R. Kelly’s trouble worsens as thousands sign petition to cancel his concerts

Embattled international singer R Kelly’s troubles aren’t going away soon astThousands of people have signed a change.org petition calling for two R Kelly concerts in Germany not to go ahead.

On Friday, almost 22,000 people had signed the online petition, the motto of which is ‘Don’t give sexual offenders a stage’.

The petition calls for concerts planned in Ludwigsburg in southern Germany on April 12 and in the northern port city of Hamburg on April 14 to be cancelled due to allegations of sexual misconduct against the artiste.

R.Kelly is accused of manipulating women and controlling their lives, in addition to numerous accusations of sexual misconduct.

However, the singer has rejected the allegations.

The effectiveness of the petitions remains to be seen, with the concert still several weeks away.

A municipal official in Hamburg was quoted as saying a binding contract had been signed for the 7,000-seat venue Hamburger Sporthalle for April 14.

It was up to the German agency organising the concerts to decide whether the concert should go ahead.