Soulquarius, the “R&B Jam” concert heading to California in February, is gearing up to be an enjoyable show for R&B lovers, but a group of people isn’t pleased with one of the show’s headliners.
On Sunday (Dec. 18), presumed R&B lover Jamie Thompson created a Change petition towards The Observatory to remove R.Kelly from the show’s lineup. Citing Kelly’s previous allegations of sexual assault, the petition claims the singer isn’t needed at the show.
“It’s this sort of nonchalance and casual embrace of abusers that rests at the fulcrum of rape culture, violence against women, and in this case, misogynoir,” the petition reads. “2017 is around the corner and many of us still have to look on in disgust as a proven predator, rapist, and serial abuser of young Black girls and women remains embraced in the world of music. Stop booking this man. Stop supporting this man.”
So far, 389 people have signed the petition which needs 500 signatures. Attached was also Huffington Post’s list of “forgotten” sexual assault cases involving Kelly, including his annulled marriage to the late Aaliyah and domestic abuse allegations to his former wife, Andrea Kelly. The list was created in 2015 after Kelly walked off an interview with HuffPost Live’s Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani.
Kelly hasn’t commented on the matter. Instead, he’s currently promoting the remix to DJ Snake’s, “Let Me Love You.”
See the petition here.