“They had just submitted an application, and unfortunately we can’t control when an organizer begins promoting an event,” Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) spokeswoman Denise Albert said.
TheTribunereports that these security concerns partially stemmed fromlast week’s protestsoutside of Kelly’s Chicago music studio.
R. Kelly.Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
As of Monday, the event is still listed on theIDOA’s calendarfor April 6 at the Exposition Building located on the fairgrounds.CNN reportsthe festival will move forward without Kelly’s involvement.
This isn’t the first time Kelly, who was born in Illinois, has been in hot water in the state — he is currentlyrisking evictionat his Chicago music studio for owing $80,000 in arrears to the company that owns the building, according to theBlast.
Surviving R. Kelly— which aired on Lifetime from Jan. 3 through Jan. 5 — featured wide-ranging interviewswith Kelly’s family members, former friends and colleagues, but most notably, women who claim that for decades the hit-making singer and producer used his power and influence to sexually and physically abuse them and others.
Prince Williams/WireImage
Last week, TheNew York Timesreported that the singer, 52, wasunder investigationin the state of Georgia.
R. Kelly’s lawyerhas denied the allegations. In aninterview with the Associated Presson Friday, Chicago-based attorney Steve Greenberg called the documentary “disgusting” and claimed that producers told “disgruntled” women incriminating things to say about Kelly off camera in an effort to incriminate the Grammy winner.
Producers of the film, however, denied these allegations. “We are enormously proud of the series. The powerful stories from the women in the documentary speak for themselves,” they previously said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Their honesty and candor has resonated with millions of viewers.”
Reps from the Illinois Department of Agriculture did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
If you or someone you know think they are being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now for anonymous, confidential help, available 24/7.
source: people.com
