Women of Color of Time’s Up, a subcommittee focused on issues that are important to women and girls of color within the Time’s Up movement, penned a letter on The Root voicing their solidarity with an existing online campaign: #MuteRKelly.
“For too long, our community has ignored our pain. The pain we bear is a burden that too many women of color have had to bear for centuries,” part of the letter read. “The wounds run deep. As women of color within Time’s Up, we recognize that we have a responsibility to help right this wrong. We intend to shine a bright light on our WOC sisters in need. It is our hope that we will never feel ignored or silenced ever again.”
The group cited the recent court decision against Bill Cosby as a “step toward addressing these ills,” but it’s now calling on people everywhere to “insist on a world in which women of all kinds can pursue their dreams free from sexual assault, abuse and predatory behavior.” In doing so, the group announced that it is joining #MuteRKelly.
The letter cited numerous allegations against the R&B rapper, including marrying a girl under 18, lawsuits from for women for “sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, and furnishing illegal drugs to a minor.” Kelly has also been indicted on 21 counts of child pornography, in addition to facing allegations of sexual abuse and “imprisonment of women under threats of violence and familial harm.”
The group called on RCA Records, Ticketmaster, Spotify, Apple Music, and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex — all of which were currently involved with the singer at the time — to cut ties with him.
“The scars of history make certain that we are not interested in persecuting anyone without just cause,” read the letter. “With that said, we demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by women of color and their families for over two decades now. And we declare with great vigilance and a united voice to anyone who wants to silence us: Their time is up.”
Numerous celebrities and members of the Time’s Up movement took to social media to pledge solidarity with the movement.
We join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on the safety + dignity of all women. We demand investigations into R. Kelly’s abuse allegations made by women of color + their families for two decades. We call on those who profit from his music to cut ties. #MuteRKelly #TIMESUP #WOC https://t.co/RTco2ZeetZ
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) April 30, 2018
I stand with the women of #timesup#muterkelly. https://t.co/B0yaRj7zdZ
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 30, 2018
We join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on the safety + dignity of all women. We demand investigations into R. Kelly’s abuse allegations made by women of color + their families for two decades. We call on those who profit from his music to cut ties. #MuteRKelly #TIMESUP #WOC pic.twitter.com/TYmDRVIH00
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018
We demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse. #MuteRKelly #TIMESUP pic.twitter.com/T1Rj6DzhYK
— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) April 30, 2018
I stand w/my sisters of Color w/in @TIMESUPNOW to #MuteRKelly “We demand appropriate investigations & inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by WOC & their families for over 2 decades now.” https://t.co/9ytWQSciPz part 1
— Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) April 30, 2018
I stand with the women of color in @TIMESUPNOW in demanding an appropriate investigation and inquiry into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse. Enough is enough. #MuteRKelly #TimesUp pic.twitter.com/9cO3u6JoHu
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) April 30, 2018
Today we join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on safety and dignity for women of all kinds. #TIMESUP pic.twitter.com/VcX0xLRnTi
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) April 30, 2018
For 20 years we’ve been reading about credible accusations against R Kelly. For 20 years we’ve known that he has settled multiple claims of sexual misconduct. For 20 years we have known he is a sexual predator.
Enough!
I stand with the women of #timesup #MuteRKelly
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 30, 2018
Today we join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on safety & dignity for all women. We demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by women of color & their families for over two decades now. #WOC #TIMESUPhttps://t.co/CG7Y5ZmKyR
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 30, 2018
R. Kelly’s management released a statement in response, calling #MuteRKelly an “attempted public lynching of a black man.”
R. Kelly’s camp has released a statement in response to the #MuteRKelly and #MeToo movement . pic.twitter.com/QFClheOJ2a
— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) April 30, 2018
According to the Chicago Tribune, R. Kelly will no longer perform at UIC Pavilion this weekend.