Director Ava DuVernay & Gabrielle Union Ignite #MuteRKelly Movement & It's An Immediate Hit

Director Ava DuVernay and Gabrielle Union won’t put the key into R. Kelly‘s “Ignition” anytime soon. The Hollywood heavyweights have announced their support for a movement to silence Kells.

Ava went to Twitter this week to push forward and encourage other people to contribute to the new #MuteRKelly hashtag.

We join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on the safety + dignity of all women. We demand investigations into R. Kelly’s abuse allegations made by women of color + their families for two decades. We call on those who profit from his music to cut ties. #MuteRKelly #TIMESUP #WOC pic.twitter.com/TYmDRVIH00

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

Respect to @vincestaples and @johnlegend for speaking up and out about @rkelly. Any other men in music have anything to add? Bueller? https://t.co/GEux3CK0G1

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

I stand with the women of #timesup #muterkelly. https://t.co/B0yaRj7zdZ

— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 30, 2018

👇🏾 https://t.co/VUyLONX9BY

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

Standing alongside the women and sisters in the LONG OVERDUE CANCELLATION of Rkelly. #TimesUp… https://t.co/F9RUKVywXw

— T’questla (@questlove) April 30, 2018

Listen to @TaranaBurke. 🖤 https://t.co/tmZ72oddcz

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/TheOpposition/status/990986168744534016

Warriors. Black women who’ve been fighting for Black women and girls victimized by @RKelly for years. #TimesUp https://t.co/v9c31YYdQS

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

To @TaranaBurke @dreamhampton @ToniBlackman @akilaworksongs @ashabandele Elizabeth Mendez Berry @milfinainteasy @sofiaquintero and so many more seen and not seen,15 years+++ fighting these monsters collectively including the ones in Hip Hop, basta ya!!! #MuteRKelly #TimesUp

— Rosa A. Clemente (@rosaclemente) April 30, 2018

I predict the next show won’t be Greensboro. 🤷🏾‍♀️ #TIMESUP #WOC https://t.co/MwDOK6cLs3

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/rkelly/status/990766412166672384

Epic thread by @BRashadBeal about @RKelly for folks in need of an intro or a refresher. #TimesUp #WOC https://t.co/Cw4oj0Mh0B

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/BRashadBeal/status/990979169902186496

Various high-profile celebrities have pushed forward with the #MuteRKelly movement.

We need to PROTECT the innocence of minors from sexual predators. No more silence #TimesUpWOC @vday #OneBillionRising https://t.co/aWl7qRwMt6

— Thandie Newton OBE (@thandienewton) April 30, 2018

Today we join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on safety & dignity for all women. We demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by women of color & their families for over two decades now. #WOC #TIMESUP https://t.co/CG7Y5ZmKyR

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 30, 2018

👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/Sf5z95S9Ac

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/msshanitarenee/status/991030835687182336

#MuteRKelly pic.twitter.com/dSiVZLDKFh

— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) April 30, 2018

Black girls are more vital than a few bops & a cute beat. #MuteRKelly https://t.co/s23GKwGaSX

— Janet Mock (@janetmock) April 30, 2018

Now the question is, will @SIRIUSXM stand with the #MuteRKelly movement that has been bolstered by @TIMESUPNOW? Or will it continue to play R Kelly music and step in the name of abuse? pic.twitter.com/cLsGli0RJX

— April (@ReignOfApril) April 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/robinthede/status/990938090788343808

Today we join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on safety and dignity for women of all kinds. #TIMESUP pic.twitter.com/18V8plqKif

— Amanda Seales 🇬🇩✊🏾 (@amandaseales) April 30, 2018

We join the call to #MuteRKelly and insist on the safety + dignity of all women. We demand investigations into R. Kelly’s abuse allegations made by women of color + their families for two decades. We call on those who profit from his music to cut ties. #MuteRKelly #TIMESUP #WOC https://t.co/RTco2ZeetZ

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) April 30, 2018

This past weekend, Kelly issued a public apology for having one of his concerts cancelled over a rumor.

“Yo what’s up, y’all? It’s your boy Kells and first of all, I want to apologize to all of my fans in Chicago and basically all around the world where I’m performing at and they cancelled me. I don’t know why they cancelled the show. I’ve never heard of a show being cancelled because of rumors. I guess it’s a first time for everything – in the meantime, I’m going to try to get to the bottom of it as far as my lawyers are concerned – why I was cancelled. Until then, I love y’all and I’ll see you the next time around. I hope you understand and don’t put that on me.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiLR7uehzOI/

At the recent suggestion of #MeToo founder Tarana Burke, radio host Tom Joyner revealed a big decision to ban Kells’ tunes from his radio show.

In light of his most recent accusations of giving a woman an STD and training others to be sex pets, Tarana Burke appeared on Jacque Reid‘s Inside Her Story segment on the Tom Joyner Morning Show yesterday. Burke went on to explain by supporting the 51-year-old’s music, consumers are keeping him “wealthy”. She then called out the TJMS for their “support” over the years of Kelly (they, like many stations, still play his music, even having him on the 2015 Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage Cruise). “We need the Tom Joyner Morning Show to support R. Kelly.” Without hesitation, Joyner responded “Okay, you got it. I’ll do that right now. I won’t play anymore R. Kelly music.” (TV One)