Even after #MuteRKelly and Surviving R Kelly, reports show people are increasingly streaming his music

The sexual misconduct allegations against R Kelly can be traced as far back as 1994 when he married the late R&B singer Aaliyah when she was only 15 years old.

The Guardian reports that R Kelly who was 27 years old at the time married Aaliyah with a forged marriage certificate that stated Aaliyah was 18 at the time.

READ MORE: It's time to delete Marvin Gaye and R Kelly from our music libraries

Fast forward to late 2017, the campaign #MuteRKelly was started by Kenyette Tisha Barnes and Oronike Odeyle. These two women launched a petition directed at Sony, Live Nation, RCA Records, Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, I Heart Radio, Radio One and all venues hosting R. Kelly’s concerts.

READ MORE: R Kelly releases new confessional song: here’s what he actually admits to vs what he’s been accused of

In May 2018, R Kelly’s music was reported to have increased in streaming numbers. Based on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and other music platforms, the Associated Press reported that R Kelly’s music streams had already surpassed his 2017 and 2016 streaming numbers. AP report that in 2017 his weekly streams were 5 666 000 and in 2018 his music hit 6 674 000 weekly streams.

Rolling Stones reported that Spotify would stop featuring R. Kelly on its playlists, and that Apple Music and Pandora would also stop promoting the R&B singer.

READ MORE: Surviving R Kelly includes interviews with his alleged victims and the trailer is explosive

But, soon after the Spotify announcement Variety reported that weekly streams for R Kelly increased my almost nearly 100 000.

A day after the premiere of the docuseries Surviving R Kelly, The Blast reported that the streams for the singer’s song, Ignition, increased by 16%.

Allegations against R Kelly range from sexual misconduct, statutory rape to child pornography. So why are people still supporting his music?

It’s expected that there would be decline in the support of his music, even though he has denied the allegations, but it seems that is not the case.

Questions about separating the artist from the art questions arose, some of R Kelly’s fans sympathised with him and some fan pages remain active.

In the midst of all of this there has between a handful of celebrities who have spoken out about the allegations against R Kelly, the most notable is John Legend who appeared on the docuseries.

Meanwhile, our own local radio stations continue to have R Kelly's music playlisted on various shows and the man in question is also still promoting new music. He has announced a new single and promises his “day one fans” an album. 

The persistent support of R Kelly and his music is a slap in the face not only for his victims, but other women who have experienced sexual violence. It also undermines the work of many social justice activists who have put themselves on the line to bring these issues to light.

More than anything, the manner in which the world at large has responded to the allegations against R Kelly once again proves the blasé attitude society often assumes when it comes to addressing - or at least attempting to empathise - with  black girls' pain.

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