Phoenix become latest artists to apologise for working with R. Kelly

"We regret that we were not both more informed and more discerning when we worked with him previously."

Phoenix have joined Lady Gaga in disowning a former collaboration with R. Kelly, in a statement posted on social media this evening (January 10).

The two acts performed together onstage at Coachella in 2013, performing a mashup of Kelly’s ‘Ignition (Remix)’ and Phoenix’s ‘1901’. Kelly also remixed the band’s song ‘Trying To Be Cool’ the same year.

Now, the band have said: “We are deeply horrified by the stories of abuse surrounding R. Kelly.

“We regret that we were not both more informed and more discerning when we worked with him previously. We fully support all victims of sexual abuse, and it’s our hope that there will be a path to justice.”

This follows a similar condemnation by Lady Gaga hours earlier.

Gaga recorded a duet with Kelly, ‘Do What U Want (With My Body)’, which was released as a single from her third album ‘Artpop’ in 2013. She said in a statement that she intends withdrawing the song from streaming services as of today.

In her statement on Twitter, Gaga said: “I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously.”

Her statement came after protestors gathering together under the #MuteRKelly hashtag picketed the singer’s recording studio in Chicago last night (January 9).

Earlier this month, Chance The Rapper also apologised, after an audio clip saw him describing their collaboration as a “mistake.”

The criminal investigation follows the six-part Lifetime documentary series Surviving R Kelly, in which numerous women claimed to be the victim of sexual assault by the 52-year-old singer.

Kelly has denied the sexual abuse claims, saying he didn’t know many of the women featured in the Surviving R Kelly documentary. The series has led to police in Georgia and Chicago launching a criminal investigation. Chicago state attorney Kim Foxx said she was “sickened” by the allegations, issuing an appeal on Twitter for people to come forward with any information.

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