Women’s Group to Spotify CEO: Remove All Abusers From Playlists – Including Chris Brown, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Eminem, and more
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Women’s Group Leader Pens Open Letter to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on Sexual Abusers Profiting on Music-Streaming Platforms
UltraViolet Applauds Spotify for Removing R.Kelly and XXXTentacion From Playlists, Says Company Should Do the Same With Other Abusers: Chris Brown, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Eminem, Don Henley, Steven Tyler, Tekashi 6ix9ine
Today, UltraViolet, a leading national women’s advocacy group, published an open letter to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, applauding the company’s decision to remove infamous abusers R.Kelly and XXXTenacion from its official playlists and imploring the music-streaming giant to take a deeper look at other artists with a history of sexual and physical abuse that continue to profit from Spotify’s promotion. Specifically, UltraViolet called out Chris Brown, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Eminem, Don Henley of The Eagles, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Tekashi 6ix9ine, and Ted Nugent.
In the letter, UltraViolet applauded Spotify’s decision to remove R.Kelly and XXXTentacion saying the company’s decision, “…demonstrates that Spotify is following the lead of Black women who demanded that these two men, who have sexually and physically abused women for years, not be promoted and celebrated.”
The letter, written by Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet, explains:
“Every time a famous individual continues to be glorified despite allegations of abuse, we wrongly perpetuate silence by showing survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence that there will be no consequences for abuse. That has a cultural effect far beyond one individual artist.”
UltraViolet hopes that the open letter will inspire other music-streaming services like iTunes, Google Play Music and Pandora, to continue to follow Spotify’s lead and move to prevent abusers from profiting off their platforms.