their promises to stand with those who are routinely marginalized. It is so important to acknowledge that these black men who are calling out R Kelly and others who fall short (i.e Kanye West with this whole Trump thing) are the same black men that are often critiqued/jailed/murdered for their lyrics/looks/style and their overall blackness (see Meek Mills). Rappers/hip hop artists don't get enough credit.
8
Children. Not women of color. Black girls.
39
Those who have been protecting this psychopath for their own enrichment for decades are just as evil as the man himself. It’s a massive shame that he is still out there, it is utterly unbelievable.
28
Huh, I'm going to have to re-watch Dave Chapelle's skit about R. Kelly...it now seems prophetic or sorts...
9
Dave Chappelle thought a video of Kelly raping and urinating on a seventh grader was a big joke. He is still making rape jokes. #partoftheproblem
18
It is this kind of myopic reply and puritanical self-righteousness that is also part of the problem. If you can't separate someone who makes a joke, raw and controversial as it may be, from the person who has been accused of committing this and other despicable acts, then you might want to look in the mirror because you are part of the problem as well.
You want to do something to improve the condition and worth of the lives of children in general and black children in particular, then stop with the hashtags and slogans. Take action. Drop the outrage which you love throwing at people because they don't fit your standards of moral purity. Do, don't talk too much.
You want black lives to matter. Them make them matter. Stop talking about it. Words and hashtags are cheap and easy...and fast.
Much more difficult to commit yourself and do the slow and grinding work to actually bring about change.
6
We seem to be living in a post-shame age, where money gives you a get-out-of-jail-free card.i can’t help thinking that the last person who used the “judicial lynching’ card was Clarence Thomas. And this at a time when at least part of America is beginning to face up to the real and horrendous history of lynching.
4
I spent the evening in a very fancy hotel while this man and his crew provided entertainment with the over the top drama, and young woman who wandered the lobby with hangers on. A free show.
1
I thought Dave Chappelle called him out 15 years ago? Sometimes satire holds truth.
8
Well, it's not just him.
The #MeToo movement is taking down the most powerful and yet the repeat offenders likes of Trump somehow remain unfazed in spite of obvious and proven facts?
Would it be fair to assume that perhaps the focus is selective and not it focusing on 'a Predator is a Predator' aspect no matter social status, colour etc?!
1
About time.
5
His reps calls the campaign "greedy." How is this campaign greedy? What monetary value do these people get out of sticking their necks out for calling him out?
15
He’s a pedophile & that = rapist. He needs to go just like Harvey Weinstein. He shouldn’t be rewarded for his vile behavior. He should be behind bars. America doesn’t take Sexual Assault & Harassment seriously. It’s extremely disheartening & “sad”.... “very sad”.
14
I would say that it is way past time to hold Rap culture accountable for it's promotion of misogyny and homophobia to kids. # Time's Up... Hip Hop.
117
that would apply to country music as well.
37
Maybe you don’t like Hip Hop - that’s your choice - but leave the music out of it. Hold people accountable for what they do, by all means, but don’t censor the music!
11
It would take to long and make me too tired to talk about the racism that goes into singling out hip hop in a world of Trump and weinsteins
5
I can recall a cousin telling me about how he would lurk around her well-known Chicago high school "looking" for talent in the 1980s.
No one cared because his victims were and are black females. And many of their lives have been crippled by this man. But it's about time this man and his career is being pushed out. His lyrics, if you listen close enough, are actually glorifying his pedophilia and preying on the weak. I can't even literally stomach anything by him.
121
@Teresa
"No one cared because his victims were and are black females."
Where is BLM when you need them most?
10
BLM folks have been fighting this one since before there were hashtags and are all up in this now.
15
Why isn't this guy in Jail? Why aren't the heads of big banks in Jail? Why isn't Trump in Jail? Why aren't big Pharma execs in Jail? Those guys along are killing 15,000 Americans a month! Why do people with money always walk- while the single mom with 2 kids going to jail because of an unpaid parking ticket? We are no better than the Indian caste system or the Saudi caste system. We are just a bunch of hypocrites.
183
Because $. nobody ever wants to derail the gravy train.
12
Bravo.
6
FINALLY!!!!
35
Rumor has it......sorry, RKelly, looks like the chickens have come home to roost for you too...be accountable for yourself...
42
"We will vigorously resist this attempted public lynching of a black man who has made extraordinary contributions to our culture."
Oh, please; that's an insult to the many black men who really are victimized because of our race. This dude is scary; IMO he's been basically running a mini-cult for aspiring singers like that NXIVM guy is with the actresses. Remember, R. Kelly married singer Aaliyah when she was 15! (She said she was 18 on the marriage certificate; it was annulled.) I wonder what she would have to say about R. Kelly now if she was alive (she died in a plane crash).
