R. Kelly is going back on tour despite 'Surviving' backlash
R. Kelly is heading out on tour overseas. The embattled singer revealed Tuesday he will be performing in Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, although no dates have been announced. This will be the first tour for R. Kelly (né Robert Sylvester Kelly) since Lifetime’s explosive Surviving docuseries premiered last month.
🚨 NEW TOUR ALERT 🚨 Australia | New Zealand | Sri Lanka see y’all soon! 👑 pic.twitter.com/m4PGFeIG4v
— R. Kelly (@rkelly) February 5, 2019
Flamingo Dreamz, an event promotions company that worked with Ja Rule for his Australia and New Zealand shows, is behind the tour. Yahoo reached out for comment about the company’s decision to partner with R. Kelly but did not immediately receive a response.
In January, promoters planning R. Kelly’s tour in Australia and New Zealand claimed they pulled out of talks with his management team in the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations against the singer that resurfaced after Surviving R. Kelly debuted.
In a social media post, R. Kelly called the tour “fake,” telling fans “I am not involved in this tour, nor do I have knowledge of it, its promoters, etc.” The promoters hit back, suggesting the singer was playing off local promoters in a bid for higher fees.
“Big Music Tour can confirm contracts were in place with R. Kelly and his management for the Australian tour. We have been in discussion regarding the bizarre social media post denying the tour and had been working towards a resolution,” the promoters told the Sydney Morning Herald in a statement. “However, given the current situation in R. Kelly’s personal life and the controversy surrounding him, the promoters have decided not to move forward and are focusing on other events.”
R. Kelly’s announcement was met with criticism on social media.
R Kelly: I’m going on tour
The world: pic.twitter.com/r73Ky2mPYY— Alice May Dear (@According2Al) February 5, 2019
How can you have the audacity to tour when you have held women against their will? Actually I rephrase, you have brainwashed women so they think your predator treatment is ok? Sri Lanka? S. Africa? Good luck with that tour😐
— Sian Clark (@Mrs_dolly_Vegas) February 5, 2019
😂😂😂😂he cant tour in the us so touring over seas it is 😂 gotta pay those bills…. can we get the surviving r kelly to premiere in these countries too?
— Julia Brown (@mrsbrown4260) February 5, 2019
R Kelly Just Posted His International Tour Dates & They Already In The Comments Like “He Finna Recruit Oversea’s “ 🤣🤣🤣
— Missy 💓 (@MissMissy92) February 5, 2019
Its crazy that’s its mostly women and mothers who still support R Kelly after everything. I’m disgusted. That tour should be cancelled. Those tickets shouldn’t be bought
— Nina Simone (@mzolimbanjwa) February 5, 2019
Last month, Sony Music dropped the singer after the #MuteRKelly movement gained steam following the Lifetime series. Surviving R. Kelly detailed the singer’s alleged sexual misconduct over two decades with women and underage girls. An attorney for the disgraced musician has denied all claims.
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