Sony has officially cut ties with R. Kelly, and it’s about time
Allegations of pedophilia and sexual abuse have been leveled against R&B singer R. Kelly for decades, and it seems that the world is finally starting to listen. Over the past several months, awareness of Kelly’s purported sex crimes has increased thanks to efforts like the #MuteRKelly movement and the recent Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly. And today, January 18th, Billboard reports that Sony Music has officially ended its business relationship with Kelly.
According to the magazine, the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer was removed from the RCA Records website at about 10 a.m. PT. It was a quiet move with huge significance. However, Billboardalso notes that Kelly’s previously released music will remain available through Sony/RCA, as well as on many streaming services. He has been signed with RCA, a part of Sony, since 2012. The New York Times reports that at this point, it’s unclear if RCA paid Kelly to end his contract or what other terms of the deal were. An unnamed source told The Times that the singer’s legal team and RCA had been working on an exit deal for months—even before Surviving R. Kelly premiered.
On Twitter, many celebrated.
FINALLY. Hats off to the women of #MuteRKelly ❤️✊🏾
R. Kelly Dropped by Sony Music – Variety https://t.co/MuSc8geBEW
— THIQUE CHURCH GIRL. (@MsPackyetti) January 18, 2019
FINALLY! https://t.co/k7AEQHSMa7
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) January 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1086344916349796352
But, as others pointed out, the decision was long overdue.
It took a six part documentary series and years of campaigning for @Sony to drop R. Kelly. Countless dollars, hours of organizing. Survivors reliving it all.
That’s how much it takes for any semblance accountability when Black women and girls are violated and abused. #MuteRKelly
— Charlene A. Carruthers (@CharleneCac) January 18, 2019
SONY has known for quite some time what R Kelly is.
So why now? Let's not pretend it's the principle of not wanting to be associated with his crimes against girls. https://t.co/CAJWAu7DVd
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 18, 2019
Sony dropping R Kelly is good news but also the bare minimum of what needed to happen, & it should have happened 25 yrs ago. He needs to be brought to justice, his dozens of victims provided with some kind of recompense & his enablers held accountable #MuteRKelly #SurvivingRKelly
— Emily L. Hauser אלה אסתר 🟣 (@emilylhauser) January 18, 2019
After Surviving R. Kelly aired on January 3rd, 4th, and 5th, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in Georgia opened a criminal investigation into the singer’s alleged abuse (and The Times reported that an investigation was opened in Chicago, too). CNN reported that Kelly’s former manager, Henry James Mason, turned himself in to the police for threatening the father of one of Kelly’s reported victims. And according to The Guardian, protesters demonstrated online and outside of Sony’s New York headquarters on January 16th.
Sonja Spoo, left, associate campaign director of Ultra Violet, leads chants during an R. Kelly protest outside Sony headquarters today, in New York. Kelly has been under fire since the recent airing of a Lifetime documentary "Surviving R. Kelly." | Photo Richard Drew pic.twitter.com/ob7k6sx5RT
— AP Images (@AP_Images) January 16, 2019
Kelly losing his contract with Sony won’t take away the pain his victims have experienced, or undo how long they’ve suffered in silence. But this is at least a step in the right direction.