He skated so long because there are some people - I know a bunch - who have said "But, but, but...the music!" But even some of them are starting to wake up after all this.
And as far as the music, the only song he has that will live on IMO is "I Believe I Can Fly". Yolanda Adams sings it just as well - IMO even better - than R. Kelly. So how about putting R. Kelly away (after his trial, of course), letting Yolanda Adams and others sing his songs, and the songwriting royalties R. Kelly would normally get be distributed to his many, many victims?
I Believe I Can Fly (live performance by Yolanda Adams; arranged/accompanied by David Foster): https://youtu.be/TPJ5kqjEQlc
56
My sentiments exactly. I thought the guy was a hero when i hear I believe I can fly. Then I found out a bit more about him...
20
Remember too that when Clarence Thomas was questioned about claims of sexual harassment before a Senate committee, he called it "a high-tech lynching." There may be a lot of people calling you out, but this is no lynching.
10
What is remarkable is that with his reputation he seems to have a string of young and very young girls become is willing victims. What is wrong with their parents? When a public figure is so brazen, it demands that prosecutors and police do their duty.
18
"Very young girls" as "willing victims" - these two descriptions are incongruous, and might I add disgusting for an adult to string together.
18
Google the story -- the.parents have been HEROIC over these last twenty years. They have been fighting a court system that ignores crimes against Black girls. What makes you assume the.parents haven't been fighting for their girls???
7
I think it was pretty clear when he married his 15 y/o "protégé" at 27 y/o that there was something really wrong there. I mean, really, what kind of 27 y/o "man" have in common with a 15 y/o, even if it's just music? That's some pretty sick stuff, Roy Moore type stuff. I don't know of any real 27 y/o man having that kind of "relationship" with a 15 y/o, period. Why people have defended him all of these years is because he's rich and famous, like Weinstein, Cosby, and countless others. It's about time this pedophile gets his cultural, if not legal, due.
57
Maybe it's time to hold Chris Brown accountable for his brutal assault of Rhianna. He's had 10 singles chart on on the Billboard Hot 100 just since that 2009 event.
50
I don't know R. Kelly or his product. I doubt he could stand with the likes of Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, Dean Martin, Led Zeppelin or the Grateful Dead.
However this idea that a group of people how ever well intention can take it upon themselves within a collective can operate as judge, jury & executioner, beyond the law should leave a chill to anyone who think they are beyond reproach.
Judgement is the ultimate sin beyond the legitimate societal process put into place to insure equal protection and consequence under the law regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual identity or any other content people place themselves in for others to see.
While I'm doubtful R. Kelly's innocent of all the allegations, the only place outside of God's ultimate judgement for this case; a Court of Law. Not the Court of Public Opinion.
Once we give in the mob and give away rights, we all lose to those who would judge any of us for any reason.
Think I'll go download a R. Kelly title just to make a point.
5
I'll support these #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns when Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen and Kevin Spacey, to name a few, are brought to trial. Until then, I cast a side-eye on these media events.
8
Can we stop putting Allen in with these perps? He was investigated and exonerated.
6
Woody was investigated by two separate states one over the course of 9 months the other 7. The reports both said no abuse happened and Dylan was most likely coached. Moses Farrow, the oldest of the children at the time has spoken up saying he heard and saw Mia coaching Dylan, but that is really irrelevant when compared to the investigation. He was also investated when he adopted two daughters, and they found no evidence as well. The me too movement is about giving sexual abuse accusers a platform to be listened too. Dylan was listened to and Woody was indeed exhonorated. Facts have to prevail, not emotions
8
Agreed; There is no likeness whatsoever between the proven pædophiles and Woody Allen. Please stop it.
1
I hope several of the abused women who were abused talk with Gloria Allred and get the courage to drag this abuser through the court. We just brought Mr Cosby to justice so that should show women are being believed now. No one should be bullied or sexually abused in America or any where. I hope Trumps supporters read this and see his #me too day is coming also.
25
Jim DeRogatis has relentlessly and courageously reported this case from day one. Despite ample evidence that pointed toward Kelly's undeniable guilt, the mainstream media has dropped the ball again and again. The story didn't gain traction. Why? Because the victims have largely been African-American girls, many of them from the South Side of Chicago? The racial complexities of this case are overwhelming. Last year, DeRog's Buzz Feed piece dropped another bombshell. Still, the media did nothing. Kelly's audience has long shown that they don't care about the allegations. Perhaps the allegations have even drummed up additional cred to the creep. I have seen the tape, I have read the testimony, I have talked to the people who were in the room when R. Kelly walked in and zeroed in on the underage girl with braces in Chicago recording studios. There has never been a doubt. Robert Kelly is a serial predator and rapist, a savage beast who belongs behind bars. May this, finally, be the reckoning.
