Sam Smith Gets Backlash for Wearing R Kelly T-Shirt to 'SNL' Afterparty

“I guess he doesn't know the history of R Kelly?"

Sam Smith is receiving major backlash for a t-shirt he wore to the SNL afterparty which featured R&B singer R. Kelly. In the wake of a Hollywood’s major sexual assault scandal with producer Harvey Weinstein, many other public figures with a history of sexual misconduct are being brought back to the public’s attention including Kelly. In 2008, the singer was acquitted in a child pornography case but has since been accused of leading a cult of women and holding them against their will in Chicago. Sam Smith wore a black tee that had R. Kelly’s face on it with his name written large across the front.

“I guess he doesn't know the history of R Kelly? Or his people did and knew it would draw attention,” one person noted. Another gave him no benefit of the doubt when she wrote, “Oh and Sam Smith for wearing an R Kelly t-shirt. In the bin, you go.”

As a reporter from Mic wrote, Sam is British and 25 years old, so it’s possible that he’s unaware of his history. However, with so much going on in the world, this is an easy thing to get right. You can like a song but don’t idolize a person that has caused trauma in so many lives, ever.

X content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

X content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.