Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, John Legend and More Stars Who Have Spoken Out Against R. Kelly

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Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, John Legend and More Stars Who Have Spoken Out Against R. Kelly

Countless celebrities have spoken out against R. Kelly’s alleged abuse since Lifetime aired Surviving R. Kelly in January 2019. The six-part docuseries featured more than 50 interviews with the R&B singer’s former collaborators and the many women who have accused him of predatory behavior, pedophilia and other forms of sexual, mental and physical abuse. Scroll down to read statements from some of the stars who have recently condemned Kelly, who has never been convicted of a crime and has long denied allegations of misconduct.

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, John Legend and More Stars Who Have Spoken Out Against R. Kelly

Countless celebrities have spoken out against R. Kelly’s alleged abuse since Lifetime aired Surviving R. Kelly in January 2019. The six-part docuseries featured more than 50 interviews with the R&B singer’s former collaborators and the many women who have accused him of predatory behavior, pedophilia and other forms of sexual, mental and physical abuse. Scroll down to read statements from some of the stars who have recently condemned Kelly, who has never been convicted of a crime and has long denied allegations of misconduct.

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Pete Davidson

The Saturday Night Live star joked about Kelly during his stand-up comedy show in January 2019. “I thought I was having a bad year …” Davidson said on stage in Brooklyn, New York. “Man, that guy is evil.” The comic also said that he thinks the musician “should get shot in the f—king face.”

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Dave Chappelle

The comedian revealed on stage at a West Hollywood Improv show on January 14 that the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer's pals cornered him the week his "Piss on You" skit, which was based on allegations that the Grammy winner urinated on a teenage girl, came out. "We [were] in Chicago, at a Common show, and his goons bust in my room," Chappelle recalled. The Chappelle's Show star said Kelly asked him how he could make a video about him peeing on someone, at which point Chappelle said he replied with the same question. 

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Lady Gaga

The pop star removed her 2013 collaboration with Kelly, “Do What U Want,” from iTunes and streaming services on January 10 after releasing a lengthy statement that read in part: “I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously. What I am hearing about the allegations against R Kelly is absolutely horrifying and indefensible. As a victim of sexual assault myself, I made both the song and the video at a dark time in my life. … I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner. I love you.” Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, later accused Gaga of “exploiting this controversy to try and help her in her effort to win an Oscar” for A Star Is Born.

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Christina Aguilera

Xtina, who appeared on a Kelly-less remix of “Do What U Want,” showed support for Gaga on January 11. “This is a reminder of women sticking together— and not letting a man take ownership of a great song/ moment... And if anything the message of this song remains that although you may have had my body, you will never have my heart, my voice my life or my mind,” Aguilera tweeted. “Being a survivor of past predators myself, these lines spoke to me, which is why I did the song. I embrace all survivors of sexual and domestic violence and abuse holding a special place in my heart, and you @ladygaga, for doing the right thing!”

Aguilera also addressed Surviving R. Kelly on Watch What Happens With Live With Andy Cohen in January 2019: "I was extremely moved by that whole show. It was very heavy for me. ... When you're in this business you're exposed to so many predators and so many things [and] you're exposed to so much at such an early age.”

The "Fighter" singer also applauded Lady Gaga again for her decision to remove "Do What U Want," which she recorded with R. Kelly in 2013, from streaming services. 

"Sharing the stage with her, for that performance of [‘Do What U Want,’] was sort of flipping it. Like, 'You can have this, you can have that, but you can never have my integrity, my voice,’” she explained to Cohen. “It's actually very fitting that we engaged together in this song, having been in the business together as two females."

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John Legend

The EGOT winner took to Twitter on January 3 to explain his participation in an early episode of Surviving R. Kelly. “To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn’t feel risky at all. I believe these women and don’t give a f--k about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision,” Legend wrote. “These survivors deserved to be lifted up and heard. I hope it gets them closer to some kind of justice.”

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Chance the Rapper

The Chicago MC called his decision to collaborate with Kelly on their 2015 song, “Somewhere in Paradise,” a “mistake.” Chance tweeted on January 5: “I apologize to all of his survivors for working with him and for taking this long to speak out.”

