In the year 2019, we’re still dealing with all of this old crap. People are still JUST NOW cancelling R. Kelly. And people are JUST NOW canceling Kanye West too. It’s weird. The first time anyone heard about what R. Kelly did to multiple underage girls should have been the end of R. Kelly. And the first time Kanye wore his signed MAGA hat should have been the end of Kanye. But no. I guess not. Unlike Lady Gaga’s oddly-worded apology for collaborating with R. Kelly, Kanye has yet to say anything directly about HIS collab with R. Kelly in 2012, on the album Cruel Summer. In fact, Kanye may be saying sh-t off-the-record to people about how we should just be allowed to enjoy problematic/criminal artists:
Kanye West is joining the growing number of celebrities weighing in on the R. Kelly controversy. While hosting one of his new Sunday Service events, West referenced Kelly while arguing that art should be separated from the artist. He also mentioned the upcoming Michael Jackson documentary, “Leaving Neverland,” which is set to air on HBO this spring.
“They just gonna pull up full documentaries on him,” West said, according to Complex and a live-streamed video recorded by TMZ. “Then they gonna come with the Michael [Jackson] documentary. … We can all enjoy all their music all we want. I thought I wasn’t going to go there today. If we’re gonna tear down artists, let’s go ahead and take [Leonardo] da Vinci out the Lourve while we’re at it. Let’s take down all the art.”
I would like to know the larger context for these quotes, mostly because I’m guessing that these are just a few sentences in a full-on rant which was probably a lot more offensive. I also think that like all narcissists, Kanye isn’t thinking of R.Kelly or Michael Jackson’s musical contributions as much as he’s thinking of his own contributions and his own problems. Kanye knows, somewhere, that he’s been canceled by a lot of people for his MAGA politics and he’s thinking “why can’t people just listen to MY music regardless of what I do or say?” Anyway, yes, it’s offensive to see Kanye caping for R.Kelly. But Kim Kardashian is here to tell us that we’re taking him out of context!
I’m going to nip this in the bud right now. Kanye was speaking about his own experience of everyone quick to say they are cancelling him because of differences in opinion & not being perfect. The analogies were in context to his own experiences, not defending anyone else.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 14, 2019
I want to make it very clear, he is not condoning anyone’s actions or unacceptable disgusting behavior. My husband’s words are being taken out of context due to timing.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 14, 2019
As I said, I believe Kanye has problems seeing beyond his own narcissistic concerns, so I think Kim is probably right on some level – Kanye was talking about himself and thinking solely about himself… and in doing so, he gave a sideways defense of R.Kelly. Is anyone surprised?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid,WENN.
He is so disgusting, and so is she for defending him. It’s not his mental illness that is making him be so horrible. Kim really should be backing off at this point, imo.
People should also stop using mental illness as an excuse for being assholes. Kanye might have mental problems, but he is first and foremost an asshole with capital “A”. His mental issues only exacerbate his inner awfulness.
^ THIS
If kanye is canceled, so is Kim. And she can’t deal with that.
I couldn’t be with someone who supports Trump, Kim has also met with him. There’s no excuse.
They are both cancelled. Kanye West music and his persona are gone to the oblivion and Kim Kardashian and her family’s brand is over and done. No one is watching their stupid television show or buying their products anymore, so she and her family are resorting to for foolish antics like showing their fake body parts for attention and this is not working for anyone. Kanye West will say or do anything to feed his narcissistic appetite and he will say stupid, ridiculous stuff for everyone (that includes black people) to love him again. I am not here to speak on the behalf of black people but I will say this I AM DONE WITH KANYE WEST!!!!! I don’t care for his mental issues, he is an asshole and Donald Trump’s ass kisser. ONCE AGAIN I AM DONE WITH KANYE WEST.
100%. He gave a certain credibility and next level fame to the Kardashians, and I guarantee she’s fuming her husband isn’t “cool” anymore. The way she always jumps in to defend him seems less about love and more about self-preservation.
“If kanye is canceled, so is Kim. And she can’t deal with that.”
THIS. as Jen said, he gave this famous-for-nothing (well, we know what sparked the initial “fame” of the most famous one) family some legitimacy. it was what they always hoped for. but now that he’s a persona non grata with so many former fans, she’s freaking.
tots and pears, Kim…tots and pears.
Yes, THAT is why she defends him. He’s been cancelled but sh e can’t leave yet as they have the #4 marriage saver on the way. And the Klan are finally! on their way out as well. Two lame ducks together plotting to stay relevant.
#KancelKimye
I’m still blown away that she hasn’t left him yet! Not very on brand for her.
