Spotify Removes R. Kelly and XXXTentacion From Its Playlists

As part of its new Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy
XXXTentacion and R. Kelly
XXXTentacion (Miami Dade County Corrections via Getty Images), R. Kelly (Prince Williams/WireImage)

Spotify is removing music by R. Kelly and XXXTentacion from its editorial and algorithmic playlists, Billboard and The New York Times report. The move arrives with the streaming giant’s new Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy, which aims to promote “openness, diversity, tolerance and respect.”

In a statement to Billboard, Spotify said: “We are removing R. Kelly’s music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly. His music will still be available on the service, but Spotify will not actively promote it. We don’t censor content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, but we want our editorial decisions—what we choose to program—to reflect our values.”

The Times reported that a Spotify representative confirmed that XXXtentacion’s music was also being removed from the playlists. His song “SAD!” is no longer on the popular RapCaviar playlist; Billboard reports that it was there as of yesterday (May 9).

Jonathan Prince, Spotify’s VP/Head of Content and Marketplace Policy, told Billboard, “When we look at promotion, we look at issues around hateful conduct, where you have an artist or another creator who has done something off-platform that is so particularly out of line with our values, egregious, in a way that it becomes something that we don't want to associate ourselves with.” He added, “So we’ve decided that in some circumstances, we may choose to not work with that artist or their content in the same way—to not program it, to not playlist it, to not do artist marketing campaigns with that artist.”

The Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy aims to remove “content that expressly and principally promotes, advocates, or incites hatred or violence against a group or individual based on characteristics, including, race, religion, gender identity, sex, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.” The description continues, “At the same time, however, it’s important to remember that cultural standards and sensitivities vary widely. That means there will always be content that is acceptable in some circumstances, but is offensive in others, and we will always look at the entire context.”

In a section that responds to the question “What about hateful conduct by an artist?,” the policy states: “We don’t censor content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, 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 (for example, violence against children and sexual violence), it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator.”

In 2002, R. Kelly was charged with making child pornography; in 2008 he was acquitted on all charges. Kelly continues to face allegations of sexual abuse following a July 2017 investigative report that detailed an alleged “cult.” Another woman discussed Kelly’s alleged history of underage sex and abuse in an August 2017 report. In April 2018, a 20-year-old Dallas woman turned in evidence to police, claiming she was emotionally manipulated and knowingly given a sexually transmitted disease by Kelly. On May 4, eight woman (four of whom had not previously gone public) spoke out about R. Kelly, levying allegations of sexual abuse in reports from BuzzFeed News and The Washington Post.

R. Kelly and his team have consistently denied the recent allegations. On May 4, Kelly’s management team said, “All of the women targeted by the current media onslaught are legal adults of sound mind and body, with their own free will.” R. Kelly’s management team released the following statement to BuzzFeed News:

We appreciate Spotify for continuing to make R. Kelly’s songs accessible to millions of people, although it will stop listing his songs on its official playlists.

Spotify is adopting a new “Hate Content & Hateful Conduct” policy. R. Kelly never has been accused of hate, and the lyrics he writes express love and desire.

Mr. Kelly for 30 years has sung songs about his love and passion for women. He is innocent of the false and hurtful accusations in the ongoing smear campaign against him, waged by enemies seeking a payoff. He never has been convicted of a crime, nor does he have any pending criminal charges against him.

Spotify has the right to promote whatever music it chooses, and in this case its actions are without merit. It is acting based on false and unproven allegations. It is bowing to social-media fads and picking sides in a fame-seeking dispute over matters that have nothing to do with serving customers.

Meanwhile, though, Spotify promotes numerous other artists who are convicted felons, others who have been arrested on charges of domestic violence and artists who sing lyrics that are violent and anti-women in nature.

Mr. Kelly falls into none of these categories, and it is unfortunate and shortsighted that Spotify fails to recognize this.

XXXTentacion has been involved in numerous legal issues throughout his career. He spent about six months in jail in 2016-17 stemming from a November 2015 incident that resulted in charges of armed home invasion robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to six years probation in March 2017.

He has also been fighting domestic violence charges since October 2016. Those charges include aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and witness-tampering. In addition, he faces 15 charges harassing and tampering with a witness or victim. X has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has denied them in various interviews as well as on social media.

This past March, a video surfaced that appeared to show X allegedly hitting a woman in the head. In response, X’s attorneys told Pitchfork, “The actors in this video are obviously friends, and also obviously acting in jest.” Shortly after, a woman who claimed to be the one in the video released a statement: “For those who are questioning why I didn’t come forth earlier was because I was terrified for my life.” X and his team followed in April by suing the woman for defamation and fraud.

When contacted by Pitchfork, XXXTentacion’s representative replied: “Will Spotify remove all the artists listed below from playlists?” The list includes artists who have faced allegations (e.g., Real Estate, whose former member Matt Mondanile was accused of repeated sexual misconduct), some who have been charged with crimes (e.g., 6ix9ine, who pleaded guilty to the use of a child in a sexual performance), and others who have had criminal charges/investigations dismissed (e.g., Trey Songz and Seal). In addition, the list includes older and deceased artists (like Ozzy Osbourne and David Bowie). Find a screenshot of the rep’s comment (also sent to The New York Times’ Joe Coscarelli) below.

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This article was originally published on Thursday, May 10 at 10:12 a.m. Eastern. It was last updated on May 10 at 3:44 p.m. Eastern.