71
I'm just a cynical New Yorker, I suppose -- but you know the old saying: where there's smoke....and more smoke.....and some more smoke over here....and then a bit more smoke a decade later...
22
He and Bill would be good cellmates.
4
What did Bill Murray ever do to harm you?
Heh, Kenneth, it's Bill Cosby I'm sure. Thankfully Bill Murray has never had scandalous charges leveled against him.
2
Bill Clinton?
1
Take him down and then go after Brokow and Prince Andrew!
2
Gee willickers do you think all of these allegations are just made up out of thin air? Doubtful...more than doubtful. The guy needs to be 86'd from his career....and the industry.
33
“a greedy, conscious and malicious conspiracy to demean him, his family and the women with whom he spends his time,”
In answer to R. Kelly’s Representatives statement- in no way is the family or the women who he spends time with being demeaned. No one should be able to hide behind loved ones to have their bad actions go unpunished and do not drag their dignity into it- their dignity remains intact, it is R Kelly’s in question. The inherent sexism of assuming it demeans his female company proves he does not consider the true value and dignity of women as separate from that of a man. And just to be clear, the women of color that accused R Kelly matter, their lives and their dignity matter, they matter more than the inflated ego of a celebrity. This is not a lynching, no more than there is a Witch hunt out against the White Male President.
41
As the articles mentions, there have been numerous reports of his toxic and downright predatory behavior for many years - trying to hide behind a facade of calling it "racial injustice" is an affront to the actual racial injustice still plaguing this country.
I hope R.Kelly gets his comeuppances - they are certainly long overdue.
124
I've been hearing rumors online about his conduct for years. I was wondering when people would start to question it.
33
I suspect he is guilty; he should be thoroughly and fairly investigated and, if guilty, punished.
But even if he's not, I'm offended by the notion that his TV ad-level ditties might be considered a significant contribution to African American music. Sure, he's still singing in an era when rap is predominant, but singing what?
He isn't Stevie Wonder.
77
Nor Louis Armstrong, nor Nat King Cole ...
9
As an African American male I am disgusted that R. Kelly would bring up lynching. Are you kidding me ? I , like many many people saw the videotape that was in wide circulation. You’re not a victim you’re a serial pedophile and abuser. I am also saddened to my core that despite your obvious crimes there is so much support for R.Kelly in the Black community. How do you justify looking the other way simply because you like his music ? Which is corny anyway. To quote the cartoon “Boondocks” on this matter. “ Every black man arrested ain’t Nelson Mandela. Throw this man in jail where he belongs and shame on the Black community for tolerating and supporting R. Kelly for over 20 years.
285
Same support of Cosby and Tyson and others.
9
All communities support their pedophiles initially e.g. Catholic Church, colleges and universities etc, Boy Scouts.
But we're better than India! Or maybe not.
8
I, too, agree with you, that it's long past time that R. Kelly face the music, if he is guilty of his alleged crimes or abuse. However, I think you've gone too far once you begin sweeping generalizations about the "Black community"--particularly since it's doubtful that your statement is empirical or scientific. (It's likely anecdotal, or based on eavesdropping of Saturday afternoon barbershop chatter.)
Further--and I am NOT an R. Kelly fan, nor have I ever been one--it's likely that many of R. Kelly's fans precede the discovery of these sordid allegations, his purported crimes. (There are many talented male celebrities, unfortunately, who have put fans or patrons of their talent in an unfortunate place. Among them, Woody Allen, Mel Gibson, John Mayer, etc. So, are we to never again support their artistry, or allow their creativity public space? And what of the (pick a color) "communities" that tolerate or support their art--who have not looked the other way? Would you so easily and carelessly say to them, "Shame on you, 'White community' or 'Jewish' community?" Of course you would not! Not without a visceral or forceful retaliation, anyway.
What saddens me is that your seemingly well-intended criticism of R. Kelly is at the expense of maligning and libeling a "majority" of a (30 million-plus!) "Black community--of a staggering diversity--which you have no real evidence. (NOTE: "Hearsay" is not evidence.)
Perhaps you should take time to think before you lob shame on Us.
4
It’s about time!
45
Really disgusting that the defenders of R. Kelly are accusing people leveling allegations of "lynching". Hypocritically playing the race card to attempt to escape obvious guilt, and what they're winding up doing is defanging the term "lynching".
Look, fans of R. Kelly are as self-deluding and divorced from reality as fans of Trump, but there is video evidence of R. committing statutory rape. He should have done years of prison time for that. That's not lynching, that's protecting children from predatory men like R..
Anyway I hope this vile character gets actually punished, but what with similar rapacious men like Weinstein, O'Reilly, Lauer, Rice, and so forth getting to walk free, I don't have much hope in this case. It'd be nice if at least his music doesn't get played as much, because frankly, it stinks.
