After being put on blast by the producers of the groundbreaking documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” for refusing to be interviewed about the troubled singer R. Kelly, pop star Lady Gaga has finally spoken out.
Lady Gaga, 32, said she was young and unwise when she collaborated with R. Kelly, 51, on the hit song “Do What U Want (With My Body).” As a sexual assault survivor herself, Gaga she believes the stories of the alleged victims and is sickened by R. Kelly’s long list of alleged crimes.
Gaga, who was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in New York, said the duet with Kelly was made during “a dark time” in her life. Writing on Twitter, Gaga said she is snatching the songs she did with Kelly off iTunes and other streaming services as a symbol of solidarity with the women who spoke out against Kelly in the Lifetime documentary.
“I stand behind these women 1000 percent, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously,” Gaga said. “What I am hearing about the allegations against R. Kelly is absolutely horrifying and indefensible.
“As a victim of sexual assault myself, I made both the songs and video at a dark time in my life, my intention was 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.”
Gaga has been blasted repeatedly recently for her 2013 live performance with R. Kelly and for praising him a year later on Twitter.
“I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner,” she said. “I love you.”
Meanwhile, Robert S. Kelly continues to deny any and all sexual misconduct and abuse and said he is going to sue everyone involved with the production of the six-part docuseries.
As he mulls a lawsuit, the Fulton County (Atlanta) District Attorney’s Office announced this week they have opened an investigation into Kelly based on the documentary. Also, the Cook County state’s attorney (Chicago) is asking Kelly’s accusers to come forward.
You can read Lady Gaga’s full statement here and then see the video that Gaga and Kelly collaborated on via YouTube:
I stand by anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual assault: pic.twitter.com/67sz4WpV3i
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) January 10, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=61&v=qva7OuYe8pk
