Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com
Celebrities are in the midst of denouncing their relationship to disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. The controversial star is no stranger to the pedophila, predator and abuse claims made against him, but after the release of Lifetime’s docu-series Surviving R. Kelly, Hollywood is just now calling Time’s Up on the musician.
The latest celebrity to caught up in the whole R. Kelly is canceled movement is Kanye West. West has been hosting his own pseudo-Sunday church services. They are well documented by the Kardashians on their Instagrams.
On Sunday, January 13, during one of his Sunday services West aired out his thoughts on if you can separate the art from the artist. To make a long story short, West totally believes you can separate the two.
“We can all enjoy their music all we want. I thought I wasn’t going to go there today. If we’re gonna tear down artists, let’s go ahead and take [Leonardo] da Vinci out fo the Louvre. Let’s take down all the art,” West stated.
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He prefaced this statement by talking about documentaries and how there’s a documentary coming out about the late Micahel Jackson detailing the alleged sexual abuse against him. Jackson has been accused of sexually abusing two underage boys.
“They want art from the artist. But, anytime they do anything erratic, they just gonna pull up the full documentaries on him,” Kanye stated according to TMZ. “And then, they gonna come with the Michael [Jackson] documentary. We can enjoy all their music all we want.”
Given Kelly’s documentary and how it has greatly changed the conversation around him, fans assumed West was talking about Kelly.
He said “Documentary” Right?? So I think we know what documentary his talking about 🤔🤔 It’s all over the News and Lifetime. Let’s stop defending people with power that are doing wrong to others. Or else it will never end. 🙏🏼
— Martha Torres (@MarhaT69) January 14, 2019
Kim Kardashian hopped on Twitter to clarify West’s statements, something she’s well versed in doing now.
“I’m going to nip this in the bud right now. Kanye was speaking about his own experience of everyone quick to say they are cancelling [sic] him because of differences in opinion & not being perfect,” she tweeted. “The analogies were in context to his own experiences, not defending anyone else.”
I’m going to nip this in the bud right now. Kanye was speaking about his own experience of everyone quick to say they are cancelling him because of differences in opinion & not being perfect. The analogies were in context to his own experiences, not defending anyone else.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 14, 2019
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star continued, “I want to make it very clear, he is not condoning anyone’s actions or unacceptable disgusting behavior. My husband’s words are being taken out of context due to timing.”
I want to make it very clear, he is not condoning anyone’s actions or unacceptable disgusting behavior. My husband’s words are being taken out of context due to timing.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 14, 2019
West was at the center of cancel culture after he voiced his support of Donald Trump, the Republican party and his love of the red Make America Great Again hat. Regardless of West’s past, his quote about cancel culture and specifically referencing documentaries definitely doesn’t have good timing.
West and Kardashian’s friend and talented musician, John Legend has spoken up against Kelly and even appeared in Surviving R. Kelly.
“To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn’t feel risky at all,” Legend, who was the only major celebrity to appear int he documentary, tweeted. “I believe these women and don’t give a f**k about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision.”
To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn't feel risky at all. I believe these women and don't give a fuck about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 4, 2019
Even if Kanye isn’t talking about Kelly specifically, encouraging people to separate the art from the artist is not okay. People should be held accountable for their actions especially when their behavior is predatory. When artists get a free pass they become powerful and continue to be predatory. That’s why it took so many women speaking out to take down powerhouse celebrities like Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein.
