A photo of John Legend posing with Harvey Weinstein emerged over the weekend, prompting many to label the “All OF Me” musician a hypocrite after appearing in Surviving R. Kelly. The photo was taken at an event in 2016, and news of the disgraced film producer’s long history of sexual misconduct became public knowledge in October 2017.
Not one to hold his tongue, Legend took to Twitter to comment on the now-viral photo of him, his wife Chrissy Teigen and the alleged serial abuser.
“I took a photo with and worked with Harvey on several occasions before his abuse was known to me and the rest of the world,” he wrote on his social media page Monday (Jan. 7). “Since his being exposed, his company and career have rightfully been destroyed and he’s been indicted. Sounds like something that should happen to R Kelly…If y’all wanna cape for R and discount all these women’s stories, just say it. Don’t bring up some old pics of me and somebody else.”
Legend was one of the celebrities who spoke on R. Kelly’s long-detailed history of alleged sexual misconduct and pedophilia in the six-part Lifetime documentary. According to the doc’s executive producer dream hampton, he was the only big name figure who agreed to take part in the project.
“To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn’t feel risky at all,” Legend tweeted in response to the positive reaction to his appearance in Surviving R. Kelly. “I believe these women and don’t give a f**k about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision.”
I took a photo with and worked with Harvey on several occasions before his abuse was known to me and the rest of the world. Since his being exposed, his company and career have rightfully been destroyed and he’s been indicted. Sounds like something that should happen to R Kelly https://t.co/LgIOQpEnsP
— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 8, 2019
If y’all wanna cape for R and discount all these women’s stories, just say it. Don’t bring up some old pics of me and somebody else. https://t.co/2wus2P7vNm
— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 8, 2019
READ MORE: John Legend Says Appearing In R. Kelly Series Was An “Easy Decision”