CHICAGO (CelebrityAccess) R. Kelly appears to be out when it comes to performing at an upcoming hometown show in Chicago, but the singer is not so sure.
R. Kelly has been removed from his appearance at the 2018 Love Jam concert, with Ticketmaster saying on its website that he “is no longer performing.” However, management representatives told the Chicago Tribune April 27 that they “have received no official notice of any change in plans for the May 5 concert, and R. Kelly has been looking forward to performing for his fans in his hometown.”
The apparently cancellation comes light of a recent BBC documentary that delves into Kelly’s alleged penchant for underage girls and recent allegations of having sex slaves. That was followed by the #MuteRKelly campaign.
It was not clear if the apparent change in scheduling is associated with the recent movement, but the festival is hosted by the University of Illinois, and there has been a call to its chancellor to cancel the show.
Natalie Bennett, director of the Women’s Leadership and Resource Center at UIC, posted a letter on Facebook to chancellor Michael Amiridis urging for the show to disappear.
“To host the concert at UIC is to condone the harm that he has done to African-American women and girls, create a hostile work environment for black women who work, study and live at UIC,” Bennett wrote.
She later told the Tribune, “After a series of conversations with other faculty and staff at UIC, we thought it was best to put our questions and critiques into writing and offer it to the chancellor and have him respond.”
The chancellor’s office repeatedly declined to comment April 27, according to the paper.