Not only hasn’t she left him – they continue to procreate. Another child on the way.
I’m starting to suspect she actually loves him.
At this point he is not only bad for her brand, but she’d probably be lauded for leaving him (he’s given her plenty of legit reasons!) – instead she is having another baby with him.
I say she will leave Kanye shortly after the birth of their son. That way Kim(and PMK) can roll out the narrative of “poor suffering” Kim as a single mother of four children and dealing with the breakdown of her marriage. Get bonus footage for the next season of KUWTK on top of that
Eh, why would she bother having a 4th child for that? She could have done that after Chicago was born, not that long ago, and preceded by his MAGA meltdown.
I agree with RBC. I think Kim wanted all her kids to have the same father, and she has said she wanted four kids like her family (before the Jenner girls were born). She chose to have more kids with Kanye so they’d have the same father. Kourtney talked a while back about having another with Disick and they aren’t together anymore. I see her leaving sometime in the next couple of years.
Yes, she will leave after #4 is born. That’s why it’s such a rush job after Chicago, who is only 11 months (pretty sure). She wanted to use that last embryo and she’s just holding out until she can leave.
It’s entirely possible that Kim is just as gross as he is, but i really think there’s something else going on here. I think he just knows too much and they can’t let him go. She’s much more legitimate than he is at this point, and certainly her finances are taken care of. I can’t imagine he’s abusive because the klan wouldn’t stand for that. It’s most likely she really does love him and she’s trying to fix him.
“It’s most likely she really does love him and she’s trying to fix him.” she does not even bother to bring him to a doctor. the only time kanye was brought to the hospital was when the kardashians were not with him. those real friends of his who brought him there are long gone now. they were helping him. they were trying to fix him. this is a woman who uses her own children as accessories. as long as kanye gets her publicity, she will continue on using him. as long as she is in the spotlight, there is nothing she will not do nor any person (including her own children) she will not use.
C’mon now Kim – we all know that wasn’t written by you.
Also, please stop trying to justify your POS husband’s rants. I’ve no doubt that he was somehow talking in frame of how this relates to him, since he seems incapable of talking about anyone or anything else except maybe his Orange Fuhrer, but I also have no problem believing that he would find some way way to defend R Kelly and talk about how mean everyone is being to him. He surrounds himself with trash.
Didn’t Kanye make a comment about Tyga and Kylie Jenner saying “ Tyga hit that first/early” or something similar? It was a gross thing to say and frankly not surprised about Kanye wading into the R. Kelly mess. Plus more attention for Kanye of course. PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!
yeah, he said something along the lines of Tyga doing a good job because he got in there early with Kylie. it was gross.
I was wondering if anyone was going to remember this gross ass comment about his wife’s LITTLE SISTER being groomed. It was disgusting and now he’s even more cancelled.
exactly.
made it clear then that he doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with getting with an underage girl.
Ok, I don’t know if this is what he means, but if he means that we should either
a) separate art from artist and apply that standard across the board
or
b) apply the same standard across the board and cancel all problematic artists
then I think I agree with him on both counts (albeit leaning more towards option b)
I think its hugely problematic to have one standard for artist X and another for artist Y. The example of R Kelly and Michael Jackson is a good one – given I believe both their accusers (and yes I know the latter was acquitted). How is it we continue to celebrate one while denouncing the other (cancel both). There are plenty of fantastic artists out there who make amazing art and aren’t a-holes. Let’s focus on enjoying their work. F making child molesters and abusers and racist twats richer.
Clare
I see your dilemma. But as i get older I get closer to not being able to separate the two. Jackson is a great example. I cannot play his songs anymore, luckily for me i was never into Kanye or Kim, so they cannot be cancelled cos they were never on.
If we want to make a change, we need to cut off all of them. Even if we first fell in love with the art. There are many nice artists, decent people who will never be as celebrated as certain pedos or aholes. That’s wrong and the next time you wanna play Kanye or r kelly or watch spacey or Woody Allen just ask yourself if you would introduce those people to your kids or someone else you love, who is young and naive and full of trust.
Kelly was also acquitted
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-06-14-0806130452-story.html
An interesting comparison though: Jackson’s career was actually affected by the accusations against him in a way Kelly’s has not.
Am also curious why Kelly’s history w/ Aaliyah isn’t being mentioned more? One talk radio did a whole segment and didn’t mention it at all. It was weird.
