Stars call for R. Kelly Spotify and streaming ban after Surviving R. Kelly doc airs on Lifetime

A-listers have lent their support to the ongoing #MuteRKelly campaign after the Lifetime documentary aired allegations against the singer
Boycott: Celebrities call for streaming platforms to remove R. Kelly's music
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Calls for Spotify and other streaming platforms to remove R. Kelly’s music from their libraries have intensified after the premiere of Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly.

The powerful six-parter covers the musician’s alleged abuse of dozens of young women, something Kelly adamantly denies, and has reportedly prompted authorities in the US to open investigations into the case.

Despite the allegations made in the programme, Surviving R. Kelly is thought to have driven a 16 percent increase in Spotify streams of Kelly’s music since the show’s US premiere last Thursday.

This unexpected boost for the musician has prompted celebrities to ask streaming services to remove his back catalogue from their platforms, as part of the #MuteRKelly campaign.

Jada Pinkett Smith posted a video clip of herself to Instagram in which she asked her followers: “How is it that R Kelly’s music sales have spiked (substantially) since the release of the docuseries Surviving R Kelly? I need some help in understanding. What am I missing?”

“I’m having a really difficult time understanding why. But I think it’s important I understand why […] even if I’m missing something I don’t necessarily agree with,” she wrote.

Singer Neyo also lent his support to the #MuteRKelly campaign on Instagram, writing: “There is NO excuse. Music is important. It really is. But it’s not more important than protecting our children, protecting our little girls. PERIOD.”

In May 2018, Spotify announced that they would be removing R. Kelly’s back catalogue from their playlists as part of a new policy to stop promoting musicians who have been previously accused of “hateful conduct”.

However, the company was accused of having “double standards” by singling out the likes of R. Kelly and rapper XXXTentacion while allowing music from other controversial artists to remain on the service.

The streaming service later backtracked on their promise. CEO Daniel Ek stated that the policy had not been intended as a “moral police” for the musicity industry, and that it had been “rolled out wrong.”

Standard Online has reached out to Spotify for comment.

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