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Jada Pinkett Smith

The Red Table Talk host, who dedicated a special two-part episode of her Facebook Watch series to discussing the Lifetime series, wrote on Instagram on January 5: “It’s important we have conversations with both our daughters and sons around the many issues in this docuseries. It’s well done and makes it clear that we gotta do better … in so many ways.”

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Joann Kelly (a.k.a. Buku Abi)

R. Kelly’s estranged daughter posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram Stories on January 10 that read in part: “I pray for all the families & women who have been affected by my father’s actions. Trust, I have been deeply affected by all of this. … The same monster you [are] all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house. My choice to not speak on him and what he does is for my peace of mind. My emotional state. And for MY healing.”

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Keke Palmer

The actress-singer, who once considered Kelly to be one of her musical influences, took to Instagram on January 9. “Just finished Surviving R. Kelly and I have spent the last hour crying. As a student of R. Kelly’s for the time I was and having been around his light and understanding the obstacles he overcame as a child to actually be birthed into the musical genius he is today... All to put others through the same darkness he was running from is the most disheartening thing to accept,” she wrote. “God blessed him to vindicate his childhood shortcomings and yet still he has slapped God in the face by his actions towards these women. I am hurt and saddened because he could have been a blessing to these women but instead he repeatedly took advantage and that I can not accept. I will stand by my sisters because that’s simply what’s right and what I hope discontinues this behavior in anyone.”

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Nick Cannon

The TV host, who worked with Kelly in 2003 on their collab “Gigolo,” admitted on Instagram on January 10 that he “turned a blind eye to a lot of darkness in this industry” in the past. “For far too long we have treated women like second class citizens, when in actuality they are the source, our core, and the Superior beings,” he wrote. “But our insecurities, Egos, and lack of love has tried to prove otherwise. Therefore we have SEVERAL cases where we allow entertainers, executives, and every day individuals abuse and mistreat our life bearers and beautiful equals. It is no secret how men have misused their power to manipulate young emerging pop stars to seasoned hollywood actresses and everyone in between. I have personally witnessed it and will no longer be silent about it.”

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Phoenix

The indie band apologized on Twitter on January 10 for doing a remix of their song “Trying to Be Cool” with Kelly. “We are deeply horrified by the stories of abuse surrounding R. Kelly,” the tweet read. “We regret that we were not both more informed and more discerning when we worked with him previously. We fully support all victims of sexual abuse, and it’s our hope that there will be a path to justice.”

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Cara Delevingne

After expressing her outrage on Instagram on January 10, the model revealed that she lost more than 50,000 followers. “Every time I say something real, something I truly believe, something others may think of as controversial, something that makes people think and ask questions, I lose followers,” she wrote. “Goodbye silence and backwards followers, hello confrontation and forward thinkers. It’s going to be a loud year xxx #MuteRKelly.”

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Omarion

The B2K lead singer tweeted on January 6 that the boy band plans to retire their Kelly collaborations from their setlists after wrapping up their ongoing reunion tour. “Those responsible must be held accountable. #rkelly was both a victim & a predator & accordingly must be held accountable but also get professional help,” Omarion added. “His artistic genius inspired us all. His music is being muted by the darkness of his actions. The dark always comes to light.”

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Ne-Yo

The R&B crooner took to Instagram on January 6, 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. #IHaveADaughter #TF!?? #MUTERKELLY.”

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JoJo

The songstress tweeted on January 5 that she was “a HUGEEEEE R Kelly fan” when she was a teenager, but she has since become aware of his alleged actions. “I feel DEEPLY for these COURAGEOUS QUEENS who come forward and in some cases risk their lives 2share their story &let others know they’re not alone!!!! Going up against powerful people/ entities f--king intimidating/ terrifying.”

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Mathew Knowles

Beyoncé’s dad and former manager spoke out in an interview on January 9. He told Metro.co.uk that his ex-wife, Tina Knowles Lawson, would go to the bathroom with the then-teenage members of Destiny’s Child when Kelly was in the recording studio. “They did not leave our eyes,” Mathew said.