On a recent episode of her show, Wendy Williams proclaimed she is “sick” of the #MeToo movement and criticized a recent campaign against singer R. Kelly, Newsweek reports.
“It’s not going to work,” Williams said of #MuteRKelly campaign, which aims to end the controversial singer’s career and has so far led to the cancellation of some of his shows. “Black people aren’t really good at protesting … not since the King march. It’s not going to work.”
The talk show host made victim-blaming comments about Aayliah, who was once married to Kelly, and the young girl who Kelly allegedly urinated on, in the infamous sex tape exposed during R. Kelly’s trial. Williams also attacked the growing #MeToo movement; which led to critical conversations and activism around rape culture and sexual assault.
“The #MeToo movement hasn’t affected R. Kelly, because R. Kelly, he wasn’t a #MeToo,” Williams said. “Aaliyah voluntarily married him when she was 15 years old. And her parents voluntarily let her do it, when she was 15 years old. And that little girl that I saw from my own eyeballs that he urinated on and he had his way with, was there at his house, she let it go down.”
Williams also had choice words for the parents of the young women allegedly involved in a sex cult run by the “Ignition” singer. “The multiple allegations of R. Kelly holding women in his own home. Where are their parents? This is a whole different thing, it has nothing to do with #MeToo,” Williams continued. “R. Kelly is just a very very sick man.”
Williams concluded by arguing that the #MeToo movement has led to men being unfairly regarded with suspicion.
“I’m sick of this #MeToo movement,” she said. “I love that people are speaking up for the first time and speaking out and everything, but now … I look at all men like you’re a #MeToo, all of them, all of them, which is not fair.”
Predictably, social media has been in an uproar over these comments. Tarana Burke, creator of the #MeToo movement, tweeted her thoughts about Williams’ words:
I heard what Wendy said yesterday and was disgusted by it. This is why Black women/girls are hesitant about coming forward with their #metoo stories bc of Black women like @WendyWilliams who blame the victim. You really think a 13 y.o. girl is to BLAME for sex w/ a 30+ y.o. man?? https://t.co/0mCmAnd0at— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
I tried to hold my tongue, but I can’t. Yes, Wendy said he was sick but pivoted to blaming the parents. FOCUS – HE IS THE PREDATOR – period. How dare you get on National TV and say his victims can’t say #metoo you should be ashamed @WendyWilliams— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
These are GIRLS! They are children. Why does that have to be explained to you! This man URINATED ON AN 8th GRADER and you have the nerve to say it’s HER FAULT!?! @WendyWilliams Have you ever talked to one of his victims?! #muteRKelly @metoo— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
@WendyWilliams I urge you to talk to Jerhonda Pace. Look in her face and tell her it was HER FAULT at 14 for allowing a rich, famous man to lure her into his web. She was a CHILD manipulated by an adult man! #muteRkelly— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
It is disgraceful that as wide as your audience is and as many young girls, many Black girls watch your show that you would openly victim blame like you did yesterday. You are the reason why we can’t make headway in our community around sexual violence. @WendyWilliams— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
When I started this work I was working with 7th/8th grade Black girls who were ‘dating’ grown ass men who preyed on them bc they were poor and naive. They were being manipulated into sexual relationships. Do you not remember being 13?! @WendyWilliams— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
You are doing the very same thing that white folks do to our girls which is forget that they are CHILDREN!!
R. Kelly PREYS ON CHILDREN! Stay right there for a second. You @WendyWilliams said you WATCHED the video and was disgusted but she’s not a #metoo— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
…but the CHILD in that video just finished EIGHTH GRADE! And you maintain it was her CHOICE to sleep with this adult man? Regardless to what Aaliyah’s folks allowed – R. Kelly still MARRIED an underage girl. Keep the focus on HIM!— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
I am going to stop this rant bc I’m hot, fire, burning mad. But sis, @WendyWilliams you are part of the problem in our community. Those folks who clapped in your audience are too. You need an education about sexual violence – STAT.— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
I will take my last dying breath fighting against sexual violence and standing for survivors. WE ARE NOT COMPLICIT IN OUR OWN ABUSE!! To anyone who has survivors sexual assault or abuse – please hear that and know that with all your heart. It’s not your fault. ????— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 26, 2018
