Not even a protest from a University of South Florida professor could mute this R. Kelly concert.
Aisha Durham, an associate professor of communication, launched a campaign last Sunday and told the Tampa Bay Times that she’s reached out to Yuengling Center officials about the show headlined by an alleged sexual predator.
“This is something we should already know is a non-starter if we are truly committed to tolerance and inclusion on our campus,” she said.
The venue — which rented the room to an out-of-state promoter for this show — has been mum for the most part, although it did say that guests have the right to choose which events they attend or don’t. The 51-year-old embattled, and emboldened, '90s R&B icon announced the show — where Adina Howard and Keyshia Cole will open — a month ago, and the timing came just a week after Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, went on The View to accuse the R&B singer of multiple incidents of physical abuse.
R. Kelly w/Keyshia Cole/Adina Howard. Sat. Nov. 10, 8 p.m. Yuengling Center at University of South Florida, 12499 USF Bull Run Dr., Tampa. yuenglingcenter.com.
This article appears in Nov 1-8, 2018.