R. Kelly Searches Increase 388 Percent on Porn Site After Docuseries Airs
Since the airing of Lifetime's Surviving R. Kelly docuseries, the R. Kelly singer’s music has seen an uptick in streams. But unfortunately, the documentary has also seemingly increased searches for the infamous sex tape in which Kelly allegedly has sex with a 14-year-old girl.
According to The Blast, porn website xHamster has seen a 388 percent increase in searches for R. Kelly since the night the docuseries first aired on Jan. 3. A rep for xHamster says that aforementioned pornographic video is not featured on their site.
“The R Kelly tape is not on xHamster, nor would we ever allow it to be,” the rep explained. “Regardless of the news or sensation, a tape featuring underaged is both illegal and immoral.”
The site plans to disable searches related to R. Kelly and the sex tape and will be posting messages stating that conducting such searches is unacceptable. One of those warnings reads, “Please consider that in searching for and viewing such content, you may be re-victimizing a minor who could not consent.”
Under U.S. federal law, child pornography is illegal, and possession of child porn is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
This news about xHamster arrives as the world continues to pay more attention Kelly's abuse allegations. Some of that increased attention has led to artists removing their Kelly-featured songs from streaming platforms. One such artist is Chance The Rapper, who recently removed his R. Kelly collaboration "Somewhere in Paradise" from designated streaming platforms. Other artists like singers Celine Dion and Ciara have requested that their R. Kelly collaborations be removed from all streaming platforms as well. Gaga has already had her one R. Kelly collaboration ("Do What U Want") taken off DSPs.
For the record, R. Kelly, through his attorney, has denied all allegations raised in the Surviving R. Kelly docuseries.
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