A petition aimed at getting Sony Records to drop R. Kelly from their record label has surpassed 20,000 signatures as of Friday morning (July 21).
The petition was spurred by “disturbing reports” by Buzzfeed during the week that parents had told police that the singer was holding their daughters against their will.
The text of the petition refers specifically to allegations that Kelly “is holding multiple women in a sex cult in which he controls their every move, physically and emotionally punishes them if they break his rules, and films his sexual encounters with them to share with his friends.”
It concludes by arguing that “We must not let habitual abusers float above justice simply because they are rich and famous.”
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A woman at the center of the allegations has publicly stated that she’s with Kelly by choice and has asked her father to stop.
Linda Mensch, a representative for R. Kelly, refuted the claims when contacted by Buzzfeed. She said, “We can only wonder why folks would persist in defaming a great artist who loves his fans, works 24/7, and takes care of all of the people in his life.”
The petition was put together by Care2, an online community designed to bring together activists for various causes from around the the world.