@tassie the documentary on Lifetime talks about Aaliyah, it’s worth watching
he is a human trash bag, and Kim really needs to stop stepping in for him all the time. but I’ll be honest, I still listen to the music of people who are trash. but I won’t support anything new since their allegations. so they’re not making any more money off of me, and since I don’t stream my music, they’re not getting any revenue from me again.
Sure, Kim, how dare they cancel him for having a difference of opinion over rape fantasy videos.
It’s so weird to me that EVERY Major Rock Band had groupies that were under aged, but nobody calls them out. The Rollings Stones were celebrated for the young girls, sharing drugs and girls, and general decedent life style. But if it’s a rapper it’s a different standard.
What R. Kelly did and is STILL doing is not on the same level as the disgusting antics of a lot of Rockers…I didn’t hear about Jimmy Page or David Bowie CONTINUING to go after and prey on underaged people for DECADES….
… and/or locking up their wives, creating a sex cult, marrying a 15 year old, etc.
I hate the equivocations. There can be trash people in multiple genres and races.
I just read a review for “The Dirt” which is a book written by the Motley Crue band members about their favorite subject – themselves. In the book, Nikki Sixx admits to raping a woman. Nikki Sixx also wrote the Heroin Diaries in which he admits to having a long term sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl. I read Heroin Diaries and I regret it.
I can’t find anywhere where anyone has said anything negative to or about Nikki Sixx about this rape or the 14 year old girl. You’re right. When it comes to these older all white bands, no one seems to give a s@#t.
This is such an interesting comment. On Twitter, black feminists have been saying a lot about white feminists and how we have to speak up about R Kelly because when we don’t it proves black girls don’t matter to us, only white girls do. Then you have this contingent above who wanna scream racist at white people who do speak up. Now for me, you ‘re not a problem CatWomen and I’ll tell you why. Its because I think men of all colors are pigs, and I am old and cranky enough not to give a rats behind what you think about that.
But for some white feminists this is a problem. They cower and cry oh what do i do what do I do. LOL How I laugh at them.
Rap has always had the reputation for its bad attitudes towards treatment of women (bitches & hos anyone?) And although old school rappers reputations relied on the belief that they were living what they rapped, I’m sure people assume there is some artistic license involved. While it was mentioned at the time, there was no major controversy over the downplaying of how women were treated in ‘Straight Outta Compton’.
It may very well be coming as a shock to him now that the world-at-large is disapproving of his gangsta lifestyle, but R. Kelly has been getting away with being a horrific sexual predator for decades. His behaviour has been an open secret for at least the past six or seven years, and he had no reason until very recently to believe his lifestyle couldn’t continue indefinitely. He’s hardly being called out unfairly.
You are right about the Stones era bands and groupies – if a current rock band was found to be shagging young or underage fans now there would (rightly) be uproar. As far as I know though, none of the Rolling Stones’ groupies have claimed that they were raped, or held against their will as sex slaves. So – not the same.
I think there’s a difference between groupies back in the 60’s and 70’s and literally holding women against their will and brainwashing, degrading, and manipulating them. Have you read what exactly R Kelly does? It’s not just having sex – they have to get permission from him on whom they can speak to, when they can go to the bathroom, etc. It’s abuse.
And I also like to think that in 2019 we’re more progressive than we were 50 years ago?
@Alissa – ok but they how about someone like Boy George, who chained someone to a wall?
I’m not arguing that R Kelly shouldn’t be cancelled (he should actually be in prison and have his assets seized, if it were up to me), but there are plenty others who have got away with horrific shit and they should also be held to account.
@Alissa – THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not to mention…that one of the women he had in his cult…Lisa Van Allen….she is the one that got the horrific underage tape out to the public….she said that R. Kelly was looking at her YOUNG DAUGHTER…telling her to make her YOUNG DAUGHTER wear dresses around her and not pants….now…THIS IS A LITTLE…BITTY…GIRL HE WAS TALKING ABOUT…and remember how she said that the ONLY show he would watch on television was “Dance Moms”…a television show about LITTLE GIRLS DANCING?!?!
Disgusting….
@Clare…Is Boy George STILL chaining folks to the wall…has Boy George been chaining folks to the wall for DECADES…and everybody knew about it…but nobody did anything?
See where I’m going with this…
@Clare not excusing Boy George, but he did not “get away” with what he did. He was one of the few that were tried and convicted and went to jail for it.
@Lala11_7 I see your point and you are correct – thank you.
@Chaine I just saw him on one of the real housewives franchises and it made me kinda sick that he is being treated as if none of that shit never happened? We know that poor kid who was chained to the wall was neither the first or last of the young men abused by George…its just jarring that he’s been rehabilitated in the public eye to a point where people are proud to post pictures with him on instagram, yknow?
