The lineup for the first annual Soulquarius Festival was announced yesterday (December 19). The event, scheduled for February 18 in Santa Ana, California, is set to be headlined by R. Kelly and Erykah Badu, with the likes of Ja Rule & Ashanti, Jhené Aiko, The Pharcyde, The-Dream and more than a dozen other acts also booked to perform.
However, less than 24 hours after the lineup was announced, a petition has surfaced on Change.org calling for R. Kelly to be removed from the festival. The petition, titled “Kick R.Kelly’s rapist ass off the SOULQUARIUS lineup,” has garnered more than 1,000 signatures since it launched. The goal is currently set at 1,500.
The writeup for the petition reads:
“The Observatory venue of Orange County released an awesome lineup for their SOULQUARIUS event February 18th, with the exception of R.Kelly. 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. 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. 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. 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.”
Buy tickets for Soulquarius Festival here.
Oh look, sjws are throwing a fit about something. There’s a shock.
*Yawn*
Nigga he married a 15 year old and was on camera pissin on another. Fuck u mean?
Hot, right?
Nigga, he didn’t marry her; he was fucking her…and then found not guilty.
U not too smart are u nigga? He married Aaliyah at 15 and pissed on the other chick, who was around the same age. Left behind ass nigga.
Until his ass goes to a therapist and he admits it to himself about his past wrongs as well as apologizes to the victims and the people, I support this petition. Watch how the dumb supporters flood the comments section talking about letting him be. Damn, makes me think of the R. Kelly Boondocks episode.
We just elected Trump as President and he paid a woman to backtrack on her story before he went to trail for raping her when she was 13! I ain’t saying I support R. Kelly but he was acquitted! These MFs ain’t out there boycotting Trump! People still loveMichael Jackson even though we all know he was sleeping with lil boys, Ben Rothelisberger raping ass, Chuck Berry was arrested for sleeping with and prostituting under age girls… I could go on forever with facts of entertainers change.org probably supports but don’t know their past. Robert gotta answer to God, so let him be!
TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH
facts only
None of the things you said are proven in anyway at all. Purely acusations. Acusations don’t make people guilty. If we’re going to go there, then Tupac Shakur was also a convicted rapist…
uh and too Short and sugar free is ok to perform though? y’all wildin.
I support this petition. He should be put behind bars maximum sentence.
The hypocrisy. I’m just wondering if this ‘genius’, jamie thompson, is going to start a petition calling for the public to boycott every musicians/actors concerts/films who have had allegations against them. Or those who openly admit to wrongdoings on their songs. Or the older artists who had sex with underage kids, but yet because it was many years ago (rockstars in the 50s-70s) and it wasn’t posted by huffingtonpost for the sheep jamie thompson to read it gets swept under the carpet.
Fuckin paedophile. This loser who preys on young girls should be thrown off the roof of the pj towers.
All you pedo sympathizeers in here need a bullet to the fuckin brain
There is a difference between pedo ‘sympathizers’ and asking the question of why he gets singled out compared to others.
“Singled out”……Wtf are you are you talking about you idiot? This story is about R KELLY, not every other pedo out there. Next time there’s a serial killer locked up, let’s ask the question of why he’s being “singled out” from all the other sick fucks. You sir are retarded and clearly condone this weirdo’s sick behaviour.
Who is condoning it? You can’t read dipshit.
Yep, keep getting mad and defending the pedo….pussy azz nigga.
Who is condoning it? When a moron can’t read…
Who is condoning it? When clowns can’t comprehend.
Damn, that’s a pretty dope concert lineup actually. Too bad I moved from L.A. to Japan.
The writer of this story Henry Mansell says R. Kelly has had a “relatively” successful career. That is the understatement of the decade.Although no one has been checking for R. Kelly as of late, he is arguably the most influential as well as the most successful r&b artist of this generation!
You’re right. He’s arguably one of the most successful child molester music artists of this generation.
Every body sick a dick an die one thing about Kelly still getting money hoes still love men rich an yall still broke so fuck everybody get life worry about ur self an get some money fuck media have a good year
Oh I almost forgot that this was about money. I thought it was about pissing in a 13 year old girl’s face and being a pedofile for the last 2 decades. Yall better be ok with rich dudes fucking little girls or you might be called a jealous hater. What a fucking dumbass you are Peanut. Stop counting another man’s money and side with the righteous.
Shut up bitch
R Kelly: “I don’t see nothing wrong, with a little molestation”
Was he convicted ? No
Why don’t go and check how he got off a conviction.
Living legend gets shit on for allegations, dead legend gets mad love despite even more allegations spanning decades. One of the living legend’s accusers legitimately looked of age, dead legend only messed with little kids. This world is fucked.
You gonna act like he didn’t piss on that girl on video? Fucking Black Sheep man.
I never condoned any of his actions, but why is he getting shit on and petitioned against, but MJ is a saint despite being far more disturbing when you break it down. Both are fucked up, just one gets love while the other is tossed to the wolves.
Are you fucking serious? Dude has been caught with child porn and home videos of him and underage girls. Fucking scumbag got away on a technicality
I never said I supported either. I just know that DMX was heavily involved with dog fighting and ppl let that slide, Mike Vick does it and he’s the worst human in the world. Just funny how society picks and chooses who to be outraged at when 2 different ppl do the same thing
Y’all ain’t say shit about the Pope running a child slavery ring. Not to to say what R Kelly was accused if was right but don’t throw stone when a lot of other celebrities live in glass houses too… y’all probably the same one that voted for Trump. What how he fuck the world over with you taking it down the throat. Fohwtbs
come on man, really ? its been years since any of those allegations were even placed. i understand the motive but this is as random as Hilary putting out a contest to meet Pusha T lol. just let the artists perform good music and let the courts handle the legal bullshit.
Dear God,
Would you please remove R. Kelly from living people?
Thank you.
Y’all are so ignorant he was found not guilty,and y’all still fucking with him. Y’all some haters. Fuck yall.