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#itsabouttime!
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Where are the parents of his underage victims? If they hide their daughters from testifying, they are complicit!
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Those girls are victims. Just like any other victims of horrible, traumatizing crimes -- especially ones that happened when they were children -- they don't owe anyone anything. If anyone chooses to "hide" to protect themselves or their child from the horrible experience that is testifying against a molester or a rapist, they have that right; their recovery should be their first priority. Until our legal system becomes more friendly to victims and doesn't engage in re-traumatizing them, as it often does, this is just another form of victim-blaming.
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Not wanting to put their daughters through more trauma. He's been seemingly invincible for over two decades despite recurring, VERY recurring, allegations (and more than allegations even) of sexual assaults of young girls. Sexual assault is traumatic in itself, who would want to take on an "artist" seemingly invincible? Women have problems being believed in the court system, especially when the person is famous (remember Bill Cosby - been in the news lately), what would it do to young traumatised girls?
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R. Kelly jas been known as a sexually abusive individual for decades. Why is it taking so long to bring this 'artist' to justice!?
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Money!!!! It's ALWAYS money. :(
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"The times, they are a'changin'." To quote a Nobel laureate.
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This guy is the poster child for Me Too, three, four . . . 10,000. He should also have a "Most Wanted" sign written across his forehead. And a "Do not let out of jail EVER" sign tattooed on his backside.
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R Kelly should be ARRested
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I suspect many of his fans will say he is being framed.
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This news is 20 years old. The #metoo movement needs to stay focused on exposing people that are previously unknown as abusers. This makes the movement look weak and appear as thought it’s running out of steam. This is not news.
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Would you say the same about Bill Cosby? I see this as days of reckoning for those whose are known abusers.
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Your logic defies reason for me. I truly do not understand your point. Justice may be slow in coming for serial predators, most esp those who are rich and famous*, but that does not make it unworthy of our attention and the (alleged) predator's day in court.
Due to the brave pushing on of Bill Cosby's victims, we finally saw a victory. This serial predator will finally be punished for his horrifying behavior against women. Likely this is in no small part due to the #Metoo movement. Your reports of the #Metoo movement's demise are highly exaggerated. I wish it could be running out of steam. I wish there were not so many men out there with a history of, and current day practice of, abusing women. That is not the case.
*Note: This article links to a Buzzfeed article by Jim deRegotis which says Police were called to Kelly's Olympia Fields Home/mansion, but did not obtain a warrant or press on to confirm parental reports of an underage girl at his home. It went on to say that he alone pays enough taxes to equal 10% of the police department's budget. Follow the money.
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@ Jane: Look at the all of the heat that Gloria Allred and her clients (Cosby victims) had to endure for almost four years after several of his victims came forward to hold a news conference in 2014 to accuse him of his decades-long sexual predation, without being able to sue him for his criminality but because they had to let the public know who this monster really was. Men who are complaining about the #metoo movement as "going too far" are just uncomfortable that it rolls on and on, exposing more and more men for the weasels and jerks they really are (not all men, mind you, just the real sexual harassers and abusers). I'm a therapist and work with couples. When the husband is the one who cheats, guess how hard it is for him to face his wife, week after week, month after month, about his betrayal of their marriage vows? They tend to want to move on pretty quickly and start getting angry because "when is she going to get over it already?" is the usual response I tend to here, despite telling these men that if they truly want to achieve forgiveness from their wives and save their marriages, they better be prepared to wear sackcloth and ashes and say "I'm sorry" and really mean it, for at least a year. It's tough for them, but if they are good men (which 99% of them are), they do it.
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I have been so disgusted by this guy, so thankful to everyone standing up to him! I don’t know why people like this are allowed to go on so long...I guess as they say, money and power corrupts.
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"Woman Power" trumps it all when women work together.
Boycott power is the strongest tool WE THE PEOPLE have. Take away the money they have stolen and they are just like every other human being.
Good Job to all those who continued to speak up against Mr. Kelly and all the other men - and women - who think money allows someone to behave as badly as they wish. It ain't so. Time's UP!
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He’s a serial predator. I wish more of his victims would speak up and that their allegations are taken seriously. Justice delayed is justice denied.
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Victims have BEEN speaking up. The indifference of the media and courts is the crime. Those courageous girls and their families have paid terrible prices, the girls have become suicidal, lives ruined no support and no recourse. And still they are blamed for not screaming loud enough???
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Kudos to Oronike Odeleye and Keneytter Barnes - great work. And props to men like Jim DeRogatis and John Legend for being allies.
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My apologies for mistyping Ms. Kenyette Barnes' name. Very clumsy of me.
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