ZBC’s radio station Power FM has removed R&B singer R Kelly’s music from their playlist while other radio stations in Zimbabwe are closely monitoring the situation about his sex abuse scandal in America.
The decision follows a docu-series called Surviving R Kelly. The series is based on decades-long allegations of sexual abuse against the musician through over 50 interviews by women. Power FM station manager Rumbi Moyo said they had to take a stand as a radio station in light of the sexual abuse allegations. Said Moyo:
In as much as R Kelly has done so much in the music industry we can’t turn a blind eye on the allegations peddled against him through the docu-series. As a radio station we have to take a stand and as such we aren’t considering his music on our playlist. If anyone has watched the docu-series they would start questioning his music. There’s no smoke without fire and up until there comes a time that he is acquitted, his music won’t be considered.
Star FM General Manager Comfort Mbofana said the radio station along with CapiTalk 100.4 FM and Diamond FM would not jump into conclusions before R Kelly is found guilty. AB Communications the parent company of ZiFM Stereo and Faya FM through their CEO Susan Makore said they had not discussed R Kelly’s saga and its implications as a team. Skyz Metro FM station manager Godwin Phiri said as a radio station they were not affected by R Kelly’s music as they promote local music mostly.
More: Chronicle