Labor wants Government to deny R Kelly an Australian visa on character grounds

After a ‘fake’ tour in December, and a disturbing documentary, disgraced singer R Kelly says he’s touring Australia. But will he get a visa?

He’s lost his record deal but R Kelly claims he’s touring Australia. Pic: Getty

Disgraced singer R Kelly faces a political battle to get the visa required to tour Australia.

The 52 year old announced on Twitter today he has locked in a tour of Australia and New Zealand.

However Shayne Neumann, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, was quick to raise a red flag over Kelly’s visa.

R Kelly, whose career ground to a halt this year after the screening in the US of the documentary Surviving R Kelly, has not had an album hit the Top 40 in Australia since 2003, with his biggest hits including Ignition, I Believe I Can Fly and She’s Got That Vibe.

The documentary is filled with interviews of women, most underage, who alleged he sexually assaulted them and kept them as sex slaves — including his ex wife — it has led to a serious backlash against the singer.

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R Kelly arriving at court in the US. Picture: AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

R Kelly performs in 2013. Picture: Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP, File

“Labor strongly supports the refusal or cancellation of visas of non-citizens on character or criminal grounds and the removal of criminals from Australia under section 501 of the Migration Act,” Neumann said.

“It’s up to Immigration Minister David Coleman to explain who he lets into Australia and how his decisions meet community standards and expectations.

“Labor would be seriously concerned if Immigration Minister David Coleman would allow an individual such as R Kelly into Australia.

“If the Immigration Minister suspects that a non-citizen does not pass the character test, or there is a risk to the community while they are in Australia, he should use the powers he has under the Migration Act to deny or cancel their visa.”

Kelly’s Australian promoters Flamingo Dreamz have been approached for comment.

The Melbourne-based company was previously called Sin City, who toured acts including R & B including Ja Rule and Ashanti.

However Sin City’s reputation suffered when an Auckland show by US R & B singer Ciara was put on sale despite the singer not being available to perform. Fans had already purchased tickets, leading Ciara to apologise on Twitter, telling them they had been “misled.”

There were also disgruntled punters after a late performance by Ja Rule and Ashanti in Geelong in 2015, which Sin City put down to flight delays and refused to give refunds to angry fans.

This Australian tour has nothing to do with Big Music, who were the promoter behind the tour which R Kelly disowned and stated was fake in December.

Lady Gaga and R. Kelly perform Do What U Want (With My Body) in 2013. Pic: AP

He has been dropped by record label Sony and the documentary has led to claims legal proceedings may be reactivated against Kelly, who claims all the allegations are false and has also stated he plans to sue people in the documentary, which has not aired in Australia.

He was found not guilty on charges of child pornography in 2008, but his career has never recovered.

🚨 NEW TOUR ALERT 🚨 Australia | New Zealand | Sri Lanka see y’all soon! 👑 pic.twitter.com/m4PGFeIG4v

— R. Kelly (@rkelly) February 5, 2019

After Surviving R Kelly aired Lady Gaga and Celine Dion removed their collaborations with the singer from all streaming platforms.

“I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously,” Gaga wrote in January.

“If I could go back and have a talk with my younger self I’d tell her to go through the therapy I have since then so that I could understand the confused post-traumatic state that I was in,” she wrote.

🚨FAKE TOUR ALERT🚨 While I love all my amazing Fans in the Australia region I am NOT involved in this tour nor do I have knowledge of it, it’s promoters, etc. I will NOT be in Australia during these dates..... (continues)... pic.twitter.com/vgreWCFxTD

— R. Kelly (@rkelly) December 14, 2018

“I can’t go back, but I can go forward and continue to support women, men, and people of all sexual identities, and of all races, who are victims of sexual assault.”

R Kelly’s tweet has already been met with a mixture of excitement and horror.

“Just like Michael Jackson, when America turned their back on him, he toured overseas. No matter how you feel about him, he still has bills to pay,” Ann’G Robinson wrote.

Others wrote “you should be in prison, not on tour.”

Despite Kelly’s shows in the US being picketed by protesters, he is planning on releasing new music and is promoting a new song on Twitter.

However his music enjoyed a 76-per-cent increase in streams in America the week after Surviving R Kelly aired

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