R. Kelly has denied any accusations of housing women in a sex cult. (Photo by Al Powers /Powers Imagery /Invision/AP, File)
One week after reports that R. Kelly was not suffering any fallout from allegations he’s keeping women hostage, three tour dates have been canceled.
Ticketmaster’s concert listings for the “I’m a Flirt” singer shows dates on Aug. 12-13 have been dropped from the tour schedule. Kelly will no longer perform at New Orleans’ UNO Lakefront Arena, Baton Rouge’s Raising Cane’s River Center Arena — where attendees had requested refunds — and Dallas’ Music Hall at Fair Park. The two latter dates featured Monica and Letoya Luckett; Monica is still scheduled to appear at one of five remaining tour dates with Tyrese in Memphis, Tenn.
Last week, TMZ reported there was such an increase in demand for tickets at Kelly’s Aug. 1 show at Detroit’s Chene Park that it was nearly sold out. A promoter for one of the singer’s August shows told Mic Wednesday, July 28, that the concert is “selling even better” than before adding, it’s “about 96 percent filled.” Two days later, fans at Kelly’s concert at Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y., largely showed their support for the troubled R&B crooner.
“I love you, R. Kelly! I don’t care what they say! Do your damn thing!” an unnamed woman shouted at the star during his Sunday, July 30, concert.
Another woman named Natalie told the publication she had already bought her tickets when the BuzzFeed story alleging Kelly, who has denied the claims, was housing and controlling women at his Atlanta and Chicago homes came out.
“I don’t think that R. Kelly has been convicted of anything people have tried to get him on, so he’s good,” Natalie said after mentioning Jocelyn Savage, one of the women living in Kelly’s Georgia home, who said she was fine.
Other fans echoed those statements and though siblings Deborah and Bernie happily sang along to Kelly’s hits at the show, Bernie said he wants the singer to “admit to your wrongs.”
His sister, Deborah, mentioned fans have remained supportive throughout decades of sexual misconduct allegations.
“You got a lot of fans that still love and respect you [despite] all the crap you did over all the years,” Deborah said. “Man, go see a doctor. Go get some help. There’s a lot of people out here that want to help you. Do something.”
