We have all heard R. Kelly’s song I Believe I Can Fly, but now the singer is under fire for something far more serious: sexual abuse. The debate against the singer’s past is being sparked by Surviving R. Kelly,a six-part series shown on Lifetime from January 3rd to January 5th. The series documents the several women who say that Kelly held them hostage in his home and provided details about his sexual, physical, and mental abuse. The women believe that coming forward would finally bring into account the multiple accusations made since 1970 that have had no effect on him. The release of this docu-series has caused public outcry and the withdrawal of Kelly’s music from several radio stations. Despite this, Kelly was seen on January 10 celebrating his birthday in a Chicago club, which was eventually interrupted by police.

What do the student at Whitney Young think about the news? The majority of people had a negative response in opposition to Kelly’s actions. Nhi Duong ‘19 believes that “men that engage in sexual abuse should be responsible for their actions, and the documentary is finally shedding light to the situation.”. Aisha Aich ‘21 agrees, saying “Kelly is trash. He deserves jail time for everything he’s done”. However, Ellie Mota ‘19 believes this won’t stop people from listening to Kelly’s music, saying “people still listen to XXX and 69 , so I’m not surprised at this point”.

Even if you do like his music, you must admit that R. Kelly is under fire for his actions. But considering today’s world, will he receive the punishment he deserves? Only time will tell.