Iyanla Vanzant has some words she wants R. Kelly to hear. The spiritual adviser recently apologized to the imprisoned singer, saying she believes members of the Black community, including those in positions of influence, could have done more to support and guide him.
Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. (Terms and conditions).
Vanzant made the comments during an appearance on The Jason Lee Show. While speaking about Kelly’s life and the people who surrounded him throughout his career, she took responsibility for what she sees as a failure by community elders to step in.
“Forgive me as an elder in our community not being available to support you,” Vanzant said, speaking directly to Kelly. “Forgive me for ignoring your pain. Forgive me for abandoning you.”
She also made it clear that she was not placing the responsibility on herself alone. Vanzant believes the wider community turned its back on the singer.
“Our entire community abandoned him,” she said. “As an elder, I’m going to own it. We did. We abandoned him.”
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE.
Part of her concern centered on the people who were close to Kelly and those who earned money from his success. She questioned why people who may have known about his personal struggles did not make an effort to help him before things reached the point they did.
Vanzant specifically brought up Kelly’s reported struggles with reading and questioned why someone who had made so much money for others did not receive basic educational support.
“How many people made how much money on him and nobody had enough compassion for their brother to sit him down two, three times a week to teach him how to read?” she asked.
She went on to question how his struggles were handled, again asking for forgiveness and reflecting on what she believes people could have done differently.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR APP AND TAKE US WITH YOU ANYWHERE!
However, Vanzant’s comments come with an important distinction. Kelly is serving an effective 31-year federal prison sentence following convictions in separate cases involving the sexual exploitation of women and underage girls. Her remarks did not challenge those convictions or suggest that he should be released.
Her comments also do not erase the experiences of survivors, many of whom spoke publicly about Kelly’s alleged abuse for years. Black women and advocates who raised concerns often faced criticism and backlash while pushing for their accounts to be taken seriously.
Vanzant’s apology adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about Kelly’s career, the people who benefited from it and the responsibility of those who had access to him. She is asking why more people did not offer guidance or intervene, while the serious harm connected to his actions remains part of his legacy.
HEAD BACK TO THE RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM HOMEPAGE
