Spotify has removed R. Kelly’s music from its official playlists as part of a new anti-hate policy.
As Billboard reports, the move means that all of the singer’s music will no longer feature in either editorial or algorithmic playlists shared on the music streaming service.
"We are removing R. Kelly’s music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly," a spokesperson for the company told Billboard. His music will still be available to stream on Spotify however.
The company’s statement continues: "We don’t censor content because of an artist’s or creator’s behaviour, but we want our editorial decisions – what we choose to program – to reflect our values. When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator."
The move comes amidst increasing pressure on R. Kelly, his record label, streaming services and gig promoters who support him from the <a href="thequietus.com/articles/24514-r-kelly-responds-time-s-up-campaign
" target="out">Women of Colour branch of the Time’s Up movement. They are calling on a number of figures to cut their ties with him following over two decades of allegations against the singer related to sexual harassment, abuse and improper treatment of women. Amongst those allegations is the claim made by a number of women and reported last year by Buzzfeed that R. Kelly is running an ‘abusive sex cult’.
The music of Florida rapper XXXtentacion has also been removed from Spotify under the new anti-hate guidelines. He is currently facing multiple charges including aggravated battery of a pregnant woman as Pitchfork reports.
