Two of R. Kelly’s YouTube channels have been permanently removed by the platform, a week after he was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
On Tuesday (October 5), YouTube pulled the disgraced R&B singer’s official channels, RKellyTV and RKellyVevo, while prohibiting Kelly from using, creating or owning any other channels on the platform.
The terminated channels had more than 5 million subscribers combined and housed videos such as “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Bump N’ Grind” and “Ignition (Remix).”
The move was made in accordance with YouTube’s creator responsibility guidelines, which allows them to suspend a channel if its owner is convicted of or pleads guilty to egregious crimes and their channel’s content is closely related to the crimes.
YouTube cited the fact that R. Kelly’s prosecution was based on the allegation that he leveraged his celebrity and status in the music industry to sexually abuse women and young girls.
“Egregious actions committed by R. Kelly warrant penalties beyond standard enforcement measures due to a potential to cause widespread harm,” YouTube VP of legal Nicole Alston said. “Ultimately we are taking this action to protect our users similar to other platforms.”
Existing R. Kelly content uploaded by other users, however, will still be allowed on YouTube, while the 54-year-old singer’s catalog will continue to be available on the platform’s paid streaming service, YouTube Music.
Kenyette Tisha Barnes, one of the founders of the #MuteRKelly campaign, told NBC News she believes YouTube’s move is “the beginning of a seismic paradigm shift of R. Kelly’s legacy.”
The official #MuteRKelly Twitter account reacted to the news by calling on other streaming services to follow YouTube’s lead. “Waiting on you @youtubemusic, and you too @Spotify @AppleMusic @AmazonMusic, etc,” read the tweet.
As of press time, Kelly’s music is still available on Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL and Amazon Music.
Back in 2018, Spotify removed Kelly’s music from their owned and operated playlists in line with its Hate Content and Hateful Conduct policy. Apple Music and Pandora took similar action.
However, Spotify’s decision prompted backlash from across the music industry and R. Kelly’s streams actually increased. It’s unlikely YouTube’s move will provoke a similar response following the singer’s guilty verdict, though.
R. Kelly Speaks Out Following Guilty Verdict As Lawyer Plots Appeal
Last Monday (September 27), R. Kelly was convicted on all charges in his highly-publicized racketeering and sex trafficking case in New York.
The R&B icon was found guilty of one count of racketeering, with 14 underlying acts including sexual exploitation of a child, bribery, kidnapping and sex trafficking charges. He was also found guilty of eight additional counts of violations of the Mann Act, a sex trafficking law.
R. Kelly will be sentenced on May 4, 2022 and faces 10 years to life in prison. He is also set to stand trial in two other sex-related cases in Minnesota and his native Chicago.
If that’s the case 85% of Hip Hop artists channel should be terminated ??♂️
Word the fuck up. Most artist glorify gun violence drugs and sex. The reason why the world is fucked up today. Of course we all love sex n drugs but dont glorify the shit n blast it on the radio 24/7
Lol. It only becomes a moral issue when the justice system says it is. Until then YouTube has no problem with a grown man urinating on little girls faces.
Lol it’s great seeing this pedophiles whole life crumble. Was it really worth it Kells?? Fuckin dumbass weirdo
I think we should CANCEL cancel culture. His music has nothing to do with his demons. People embrace Michael Jackson the king of pedophiles and call him a legend. Fucking hypocrites.
I guess you would know about pedos
MJ was targeted. Don’t use him as an example to enable your pedo tendencies. Real IG. You wack af after this last one for real.
They better take down Elvis Presley next, he slept with a 14 year old and than married her. Or, better Idea, youtube could just leave all the music where it is and stop pretending like anybody cares about their virtue signaling. Your a corporate platform that hosts videos and music, nobody wants or needs you to “take a stand” against or for anything.
Hope your mom, sis, daughter or any female you care about goes through what the victims went through. Then try talk tough a$$hole. Pedos are so apparent with this case’s outcome. You probably like ur bootyhole tickled
He’s right, so fuck you bitch ass mofo. You want to support this stupid virtue signalling then may you die a miserable death along with the rest of the SJW culture.
YouTube while you at it, remove Gary Glitter, and Lost Prophets.
Funny how the only pedos I know are white priests and baseball coaches yet they want to parade R Kelly around like he’s the problem. Thanks white allies!
He’s black. He’s our problem. So yes, get that pos outta here.
Why is 6ixn9ne allowed on the platform?
Isn’t he convicted of sexual contact with a minor?
(Can only assume) Because they love his rainbow colored hairstyle, and probably appreciate the fact that he trolls gangstas and shit.
So you can still PAY YouTube to listen to R Kelly’s music. So YouTube are making money from a convicted paedo? LOLS
Stupid Big tech have too much power. He did crimes but people still want to listen to his classics!
“ The move was made in accordance with YouTube’s creator responsibility guidelines, which allows them to suspend a channel if its owner is convicted of or pleads guilty to egregious crimes and their channel’s content is closely related to the crimes.” – bs! YouTube targets individuals but yet this pedo was always available for traffic/ ads. I’ve followed channels of people on the path of uplifting, leaders and such, and they complain about their channels being blocked. But yet sexual content that brings in the clicks are acceptable. Eff Steve Chen, Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley. Eff Zuckersperm. None of these platforms give af about us. It’s all bank at the end of the day. Manage your kids y’all. They are the targets.