German concert venue bosses defend decision to host R. Kelly show

Bosses at a top German concert venue are standing by their decision to stage an R. Kelly concert, despite the allegations of sexual misconduct swirling around the singer.
The star is set to embark on a global tour, which includes concerts in Germany on 12 and 14 April (19).
According to TMZ, the demand for tickets to see the I Believe I Can Fly star’s show on 14 April was so high, the gig has been moved from its original location, the MHP Arena in Ludwigsburg to the 9,000-seat Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm.
In a statement posted on Facebook in both German and English last week (ends08Feb19), bosses at the arena defended Kelly’s right to perform, writing: “Everyone (in particular: every woman) has the right to personally evaluate the allegations in the room, to form an opinion about R. Kelly and to freely express one’s own opinion – artistically as well as personally, positively as well as negatively, freedom of expression is a high good, and there are at least very serious allegations in the room.
“On the other hand, despite thorough research, we have not been able to find any case of allegations in… a criminal or even civil process.”
The details surrounding the rest of the tour dates are unclear as Kelly announced, then deleted, plans to perform in Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka on social media.
The hitmaker has been dominating headlines in recent weeks thanks to the release of the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly, which detailed the decades of physical, sexual, and mental abuse allegations levelled against the star by a string of women.
He has firmly denied all the claims made against him and is threatening to sue everyone connected to the Surviving R. Kelly film.