The R Kelly concert tour is plagued with drama. First MediaTakeOut.com told you that R&B singer Keyshia Cole refused to take the stage in Columbus Georgia because she didn't want to go on before Ne-Yo. Now we can report to you that Ne-Yo has been OFFICIALLY booted from the tour.


Here's the official press release:

ATLANTA, GA – Yesterday, Shaffer Smith aka Ne-Yo was informed that he was being dropped from the rest of the R Kelly tour after delivering two sensational performances. Entertainment reporters, music critics, bloggers, fans, and concert goers all agreed that Ne-Yo's performances brought the heat; but maybe it brought too much heat.

"He's written hit songs for Beyonce "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna "Unfaithful" (spending a combined 19 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100), said Tango, Ne-Yo's business partner and manager. He's written songs slated to be on Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, and Enrique Iglesias' new albums. In a recent article in Ebony Magazine, the king of pop, Michael Jackson, referred to him as one of the artists that impresses him most. The fans were really feeling his performances. He's good; maybe he's too good – that's the problem."

It seems like déjà vu – didn't R Kelly have drama on his last tour. R Kelly's camp sited the lack of a signed contract as the reason for removing Ne-Yo from the line up.

"I don't understand their actions because I was rehearsing, doing media, promoting the tour, and performing, said Ne-Yo. In my opinion, I was doing everything possible to make the tour a success. I love being on stage in front of fans because of the immediate feedback you get. You know right away if they are feeling you; and they were really feeling our show."

Ne-Yo expressed genuine concern regarding not having the opportunity to complete the tour. He wanted all of his fans and supporters to be able to see him live. "To my fans and ticket holders – I apologize if you are disappointed."

banks said:

See thread i stareted yesterday about fans blasting Keyshia in a song
http://prince.org/msg/8/252998

More drama

Ne-Yo hit up DC’s 93.9 radio station a few minutes ago to discuss with EZ Street and the listeners about the real reasons he was dropped from the Double Up tour. Reports broke today stating that Ne-Yo had been dropped from the tour because of a certain unsigned contract. Ne-Yo did say in these reports that the whole situation was unfortunate because he had been practicing for months and had already performed shows.

But Ne-Yo now says that he was told to tell people his being dropped was due to financial and contractual issues. But actually it was because he challenged some of the goings on behind the scenes of the tour. And that may or may not (he purposely remained vague on the issue)have led to contractual obligations not being fulfilled. He discussed how simple things like a dressing room were not given to him and his dancers because R. Kelly wanted all 7 of the dressing rooms to himself. He also said that R. Kelly and his people were quite unprofessional and demanded Ne-Yo’s rehearsal times be cut short. Basically he wasn’t feeling the respect level given to him and said “No” to many of the unplanned and slightly disrespectful changes. And apparently, after Keyshia Cole threw a fit and threatened to not perform on opening night because she didn’t like that R. Kelly’s people slated her to go on before Ne-Yo, they didn’t drop her for challenging their decisions. And Keyshia still ended up not performing that night. Ne-Yo says all that wasn’t cool and he’s being treated unfairly.

He says he definitely still respects R. Kelly musically, but not as a man. Sounds like The Kells’ divatude is back in play…reminiscent of the Best of Both Worlds Tour with Jay-Z. And we all know how that ended up. Ne-Yo was asked about whether any lawsuits would come of this and he responded with the typical “We’ll see what happens” response. He also says now that he has all this free time on his hands, he’s trying to put something together on his own for his fans.
[Edited 11/21/07 5:38am]

Didn't R Kelly's publicist quit and even her husband said he has 'disassociated' himself from Mr. Kelly? Something is serious up with that guy even aside from the girl rumors. Sorry, but I would never do a tour with him.

R Kelly needs therapy.

The media likes to glamorize R. Kelly as having a great career but in fact, he is destroying what the media had considered "great" considering his circumstances. Now that his publicist of FOURTEEN years has quit and Ne-Yo dropping out of his tour because of Kells' ignorant behavior, it's clear Kells is burning a lot of bridges in the entertainment world as well as the criminal justice system who either wanna get the guy locked up or let him go because the preliminary case has gone on for 100 years, lol.

I am surprise with all those images floating around the net anyone would want to tour with him in the first place!!

whatsgoingon said:

If you're referring to what I think you're referring to, that would be my number one reason for not touring with him.

JackieBlue said:

That goes to the following people:
Jay-Z
Keyshia
Ne-Yo
J. Holiday and etc., etc., etc.