When its black girls, no one cares.
I also think R Kelly is guilty but Michael is ambiguous at best.
Is it possible that both is true. These bands who did these things 20 years or so ago got away with it because they are white men and R. Kelly got away with it for so long because he preyed on young African American women? I think both are true.
I see it as MEN, in general, with money abuse, rape, imprison etc treat young GIRLS badly. Most often the men get away with it because our society does not value women and girls, in general. Bill Cosby (finally caught up to him but it took over 60 women to convince) Larry Nassar (past 20 years) Michael Jackson (allegedly) R Kelly (allegedly) Jerry Epstein (convicted but no just sentence). There are probably hundreds more that we don’t know about. That is what enrages me.
If we were horrified by what happened to Jayme Closs then we should be horrified by what R. Kelly did. Sure, he didn’t kill anyone but everything else is pretty much the same. He’s an absolute monster and absolutely NOBODY should be supporting him.
WOW, I didn’t even think about that comparison.
Um, he highkey defended Tyga for “getting in early” with Kylie. Of course he defends R Kelly, of course Kim is lying, of course it’s a day that ends in Y in the English language.
Oh fuc$ off Kim.
Why am I supposed to cancel Leonardo da Vinci? Was he a child rapist? I did not know that.
Omg kayne is a total moron, no da Vinci was not a sexual predator. Michelangelo had questionable tastes for boys. Da Vinci was most likely gay as well but not a predator.
Im sure he supports R. Kelly too. Kanye worked with that rapper Tekashi69 that was convicted of inappropriate conduct with a 13 year old. He also paid tribute to XXXtentacion in December and that lowlife assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and held her captive for 3 days, admitted to that AND stabbing 9 people on an audio recording. The pictures of what that guy did to his girlfriend when he finally let her go were horrific. Kanye also blamed the girlfriend that was assaulted in a song too. He still works with designer Ian Connor who has been accused of rape by multiple women. He also said Bill Cosby was innocent and of course he’s in love with Donald Trump. So yeah, Im sure he supports R. Kelly.
However Drake somehow manages to outrage Kanye because he followed his trashbag wife on Instagram.
Ahhhh Kim once again trying to come to Kanye’s rescue and make him sound coherent. This guy is a complete waste of time. Kanye is trash. Also, did Kim “nip it in the bud” when Kanye said slavery was a choice? Just curious……..
Didn’t Kanye take the likeness of several women without their permission, create naked statues, hold an art exhibit, and charge money for people to come see said naked statues? And Kim was there smiling and taking pictures. For some of us, these two dipshits have been canceled for a long time.
“Due to timing”? Was this some sermon or TED Talk he’d been working on for months? A long planned lecture on Art v The Artist at an IntellectualsRUs symposium?
It’ certainly a conversation we should be having and scholarship needs to acknowledge across the arts/larger culture, but he seems to be suggesting we need to just leave the “Artist” alone to make his Art no matter what s/he does.
But isn’t he speaking directly to/about the Kelly accusations? At best she’s being disingenuous to protect her husband/family. Or she’s lying. To protect her brand.
Why are some people giving Kim credit for being intelligent. Both these two are about PR and Stupidness.
She really is having to run round behind him crisis managing
When is she going to stop coming to his rescue? He means what he says, don’t try and sugar-coat it, it is what it is. And for the love of God Kim stop pro creating with this man. You have daughters. You have a son and one on the way. And you think this man is a suitable role model to teach them about who to look up to?!
Did he compare himself and/or R.Kelly to LEONARDO DA VINCI? WTF, hahaha
Sometimes, I think it’s really weird that Kim is married to someone who is so ridiculous when she is so brand-conscious.
I hope and work for the day when these assholes will be well and truly cancelled. I went into PTSD over all the media and trying to support survivors of abuse (including myself) when Dream’s documentary came out at the beginning of January. Many thanks to her and all of the survivors who were courageous in speaking out about what RK did, even though they knew it would lead to being under further attack from people (unfortunately many Black folks, elders and youth, here in Chicago) who still support him. Teachers at the high school who knew and helped him groom those Black girls. It was widely known. They fall over themselves trying to defend him. Why? Perhaps because they know that to acknowledge his guilt and evil is to open up to the spotlight on themselves. Never have I felt more that men are trash and I am disgusted by the communities who continue to vilify these Black women and girls. Thanks to Jim DeRogatis for his tireless efforts in uncovering the horrific details over decades and to Dream Hampton for shedding light through her documentary.