Spotify removes R Kelly from playlists due to ‘hateful conduct’ policy

Spotify is removing R. Kelly’s music from its algorithmic and curated playlists under its new hate content and hateful conduct policy. 

The music-streaming service told Billboard that, in addition to removing Kelly’s songs from Spotify-operated playlists, it would no longer promote the R&B artist’s music.

“We are removing R. Kelly’s music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly,” Spotify said. 

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“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. 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.”

Kelly has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct and assault. Last year, BuzzFeed News published allegations by young women that Kelly had held them against their will in a “cult.”

The R&B artist has denied the allegations. A representative for Kelly told BuzzFeed in a statement last year that the accusations were an attempt to “lynch” the singer.

“R. Kelly supports the pro-women goals of the Time’s Up movement. We understand criticizing a famous artist is a good way to draw attention to those goals — and in this case, it is unjust and off-target,” Kelly’s representative told BuzzFeed News.