Well not to stick up for anyone in this matter, because its all EGO's gone wild, but Keyshia is right she shouldnt be opening for Ne-Yo she has been around longer. Also the dressing room shit, deal with it Ne-yo, this is the way the opener always gets treated, stop crying over it. I have heard stories of back in 1983 when INXS had to open for Adam Ant on his tour and Inxs had no dressing room and had to change in the hallway on the way to the stage. So suck it up everyone, its always been this way

lastdecember said:

Jay Holiday is the opener... I haven't heard anyone said that Ne-Yo felt like he should go on after Keyshia.. infact the article said That it was R Kelly peoples decision to have her go on before him and from the the reviews is set was hotter than hers

lastdecember said:

or it could very well be that Kell's is shitting on him because of the Jay-z connection... Jay-z signed Ne-Yo and we all know what happened to Kell's when he went out on tour with Jay-Z

banks said:

Basically.

Ne-Yo should go on after Keyshia Cole.

Another point would be, doesnt R Kelly have something like 10-12 albums already? WTF with three opening acts, if he's the KING of RB like he preaches in everyone of his lame songs, then why does the king needs so much help to sell a ticket?

it's a sucky tour,anyway You couldn't pay me to sit through a lame show like this

lastdecember said:

Maybe his career is flagging perhaps? Yeah his latest album went platinum but it only did 850K. That's a disappointment compared to 2003's "Chocolate Factory". People seem not to notice but he's fallen off tremendously. He's only known for his "Trapped in the Closet" series nowadays.

Timmy84 said:

He's #1 on the top pedophile charts!

MikeMatronik said:

Listen to the audio here... Ne-Yo said that you couldn't be in the hallway or look at kelly when he's making his way to the stage...dude is really crazy huh ?

http://theybf.com/

Timmy84 said:

LOL@ you comparing his status to 2003 when R. Kelly has released like 4 LP's since then, he 40+ still having platinum selling LP's. He had sex with an underage minor, i give you a newsflash name a male artist, and i can bet my life he has ramaged an under age minor.

banks said:

He's the headliner follow the rules, Neyo doesn't like it go on your own tour, R. kelly is an eccentric dude everybody knows that by now,

and i like Neyo's camp spinning it that reviews like his set better than R.kelly's very smart, since most people will run with it, who never seen that show, smart pr move

qvgangsta18 said:

well that's just an opinion... but so far he's the only dumbass CAUGHT on film

banks said:

But opinions are respected. Still to compare "Chocolate Factory" and "Double Up"... let's see CF did 3 million (both Soundscan and RIAA factors) while "Double Up" has pushed 850K and has been certified platinum for 1 million shipped. That's a steep decline to me. He didn't "flop" but still...
[Edited 11/21/07 10:46am]

Timmy84 said:

It's more like an assumption (I was referring to the part about other male artist and under age children)

banks said:

Oh, I gotcha, lol. My thing ain't really about what he did outside the studio (and I think everyone KNOWS that he's not the only musician that flirted with underage children... in fact he joins a long list, lol) but really what has resulted in his professional career. He has sunk to such a creative low that it's hard to think he'll come out of it. He had promise back in his early years (1992-1996) but he fell into a trap sometime after "TP-2.Com" came out in 2000.

He recovered with "Chocolate Factory" but he's believed his own hype for years that he doesn't know how to condone his actions (acting a fool on the Jay-Z tour, performing incoherently at his "Lights Out" tour and this recent one, enlisting other acts on his tour then taking them out of the tour, firing people he's known for fifteen years, etc.) and he's burning a lot of entertainment industry bridges even if he still has a hot song or two.

His latest songs "Rock Star" and "Double Up" have bombed but I don't think he was into promoting them that much, they probably weren't even meant to come out anyway.

Timmy84 said:

But the bigger thing is that no one wants to see him regardless or any of these other acts. Everyones sells have dropped, Elton John sold only 250,000 of his last studio album in the States and yet he has never had a show not sell out and never need a HIP opener to "get asses to fill seats".

lastdecember said:

Now that's true.

lastdecember said:

stupid ass comparison, you are comparing R. kelly an rnb star, who has never really made too many crossover songs, to Elton John a pop singer , no offense but how many black acts, who have been in the industry for over 18yrs, still has a platinum selling LP, still tours big arena's, and fill them up like that, NOT TOO MANY

Rolling Stones had guns n roses and living colour open up for them, on there tours, back in the day, a lot of people have opening acts, so r. kelly having an opening act is a crime nowadays