Mute R. Kelly (styled as #MuteRKelly) was the name of a movement and social media campaign that sought to have American singer R. Kelly convicted of sexual abuse and end financial support for his career.[1] Founded by Kenyette Barnes and Oronike Odeleye in 2017, the movement played a significant part in drawing renewed attention to decades-long allegations against the singer, and became especially prominent following the 2019 release of the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly.
Following Kelly's 2021 conviction on charges that included racketeering and child sexual abuse, co-founder Barnes celebrated the movement's success while acknowledging that its scope went beyond Kelly himself: "Those of us who have fought for justice for so long understand that our work is not over. We also recognize that it was a culture of adultification, misogynoir and rape culture in the entertainment industry, and in the Black community, that enabled his predatory behavior. But we can take a moment now to acknowledge that the truth finally prevailed."[2]
- ^ "MuteRKelly". Twitter. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ^ Barnes, Kenyette Tisha (September 29, 2021). "R. Kelly Has Finally Been Silenced. Let's Keep It That Way". TIME. Retrieved October 7, 2024.