Wendy Williams’ fierce support of R. Kelly has ruffled more than just a few feathers and from the looks of it, some anti-R.Kelly fans aren’t the only people giving the talk show host the side eye. Apparently, a few of her business partners also feel a lil’ tight about the situation. According to The Jasmine Brand, network executives and advertisers reportedly have a serious issue with Wendy Williams’ support of R. Kelly and her repeated attempts to refute the allegations against him. It has been reported that a meeting was called and Williams could be faced with a serious ultimatum in the near future.
Run That Back:
Insiders claim a few of Wendy Williams’ advertisers aren’t pleased with her support of R. Kelly because they don’t want their brands associated with negativity and the disturbing scandal surrounding R. Kelly. Insiders have revealed advertisers gave Wendy a dose of her own medicine with a brutally honest ultimatum. They reportedly want Wendy to retract her statements about the Grammy Award-winning singer, or deal with the consequences of losing advertisers. “They were straight up. If you lose advertisers over this, it’s going to be a problem. So it’s time to take a different approach to R. Kelly before your talk show is gone and you’re having to go on the road and open up for him.”
R. Kelly and Aaliyah:
The latest news follows quite a few instances where Wendy Williams has shown support of R. Kelly. In true Wendy Williams fashion, she’s said more than some believe she should have about the situation on multiple occasions. There have been times where Williams has criticized alleged rape victims with insensitive comments that have rubbed lots of people the wrong way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ImKmHHy7SI
To make matters worse, Wendy even defended R. Kelly’s relationship with Aaliyah. Although the late singer was 15 years old when she dated R. Kelly, Wendy quickly reminded fans that there was consent for that relationship. “R. Kelly wasn’t a ‘me too.’ Aaliyah voluntarily married him when she was 15 years old. Her parents voluntarily let her do it.” She continued, “I know things about R. Kelly that I will take to my grave unless he tells them and I sit there and listen the way I did in the studio that night. But I will tell you this as a cautionary tale, parents, you need to watch who you let loose your girls around.”
At that time, Williams also criticized young girls for dressing provocatively instead of placing blame on the adult males who also pursue them. “These girls these days — a 15-year-old girl for damn sure looks 20. They carry themselves like they’re 22. They’re no longer just 15 and if you’re so desperate that you want your kids to be stars and you’re going to unleash your daughters to the world, you better watch what you get. This is not these girls just running away. There are parents who will gladly push their 15-year-old, lipgloss popping, booty popping, and all that stuff, to the arms of an older man.”
Singin’ A Different Tune:
Despite Wendy Williams’ previous opinions, when her show aired on May 22 and she mentioned R. Kelly, she sung a completely different tune. Unlike her previous statements about R. Kelly, she kept it a bit more platonic that day which proves a meeting likely took place. “At this point, what do you say? R. Kelly is apparently guilty of a lot of things. The law just has to catch up to the accusations. You know what I mean? I think more girls will probably come out and tell their stories… I think there will be more.”
Although it comes as no secret that Wendy Williams is an opinionated woman, it appears even she knows her limits.
