Yesterday Spotify announced they would no longer promote R. Kelly's music because of a new "Hate Content & Hateful Conduct" policy [click here if you missed that].
R. Kelly reacts to the news...
A statement from R. Kelly reps sent to the NY Times reads,
We appreciate Spotify for continuing to make R. Kelly's songs accessible to millions of people, although it will stop listing his songs on its official playlists.
Spotify is adopting a new "Hate Content & Hateful Conduct" policy. R Kelly never has been accused of hate, and the lyrics he writes express love and desire.
Mr. Kelly for 30 years has sung songs about his love and passion for women. He is innocent of the false and hurtful accusations in the ongoing smear campaign against him, waged by enemies seeking a payoff. He never has been convicted of a crime, nor does he have any pending criminal charges against him.
Meanwhile, though, Spotify promotes numerous other artist who are convicted felons, others who have been arrested on charges of domestic violence and artist who sing lyrics that are violent and anti-women in nature.
Mr. Kelly falls into none of these categories, and it is unfortunate and shortsighted that Spotify fails to recognize this.
“Spotify has the right to promote whatever music it chooses, and in this case its actions are without merit. It is acting based on false and unproven allegations. It is bowing to social-media fads and picking sides in a fame-seeking dispute over matters that have nothing to do with serving customers.”
