The #MuteRKelly Campaign Grows With Support From Ava DuVernay, Lena Waithe, Lupita Nyong’o & More

May 1, 2018

Photos by Paras Griffin/Getty Images, Michael Tran/FilmMagic and Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

With the conviction of Bill Cosby last week the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement is forging full speed ahead to their next target, R. Kelly.

For over two decades the singer has been largely associated with accusations of sexual assault and misconduct with minors. Most recently several women, including Jerhonda Pace and Kitti Jones, have come forward detailing reports of young girls being trained to please the 51-year-old sexually as well as rumors of a sex cult. There are even reports of physical abuse. Joycelyn Savage, one of the women whose family first spoke out on allegations of Kelly keeping women captive, told TMZ that wasn’t the case.

After being called out by Tarana Burke on his radio show last week, Tom Joyner agreed to stop playing Kelly’s music, prompting the resurgence of #MuteRKelly.

Celebrities like Ava DuVernay, Lena Waithe, Kerry Washingon and Lupita Nyong’o have joined forces on social media to help lead the call, asking for a proper investigation into the claims of the women who say they were sexually abused by Kelly.

What they said. #MuteRKelly #TimesUp #MeToo @TiffanyHaddish @cthagod pic.twitter.com/QzW3hSnz6z

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiNI88ohU2R/?hl=en&taken-by=lenawaithe

With the hashtag spreading, Kelly was dropped from the lineup at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion over the weekend. He took to Twitter to apologize to his fans for what he says are “rumors”. He also promises his lawyers will look into the situation. Watch.

Straight from the ?’s mouth! I love my fans. I love Chicago. Next show: Greensboro, NC May 11. pic.twitter.com/RcbalV0Idc

— R. Kelly (@rkelly) April 30, 2018