Group Wants R. Kelly Banned From Atlanta Radio And His Concert Canceled

ATLANTA, GA -- Days after explosive allegations surfaced that singer R. Kelly was running a "sex cult" from a home in Duluth and Chicago, a local group wants to keep him off Atlanta's airwaves. The Creative Currents Artist Collaborative, an Atlanta arts organization, also wants the "Bump & Grind" artist's August 25 concert at Wolf Creek Amphitheater to be canceled.

The move comes as the controversial singer tries to clear his name amid fresh charges that he is keeping a group of grown women away from their families and close associates, as Patch reported earlier this week. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

R. Kelly Called 'Puppet Master' Of 'Cult' In Gwinnett: Report

Kelly is said to control the minds of the women so much that he even confiscates their phones and gives them new phones that only he can correspond on with them. He also allegedly demands that they wear wear jogging suits to cover up their figures around other men. The allegations stem from the parents of one of the women, a former Georgia Gwinnett College student, and former members of his inner circle, according to a BuzzFeed report.

For his part, Kelly has dismissed the claims and vows to "diligently and forcibly" go after the accusers.

"Mr. Robert Kelly is both alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations attributed to him," his attorney, Linda S. Mensch, said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Mr. Kelly unequivocally denies such allegations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name."

Oronike Odeleye, managing director of the Creative Currents Artist Collaborative, was so disturbed after reading about the R&B singer's alleged "sex cult" that she started a petition this week to get Kelly off Atlanta radio and metro area concert stages.

"It is frustrating to watch celebrities use their fame and resources as a shield to avoid prosecution for their crimes over and over again," Odeleye said in a news release to Patch. "There is over 20 years of evidence against R. Kelly. His numerous child sex abuse crimes are an open secret at this point. If the courts won't do the work to protect girls and young women from this known sexual predator, then everyday citizens have to step in and do what we can."

She is calling on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners to cancel the singer's performance next month. She sent an email to Board of Commissioners Chairman John Eaves, asking that he urge concert promoter Live Nation to call off the performance.

Below is an excerpt from the letter that Odeleye sent to Eaves:

"Atlanta and Fulton County, with our own looming sex abuse and sex trafficking problems, should take a strong and vocal stand against these crimes and their perpetrators. Wolf Creek Amphitheater and Fulton County should not be vehicles through which R. Kelly can increase his notoriety, gloss over and normalize his behavior, and continue to profit and fund his crimes against women.... As the County's leadership, the Board has an obligation to establish policies that promote the well-being of all county residents. This is particularly true for the vulnerable population of minor girls that live under its purview."

One of the women allegedly under Kelly's control, identified as Joycelyn Savage, recently uploaded a video published by TMZ. In the clip, Savage makes a point to say that she's good. "I'm in a happy place. I'm definitely not brainwashed ... I'm totally fine. I'm happy where I'm at," she said.

She appeared in another video the day after, going after her father, saying that what he has done is a "complete disaster" and that "you are embarrassing me and the entire family."

Patch has reached out to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners for a response to the proposed R. Kelly ban. Here is a link to the petition.

Photo by Charles Sykes | Associated Press