Trigger Warning: This post contains references to sexual abuse, harassment and child molestation, and could potentially be triggering to readers. Please take care in reading this post.
It’s time, everyone. It really is time to mute Robert Kelly. (Note: Shout out to the Black women who have been telling us this for years now. The “Mute R. Kelly” campaign was started by Oronike Odeleye and Kenyette Barnes).
Last Thursday, the docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” aired on Lifetime and it has generated quite “the buzz” ever since. Throughout the short series, women share their stories of abuse experienced at the hands of R. Kelly. With accounts that span over the course of more than 20 years, this series has shed light on what many have known for decades, and it is time that we address it—or him—appropriately.
Admittedly, I was actively avoiding watching this docuseries. I knew what I found would be deeply troubling. And I was right. I found myself watching these stories and feeling terribly disappointed. I ended the series feeling distraught for the girls and women who have suffered all this time.
Their suffering, and the long time it has taken mainstream culture to listen to and honor their pain, is why it is time to mute Robert Kelly. Mute his music. Mute his voice. Mute his reach. This has gone on far too long. I question the individuals who are on the fence regarding this situation (and believe me, they exist). Based on R. Kelly’s continued success and notoriety over these years, I wonder if people truly understand the magnitude of the allegations—allegations that involve the rape and sexual abuse of children—multiple counts over multiple years. Why haven’t these accusations been deserving of a thorough investigation and action?
Maybe these alleged crimes aren’t receiving the proper attention because the victims are young black girls. Maybe this is yet another instance in which our society is showing us that black girls aren’t valued, seen as innocent, or protected as should be. How many more black girls or women must suffer before we show them with our actions that they matter?
It’s time, everyone, to mute Robert Kelly. Some individuals are asking whether we should separate the man from the music. Can we continue to listen to the tunes that have resonated within the black community for decades?
My quick answer to this is “no”, followed by a counter question: how can we support the music without supporting the man who created it? Supporting R. Kelly’s music contributes to his wealth, fame, and privilege. And his wealth, fame, and privilege have given him the power to carry out his inappropriate and violent actions with impunity. If you understand these truths and are still asking to separate the artist from the art, I then ask, how far removed are you from condoning the actions themselves?
Supporting R. Kelly’s music contributes to his wealth, fame, and privilege. And his wealth, fame, and privilege have given him the power to carry out his inappropriate and violent actions with impunity. Share on XJada Pinkett-Smith recently took to social media to inform her followers that R. Kelly streams have gone up since the docuseries aired. She wanted someone to explain to her how this could be, considering the circumstances. My only hope is that streams have increased due to nostalgia, fans wishing to return to a time before we knew what the man behind the music had done. If not nostalgia, then perhaps those streamers are going back to R. Kelly’s music looking for hidden messages in his lyrics that once went unnoticed, that may have alerted us to the abuse he was committing.
Regardless of the reason, I hope we can take a step back and understand the message that we have been sending to R. Kelly, others in our social circles, and most importantly the victims, all these years. To R. Kelly, we’ve been saying, “Your musical talents have moved you beyond reproach.” In our social circles, we’ve given ourselves a pass for not holding the perpetrator accountable in the name of ease and entertainment. And we’ve told victims that they do not matter.
It’s time to change those messages. It’s (been) time to #MuteRKelly.
It’s (been) time to #MuteRKelly. Share on X
