Why Spotify Is Wrong For Banning R. Kelly

R. Kelly is super talented, R. Kelly is also a super creep. While he may not have been convicted of the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and assault (accusations which he always denies) these allegations are disgusting. From allegedly holding underage girls against their will in a cult, to getting caught on tape urinating on underage girls, the pied piper of R&B should have been cancelled a long time ago.
Last week, Spotify announced a new policy to curb content that “expressly and principally promotes, advocates, or incites hatred or violence against a group or individual based on characteristics, including, race, religion, gender identity, sex, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.” With one sexual allegation after the other, a #MuteRKelly social media campaign started and Spotify removed R. Kelly from their promoted music playlists.
Only one more artist, Xxxtentacion, who is also facing aggravated battery charges against a pregnant woman has had his music removed from Spotify’s promoted playlists.
R. Kelly, in usual fashion released a statement denying the allegations, and proclaiming his love and passion for women. While I don’t care much for his statement, the second to the last part is however hard to ignore: ‘Meanwhile, though, Spotify promotes numerous other artists who are convicted felons, others who have been arrested on charges of domestic violence and artists who sing lyrics that are violent and anti-women in nature.’ Xxxtentacion in a statement to the New York Times has also asked why musicians accused of committing the same crimes haven’t been subjected to the same treatment.

Spotify is wrong for what there doing to artist like R Kelly and xxxtentacion. There not even convicted of any thing.

— 50cent (@50cent) May 10, 2018

As bad as these guys actions are, they are right. Here’s a list of artists that have been accused of one allegation or the other: Dr. Dre, Fabolous, Trey Songz, Nelly, David Bowie, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and the list goes on, let’s not forget Solange’s elevator incident with Jay Z. Are these guys music also going to be removed? As the popular social media lingo goes, Spotify needs to keep the ‘same energy’. The company can’t afford to pick and choose who to remove and who to promote.
While I don’t believe censorship is the answer, I do believe in some sort of punishment for these guys. Music streaming services who make money off these guys can’t afford to single out some offenders and leave others. The decision to separate the art from the artist should be left for the listener to decide.