R.Kelly has really taken over SA...

Who the hell is R Kelly?
I was totally disappointed in finding out that had to get on a list of people that would actually get approved to even set foot at the Press Conference.
So there I was following instructions to go to the Radisson Blu Hotel to be there between 8am and 10am, in order to do an accreditation to get into the press conference, that I had to take a picture for and sign something that said I could have been sued for up to $500 000 if I don't submit my edited version of my story before going to press.
And I thought oh no, WTF?
His publicists from the UK were practically forcing us to sign the contract as that meant that we wont be able to enter the press conference if we don't.
I objected along with another journalist who didn't sign and left the accreditation room as some two R Kelly management chicks refused to hear the fact that SA had a "freedom of press" to abide to as well.
He left me quizzing WTF does he have to hide?
And who the hell is he when I have interviewed Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson and many other stars that were way bigger than him and never demanded anything silly like this. Sies!

READ this:

High-rolling international musicians are often notorious for their ridiculous lists of backstage demands.

But American R&B star R Kelly set a new bench-mark this week when he tried to censor South Africa's media - and threaten them with R5 million in legal fees if they went against him.

The multi-millionaire, who was acquitted last year on 14 charges of child pornography, is in the country for three exclusive performances.

In a press conference yesterday, ahead of his Arise Africa Fashion Awards concert tonight, R Kelly's management team forced journalists and photographers to sign contracts which prevent them from publishing anything that has not been approved by his management, threatening them with a $100 000 (about R800 000) defamation suite if they do not abide by the terms set out.

"You shall provide company with a copy of the final edited version of the article for company's review and approval prior to any publication or other dissemination of the article… you shall not include any other material not referenced herein embodying the name, likeness and performance of artist without company's written consent."

The contract also stated that the company would have worldwide rights use the articles and pictures without getting permission from the media houses that took it.

"Unauthorised exploitation of the interview would result in irreparable injury to R Kelly."

The breach of the contract would result in R1m in liquidated damages to him and R5m if it is proven that the breach was knowingly committed by any person or entity with or as a result of any act or omission by the writer.

Weekend Argus's reporter and photographer refused to sign the forms and left

Tonight's performance will be the first African performance for the Bump and Grind star.

Kelly went solo in 1992, breaking away from the group Public Announcement. Now, 17 years later, the 42-year-old artist has more than 14 albums under his belt; some of his hits include You Remind Me of Something, Summer Bunnies, You Got That Vibe, I Believe I Can Fly, Ignition, Trapped in the Closet and The World's Greatest..

But his achievements don't deserve the star treatment he is seeking, say promoters.

Well-known promoter Peter Tladi of T-Man Music laughed off the list of demands.

"What? Are they a government unto themselves? I have promoted more than 2 000 international artists and I have never heard of such bull.

"I have never been asked to do that and I would never sign a contract like that. To say this to a newspaper; to tell them to censor their articles and take it out. I'm a having a good laugh at this," Tladi said.

John Langford of Big Concerts was equally surprised by the requests. "This whole thing just makes me wonder why they would do that? Is there something they are trying to hide?"said Langford.- Cape Argus

But after much clear thought and when his douche bag publicists realised we not just a third world country that can be walked all over, they were quick to send an apology, because many editors were close to taking Kelly and his management to SANEF for having even implied any of these ridiculous demands.

READ:

American R & B music maestro, Robert Kelly, apologised on Saturday for attempting to censor journalists, his management said. "We apologise for any misunderstanding this may have inadvertently caused," it said in a statement. This follows reports that Kelly had forced journalists in apress conference to sign contracts preventing them from publishing any material that he had not approved. The contract went as far as threatening journalists in breach of the contract with a R800 000 defamation law suit. In its explanation, Kelly's management said that its censoringlocal media was a measure to stop media from misquoting the superstar. "Over the years we have found that the media have quoted R Kelly selectively or even misquoted him completely to create sensationalist publicity about him." This it said had led to some incorrect and damaging comments being attributed to him that simply did not emanate from him. Earlier the SA National editor's forum slammed Kelly for what it deemed as attempts by him to censor local media. While it welcomed Kelly's visit to the country, the forum said that if he had concerns about the country's journalism, he should raise them openly so that they can be addressed. "We hope that his welcome visit will not be marred by controversy around the violation of media freedom," Sanef said.- SAPA