R. KELLY DENIED PERMIT TO PERFORM
R. Kelly won't be bringing any bump and grind
to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in April after the state denied a permit
application for an event to be hosted by the singer.
The original flier for the Springfield Spring
Break Jam said Kelly was hosting the April 6 event, which would feature performances
by rapper Yella Beezy and singers Young Lloyd and Dre Madison.
The flier prominently featured Kelly wearing
a gold crown and smoking a cigar. Tickets started at $75.
It appears the fiesta will still go on --
just without Kelly.
R. Kelly makes appearance at Chicago club 01:49
"That application was under review until
Thursday, at which point Illinois Dept. of Agriculture (IDOA) staff contacted
the organizer to let them know their application would not be approved,"
said Denise Albert, the department's spokeswoman. "Unfortunately, we
cannot control when organizers start promoting an event -- there was never a
signed agreement to host the event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, only an
application."
The fact that Kelly is the subject of
intensified criticism following the docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly"
played into the Department of Agriculture's decision, Albert said.
"The criteria they didn't meet is
security concerns based on recent protests," she said.
In total, the statement said, organizers
failed to satisfy three of the department's 13 criteria for granting privileges
or contracts to prospective lessees.
They are:
"The security of both the physical
premises and persons upon the premises of the State Fairgrounds;"
"Reasonably foreseeable problems with
security caused by either the nature of the usage or the identity of the
proposed lessee or his/her patrons;"
and "The welfare of the general
community."
An updated advertisement for the show says it
will be held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds' Exposition Building, located in
the state capital. Yella Beezy is the only artist mentioned. Tickets start at
$25. The new event is listed on the fairgrounds' online marquee.
A call to a man who the Illinois State
Fairgrounds identifies as "Thomas" of Springfield-based Kity
Promotions -- listed as the organizer for the canceled event as well as the new
event -- was promptly disconnected Sunday after a reporter identified himself.
A subsequent call went to voicemail. A
voicemail message was not immediately returned.
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