R. Kelly: Sexual Harassment & Rape Culture

R. Kelly: Untouchable?

“I came out 10 years ago, but it was brushed under the rug. It’s a blessing now that the girls are ready to talk.” — Lisa Van Allen

One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lifetime. Approximately 40 percent of black women report coercive sexual contact by the age of 18. Although many people believe strangers are usually the perpetrators, it is actually quite the opposite. In eight out of ten cases of rape, the victim knows their perpetrator. This means that many times, the attacker is a friend, significant other, or an acquaintance of some kind. In fact, between 14% and 25% of women are sexually assaulted by intimate partners during their relationship.

Though this idea of sexual assault in a romantic relationship is often something that is swept under the rug, the topic really came to light with the making of the Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly.” The series shed light on the experiences of multiple women romantically involved with R. Kelly, most of whom were significantly younger than him. The women came forward and spoke about the brainwashing, abuse, and manipulation they experienced while being involved with him. R. Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, spoke out saying “At the time I didn’t know there was such things as spousal rape. I remember being ready to jump off of the balcony of our hotel suite and commit suicide.”

Many people have come out criticizing the series, claiming that the women chose to stay with him, as some of the women stayed with him for years. Some of the women even agreed to marry and have kids with him. It was their choice. But, many of these women met him when they were young girls and he was someone they idolized. R. Kelly was also known for taking advantage of young, aspiring artists, claiming that he would help them. Him being a powerful figure in pop culture drew the young girls in and before they knew it, they were trapped. “I started singing while he played the piano, and then he kissed me. I didn’t kiss back. I was shocked. He knew I was 17. But I thought he would help me, just like he did with Aaliyah. It turned very abusive a few months in. If I looked at any of his friends, he would hit me.”

Other people have come forward and asked why the women waited so long to speak out against R. Kelly. Lisa Van Allen, who met R. Kelly when she was 17, said “As I got older I realized he wasn’t going to change. I’m the one who testified against him in 2008 [as part of the child-porn case]. When people say, “Why are you just now speaking out?” I say, “I came out 10 years ago, but it was brushed under the rug.” It’s a blessing now that girls are ready to talk.”

Keep reading for additional details on R. Kelly and the women that experienced his alleged abuse. Here, you’ll find resources and examples of this kind of rape culture being tolerated in society and the media, especially when it involves powerful figures and women of color.

By: Kayla Johnson

Media Artifact: Gayle King Interviews R. Kelly

*Photo Credit: Lazarus Jean-Baptiste / CBS*
*https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-r-kelly-gayle-king-interview-cbs-review-20190309-story.html*

As we know R Kelly has been in the news a lot recently and not for good reasons. R Kelly recently went to jail for not paying child support, and then during that process he received a lot of accusations of sexual assault to minors.

With that being said Gayle King wanted to interview R Kelly to question him and see his perspective on this whole situation. The interview went as many expected it to go, a lot of emotions and hostility shown by R Kelly. Throughout the interview he always got very hostile towards Gayle whenever she brought up “young girls”, he even at one point stood up and yelled “ I am fighting for my f****** life”. We see this theme of being hostile throughout the interview, besides that he constantly tried to play the victim card. Some things I noticed that R Kelly kept doing to try to keep the pressure off of him is he kept trying to act smart when answering questions and tried to avoid certain questions asked by Gayle.

As an observer this interview just ended up hurting R Kelly’s case. Gayle King kept putting on pressure to try and crack him. She did an amazing job of sitting with someone like R Kelly knowing his reputation. He tried to show emotion to help his situation out, but it was all bluff. I carefully analyzed the interview and his attempts didn’t get to me. There is evidence against him and I hope there’s some repercussions for his actions. He made these girls go through hell and back, now it is time for him to pay for that.

By: Javier Hernandez

**Media Artifact: I Admit It – R. Kelly**

Pull quote graphic that reads: On July twenty-third, twenty-eighteen he released a song titled, “I Admit.” This song was produced by NOC and R. Kelly himself as a way to respond to the sexual abuse and kidnapping allegations made against Kelly.

Robert Kelly’s blatant response to the accusation made against him by multiple women . On July twenty-third, twenty-eighteen he released a song titled, “I Admit.” This song was produced by NOC and R. Kelly himself as a way to respond to the sexual abuse and kidnapping allegations made against Kelly.

This man is powerful as an artist and the platform is visible. His music in today’s world is liked by everyone and obtainable by anyone across the world by a simple download. In verse five of “I Admit it,” he says, “ I admit I fuck with all the ladies (Ladies)…That’s both older and young ladies (Yeah)…But tell me how they call it pedophile because of that…Shit, that’s crazy (Crazy).” This suggest that Kelly is aware of the allegations that are being made against him. A majority of Kelly’s fans are women who are infatuated with the strong and romantic man he presents himself to be. This sources of power and ego has created a abuser who manipulates vulnerability. Sexual abuse has been normalized in popular media which has granted individuals like Robert Kelly as an untouchable.

Soon after this song was released, Andrea Kelly, Kelly’s ex wife responded with a remix of “I Admit” that express her lack tolerance for his abusive behavior. She calls him out on specific situations he denies and ask him to take accountability. In her third verse of the remix she responds with, “Admit it, admit it…Then go get some professional help…Own the pain that you’ve inflicted on others’…All by yourself…Even though you can’t read or write…It didn’t stop you from making hit songs…But you don’t have to read or write…To know domestic violence is wrong, so Admit it.” This verse highlights that Andrea Kelly wants the excuses and abuse of power to end. She calls out Kelly, to own up to this actions. To take accountability is necessary as part of healing for the people affected by an abuser’s actions.

Lastly, Music is a form of capitalism and this form of propaganda used by R. Kelly’s effects on people form of media is a joke. In this case R. Kelly is still making money from the stories of his victims regardless if he feels remorse or not. This communicate to people that he does not feel sympathy or reconiage the ethical issues he has caused. This form of media is not taking accountability but rather creating a hit tune for finithine more minutes of fame. The allegation made by survivors are now being used by R. Kelly to victimize his own experiences. Rather than apologizing to the public he profits from this action. Dragging victims stories and not believing survivors is rooted in rape culture and sexual assault. Writing an apology song that an abuser will only profit from does not erase sexual assault nor does it diminish it.

By: Briana Guerrero

Where To Go From Here

Social media story with the national assault hotline and other resrouces.

Extending conversation about hypersexuailty is significant in the growth of understanding that sexual harassment and rape culture is a huge deal for not only women but men as well. With that said, RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and gives a voice to people who may not feel like they have one. More of these organizations that allow people to open up with professionals that support and listen to different types of experiences is a huge step forward within sexual harassment.

With conversations growing, we need to make sure that no matter what race, ethnicity, sex, and gender a person claims that they have a voice and and platform to speak upon their experiences with sexual harassment. As a society we need to be more open to listening to these experiences that women and men go could possibly go through. Signing petitions or posting #muteRKelly on social media won’t be the end all be all for sexual harassment and rape culture, however it increases conversation and gives victims a voice that they deserve no matter their background.

By: Brandon Gonzalez