Ahead of B2K's upcoming tour, lead singer Omarion has announced he plans to remove all B2K songs written by R. Kelly from his live shows.
However, as Complex notes, the ban will not go into effect until after the boy band's next tour.
R. Kelly wrote many of B2K's most popular songs, including their No. 1 hit “Bump Bump Bump” and their second most popular single, “Girlfriend,” Billboard reports. Despite this, Omarion tweeted he no longer wants to perform the songs because the accusations of child molestation and rape Kelly faces are too numerous and severe to ignore.
"While I know our fans would be greatly disappointed if we didn't perform those songs on The Millennium Tour, after the tour I am retiring those songs from my set list," the singer wrote.
While I know our fans would be greatly disappointed if we didn’t perform those songs on #TheMillennoumTour , after the tour I am retiring those songs from my set list . I too am raising a future queen. #A.A.R.T.
(Artists Acknowledging Responsibility & Truth) Peace y’all. ~O
— OMARION (@Omarion) January 7, 2019
Omarion explained he decided to ax the Kelly songs because "those responsible must be held accountable" and because "I too am raising a future queen." He also wrote the time has come for "everyone" to "be responsible" for standing up against sexual violence.
It’s important first to ACKNOWLEDGE that this has been an ugly truth in our industry for years and as opposed to dismissing it’s existence | its time to discuss it. EVERYONE has to be RESPONSIBLE. Many have bared witness to the unthinkable and yet have remained silent.
— OMARION (@Omarion) January 7, 2019
Those responsible must be held accountable. #rkelly was both a victim & a predator & accordingly must be held accountable but also get professional help. His artistic genius inspired us all. His music is being muted by the darkness of his actions. The dark always comes to light.
— OMARION (@Omarion) January 7, 2019
Some fans responded to the singer's tweets asking why the Kelly songs would be included in the tour:
Your fans WILL BE GREATLY DISAPPOINTED if you DO perform any of his songs now or forever!!! You may want to rethink, looks here like you will be losing some concertgoers
— MimMICK (@mickisue61) January 7, 2019
If you really cared you would pull the songs he wrote BEFORE the tour but no you’re more interested in making some money
— Kylie Jenner ????10/11 ♎️???????? (@LoveMy1029) January 7, 2019
Soooo support him for the check, and thennnnnnn I'll boycott him!!! I CANNOT with the hypocrisy! Smh…terrible
— ❤ My Selfie Salon (@Sarayanicole23) January 8, 2019
"but first I'm gonna get this bag" is basically what he's saying
— Saheed O. (@Sxheed_o) January 7, 2019
Nah fans won’t be disappointed at all because what’s wrong is wrong and we have to silence him period. Those girls deserve better and any female fan or no fan should understand that. I support B2K but @rkelly I won’t ever support again. That suck I was looking forward to this ????????♀️
— SYL (@NoPain1_3NoGain) January 7, 2019
Some, however, were supportive of the announcement:
Do y'all thing. You guys performed the hits I'm going to see y'all perform them. So let's get it. #B2KMilleniumTour
pic.twitter.com/tISKyFIkn6— Idot Rok (@IdotRok) January 8, 2019
I actually just thought about this last night listening to girlfriend remix!! I fucking love that song but didn't know how to feel when I heard RK voice! Love & Respect to you for that decision. But what other songs??
— The BlacK Saraswati (@TheBLKSaraswati) January 8, 2019
Does it really matter why he's choosing too retire them ? His real fans will stand by him …His choice , his money , his opinion … Yall really trying to bash him when yall energy should be elsewhere ..
— ❣️Kassy❣️ (@miracleeQueen) January 7, 2019
Omarion's announcement comes following the premiere of Surviving R. Kelly, a Lifetime docuseries investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against R. Kelly. Kelly has denied raping or molesting anyone. As Blavity reported, the "Ignition" artist is currently under criminal investigation in Georgia.
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