Lady Gaga apologises for working with R. Kelly and promises to withdraw song from streaming services
Lady Gaga has apologised for working with R Kelly and promised to remove the song they made together from streaming services amid fresh allegations of sexual assault against the R&B singer.
A documentary aired in the US last week in which several women came forward to allege Kelly had sexually assaulted them.
Gaga worked on the song Do What U Want with Kelly in 2013 but has now condemned the singer, saying she stands “behind these women 1000%” and that the allegations are “horrifying and indefensible”.
The actress, whose latest film A Star Is Born is tipped for Oscar success next month, said “as a victim of sexual assault myself” she was at a “dark time in my life” when she collaborated with Kelly.
Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, said that she wanted to “create something extremely defiant and provocative because I was angry and still hadn't processed the trauma that had occurred in my own life”.
R. Kelly has previously been subject of sexual impropriety allegations and, in 2008, stood trial on child pornography charges, of which he was acquitted.
Kelly has not been charged with any offence in relation to the latest accusations. He denies any wrongdoing.
Writing on Twitter, Gaga said: “The song is called 'Do What U
Want (With My Body)', I think it's clear how explicitly twisted my thinking was
at the time.
“If I could go back and have a talk with my younger self, I'd
tell her to go through the therapy I have since then, so that I could
understand the confused, post-traumatic state that I was in - or if therapy was
not available to me or anyone in my situation - to seek help, and speak as
openly and honestly as possible about what we've been through."
“I can't go back, but I can go forward, and continue to support
women, men, and people of all sexual identities, and of all races, who are
victims of sexual assault.”
Gaga, 32, won a Golden Globe for A Star Is Born on Sunday and had
been criticised for not breaking her silence over Kelly.
“I intend to remove this song off of iTunes and other streaming
platforms and will not be working with him again," she said.
