(AllHipHop News) How can you outrun your past when it’s attached to your present identity. R. Kelly is still figuring this out as he was recently kicked off Columbus, Ohio’s Fashion Meets Music Festival after people protested the singer’s inclusion.
Multiple artists from the Ohio area have voiced their displeasure for R. Kelly’s inclusion with Columbus folk group Saintseneca opposing due to “his very serious allegations of sexual violence and assault” according to their website. The most impactful of the protests came from radio station WBCE whom withdrew their sponsorship from the festival. The festival organizers spoke with Columbus Alive about how criticism forced R. Kelly to leave the lineup:
There was a lot of back and forth on the criticism we did receive, but then also looking at [Kelly] as an artist,” a rep for the fest told Columbus Alive. “Then truly the last few weeks…the festival has taken a lot of heat, and we really just wanted to listen to Columbus and really take a stance and move forward.
R. Kelly released a statement which read “R. Kelly is sorry to disappoint his fans, but looks forward to seeing them in the near future during one of his upcoming tours.”