The 2017 Soulquarius Festival has a stacked lineup,
including such artists as Erykah Badu, DMX, The Pharcyde, Too Short, The
Internet and Ja Rule. But the festival’s booking of R. Kelly is already coming
under fire. A Change.org petition has been launched in an attempt to remove the
controversial singer from the bill.
“Despite an endless flood of abuse allegations and
widespread knowledge of his notorious ‘romance’ with the late singer Aaliyah,
who was age 15 to his 27 years, Kelly has maintained a relatively successful
career,” the petition reads. “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’s creator, Jamie Thompson, says giving R. Kelly
such a platform is a mistake. Thompson suggests that it is not possible to
separate the man from the music.
“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,’ the petition states.
“Stop booking this man. Stop supporting this man. There’s great power in having
a voice. Let’s send a message that the music is not ‘separate’ and the abuse of
girls and women is never okay, no matter who you are or how many timeless
ballads you’ve contributed to the world.”
The 2017 Soulquarius Festival is scheduled to take place on
Feb. 18 at the Observatory Grounds in Orange County in Santa Ana, Calif.
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