R Kelly - predator?

[ellenrr]

I recently saw the documentary on R Kelly, in which he is accused of sexually abusing young Black women.
Someone on the documentary said, "If these had been young Caucasian women, the whole world would be talking about it."
I think this is true.
There is not a lot of attention paid to R Kelly even tho these accusation have been made for decades. And one compares this to when the Harvey Weinstein and other cases emerged-- there was practically 24 hour/7 day coverage of it.

I find this very disturbing. (I am white). Tarana Burke who helped to create the metoo movement, says it is part of society devaluing Black life, esp. female.
And part of the idea that somehow Black females are never innocent.

I have been speaking to people about this, and find that most people I know have never heard of R. Kelly. But I believe he is (or was) very popular in the Black community.

Would appreciate your thoughts..

https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/surviving-r-kelly-documentary-lifetime-review/

[OneBro]

1. Ick.

In the way that Ted Nugent is popular in the “white community,” R Kelly’s music is popular in the “black community.” They are artists facing similar allegations, both still free. Some people will comfortably separate the artist from the art (Bill Cosby? Woody Allen?).

Some will presume guilt and grab their pitch-forks, others will insist on a “fair trial,” particularly given America’s history of lynching innocent black men (Emmett Till, DeMario Jackson), and some people don’t care one way or the other.

Chance The Rapper recently said he disbelieved R Kelly’s accusers are black, thus reminding us that we too drink from America’s cup-o-racism. This is not to suggest that I ever had higher expectations of Chance The Rapper, Kanye West, Clarence Thomas, . . .

Power, race, celebrity, sex, and money have always made for a motley stew, though the modern recipe adds a helping of social media.

Wait, what was your question again?

Editing to add politics to the motley mix because Strom Thurmond should certainly get an honorable mention after raping and impregnating his underage, black house-maid without consequences. Like I said, Ick!

[ellenrr]

2. Democracy Now covered this today..

and while I'm not into the whole "hero" thing, to me this woman's actions as well as others, are heroic - as she was so determined to bring this to the light-
Oronike Odeleye, co-founder of #muterkelly.

[fleur-de-lisa]

3. I binge-watched the "Surviving R Kelly" documentary series this weekend.

So disturbing. He is a vile creep. The music industry and his posse protected him for years and even helped him find the child victims. Disgusting.

[ellenrr]

4. binge-watched. that takes a strong stomach. :(

This is a Democracy Now web exclusive with the father whose daughter has not been seen in almost 4 years, and with the founder of mute r kelly.

https://www.democracynow.org/2019/1/7/muterkelly_survivors_family_members_seek_justice

yes for $ the industry sold little children.

[The Polack MSgt]

5. Kicking - I'm a day late, but this needs more eyeballs.

[ellenrr]

6. some things are moving, maybe..

due to the docudrama. The cities of Atlanta and Chicago has said that they are re-opening the investigation. 25 years after the fact...

[The Polack MSgt]

7. Good.

My wife watched the whole show and she is furious - Comes at me with questions like

"Did you know about THIS SHIT?!" How did he get away with this for so long?

As if I had any power to affect what was happening... but it's just indicative of how effective that documentary was.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Yep Boondocks

Cartoon - of ALL the places - showed the absurdity of his supporters back in 2005.

I thought it was a common known natural fact that he was a predator.

[kwassa]

11. I thought it was common knowledge, too.

His whole relationship with Aliyah was stomach-turning.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. PS

Also watch an Open Secret. Brian Singer - yeah THAT Brian Singer is rapey towards young men/male teenagers.

I might pay a little too much attention to 'gossipy' stuff about the entertainment industry - and that's why I just know these things.


Like Michael Douglas - yeah the 102 year old 'liberal icon' - he brutally raped Natalie Wood when she was a teenager.

[Kind of Blue]

10. I'm so glad this is finally gaining some traction.

I was reading earlier this morning that South Africa, of all places, is on its way to boycotting his music pretty much based on the documentary in your OP.

Following multiple calls from the South African public to boycott R. Kelly's music, the South African Broadcasting Corporation ( SABC) has responded by saying that it is currently in discussions about possibly no longer playing R. Kelly's music on any of its radio stations. The news comes after mounting allegations of rape and abuse by numerous women against the singer as well as a recently released docu-series entitled Surviving R. Kelly.


https://www.okayafrica.com/sabc-considering-boycotting-r-kellys-music/

[ellenrr]

12. interesting!

I know that in Germany there is a movement to stop playing his music.
Seems more awareness abroad than here.
I am white, and I talk to my friends who are also white about this, and I have yet to find anyone who had heard of him, before I mentioned him.

[Kind of Blue]

13. Yes, I needed to follow up on what's developed

here after the documentary and it has made an impact so far. If you're still interested, here's "Everything That’s Happened To R. Kelly Since Lifetime Aired Its ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Documentary,"
https://uproxx.com/hiphop/surviving-r-kelly-timeline-documentary-backlash-investigation/3/