Lately, we have seen many legendary artists succumb to the skeletons in their closets. From the alarming updates of R. Kelly, Nate Parker and Bill Cosby’s unsettling accounts of sexual abuse to Kanye West’s claiming that 400 years of slavery was by choice- it's been a lot to deal with. Unfortunately, the same people who have made countless artistic gems for the black community have contributed to the same violence that has led many of us to question the world we live in. Their indiscretions have begged the question: can you separate the art from the artist?

For some the answer is a clear ‘No.’ Many believe there is no way to separate the emotional investments, commitment and unseen labor that goes into creating a piece of art–which may be inextricably linked to the thoughts and ideas that an artist holds in the heart. Some feel that the two can be seen as two separate entities. There is a chance that the art is created and in many ways is stuck in time for us to always reminisce on the person the artist used to be; that the intentions behind the art and the crime are different enough that we can forgive one without forgiving the other.

With the rise of our community's political and social justice awareness in relation to the media we consume, questions like: “Can I bump to this song?” “Is Ignition Remix still a bop?” “Will I ever get to finish that rerun of the Cosby Show?” or “Can I still claim Kanye over Jay-Z?” have lingered in the heads of many. The answers to these questions are evasive. Sometimes the answer comes easy.  For example, it's easy to decide not to support R. Kelly or Bill Cosby because their offenses are heinous enough to help us decide what is right. In order to hold our own accountable, we must be as critical of their actions as we would with any other person. In the cases of Kelly and Cosby, to support their art could potentially flag to victims and survivors of assault that the magnitude of their offenses was not big enough to alter public opinion of their character or artwork. It can (and does) flag to them that they do not have to see the repercussions of their actions and the act of respecting those who cross their paths becomes a choice. If these men were actively being violent toward women while creating the song or T.V. show that you adore so much, what does that say about the intention of the work? Is it really possible to separate the Art from the Artist? Can you still support the Art and not the Artists?

However, how do we assess when to support or reject the work of those who have made charged or questionable decisions such as comments made by artists like Kanye West or Azealia Banks? West, in particular, has made himself difficult to love. He has slowly approached the border of the ostracization due to his comment about slavery being a choice after he also took the time to show support for Donald Trump. When news broke, West snipped the last thread holding him to the community and fan base that raised his career from the ground up. So, does this mean also mean we can’t enjoy the eclectic sounds and lyricality of "The Sweet Life of Pablo"? Can "Graduation" still reside in your top 5 of all time? Should Mr. West’s discography be subject to the same call-out culture that made us throw out "Chocolate Factory" and "12 Play"? How effective is this call-out/rejection culture? Is it possible that Kanye needs help? When we see people in our own lives display such disoriented arguments will we be just as quick to show them the door?

We need to take a step back when making the decision to exile. If it is our job to hold our own accountable for their actions, is it not our job to make sure that they are sane? We understand the taxation this country puts on black bodies and black wellness, so it is impossible to think that the root of West’s dysphoria is not because he is anti-black by choice, but because losing his mother and possibly his sanity, he is lost in a world of anti-Blackness. When our own become lost do we just let them wander? Within our own lives, how many have we exiled due to them sharing views that we did not agree with?

In the cases of sexual offenders, I completely agree with the decision to not support their work. It is one of the most effective ways to show solidarity with those who have been hurt and reprimand the artists for their crimes.

I do charge us to think about our decisions to #MutetheArtist, especially when these artists are exhibiting such frazzled behavior. Should we let our urge to hold people accountable blind us from noticing when someone is literally “not well,” as Wendy Williams said in a show while discussing West’s current state.

“As long as I’m here and you’re listening, I will tell you I feel very, very bad for Kanye West. His father is nowhere in the picture, his mom passed away trying to beautify herself to be a stage mom…but what I will tell you is that he’s not well. That is the very foundation of everything he says. He’s not well,”

I think it's important for us to be cautious in how we react to our own because our affinity to quickly reject those who go against the grain could easily start to boil over into our own lives and the artists in our own community. At my university, I have seen the same artists who are quick to call out all "-isms" fall victim to their own shortcoming and also risk being rejected themselves. Maybe that’s okay, but it's possible that we should practice being compassionate enough to evaluate the circumstances.