Chance the Rapper has removed his 2015 collaboration with R. Kelly, “Somewhere in Paradise,” from most digital streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal, Pitchfork reports.
The decision to pull the song comes after Chance appeared in the Lifetime docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly, which delves into the accusations of sexual abuse numerous women have leveled against R. Kelly. The final episode of the series includes an interview with Chance – originally conducted by Cassius’ Jamilah Lemiux – in which the rapper said he made a “mistake” when he recorded “Somewhere in Paradise” with R. Kelly.
While the song has been removed from most major streaming services, it is – as of this publication – still available on both YouTube and Chance the Rapper’s personal SoundCloud page.
Chance the Rapper is one of several artists to apologize for previously working with R. Kelly in the wake of the bombshell Lifetime series. Lady Gaga recently issued a statement in which she said she stood by all sexual assault survivors and expressed regret for working with R. Kelly on her ARTPOP track, “Do What U Want (With My Body).” Gaga also pulled the song from iTunes and “other streaming platforms.”
Meanwhile, French band Phoenix apologized for working with R. Kelly twice in 2013, inviting him on stage at Coachella and tapping him for the remix of their Bankrupt! single, “Trying to Be Cool.” “We regret that we were not both more informed and more discerning when we worked with him previously,” Phoenix said. “We fully support all victims of sexual abuse, and it’s our hope that there will be a path to justice.”