John Legend Slams R. Kelly As A ‘Serial Child Rapist’ After Lifetime Doc Sheds Light On Aaliyah Romance

January 04, 2019

“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 f**k about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision,” he wrote on Twitter after he was deluged with praise from fans for being one of the only celebs in the docu-series speaking out against R. Kelly. It features alleged victims who claim he preyed on them as teenagers, his own family members, former colleagues and more who allege that he used his power in the music industry to cover up sexual and physical abuse of girls and young women. It also details how he allegedly had sex with late singer Aaliyah when she was 15 and he was 27.

John added “Also I’m happy to support the work of people like my friends at @ALongWalkHome who have been speaking out on behalf of the survivors for a long time.” The non-profit uses the arts to art to educate, engage, and empower young people to end violence against girls and women.

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

Surviving R. Kelly’s executive producer Dream Hampton told the Detroit Free Press that she approached a number of big music industry names to participate and was turned down by Erykah Badu, JAY-Z, comedian Dave Chappelle, and Lady Gaga — all of whom have worked with R. Kelly in the past. She told Shadow and Act in a separate interview that Questlove, Mary J. Blige, and Lil’ Kim also turned down requests to participate in her R. Kelly docu-series. Dream told the DFP that as a result, “That makes John Legend even more of a hero for me.”