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Lady Gaga apologizes for R. Kelly collab

The ‘Shallow’ singer will remove the song from streaming services

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Lady Gaga and R. Kelly performing their duet ‘Do What U Want’ on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ (Screenshot via YouTube)

Lady Gaga has issued an apology for her collaboration with R. Kelly on the song “Do What U Want” from her 2013 album “Artpop.”

The apology comes in the wake of the Lifetime docu-series “Surviving R. Kelly” which features interviews from numerous women alleging that R. Kelly tormented them with emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

Lady Gaga posted the apology on Instagram saying that she regrets the collaboration and that she supports the survivors who have spoken out against R. Kelly.

“I stand by anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual assault,” she wrote.“I made both the song and video at a dark time in my life, my intention was to create something extremely defiant and provocative because I was angry and still hadn’t processed the trauma that had occurred in my own life.”

“If I could go back and have a talk with my younger self I’d tell her to go through the therapy I have since then, so that I could understand the confused post-traumatic state that I was in—or if therapy was not available to me or anyone in my situation—to seek help, and speak as openly and honestly as possible about we’ve been through. I can’t go back, but I can go forward and continue to support women, men and people of all sexual identities, and of all races, who are victims of sexual assault,” she continued.

Lady Gaga says she will remove the song from iTunes and streaming services. She also vowed to never work with R. Kelly again.

The singer has been an avid supporter of sexual assault survivors. In 2014, she opened up that she was sexually assaulted at 19. She also penned the song “Til It Happens to You” about sexual assault.

However, Lady Gaga was one of a handful of celebrities who declined to be interviewed for “Surviving R. Kelly.”

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Bars & Parties

Queer Magic dance party planned

Tarot, dancing, drag and more at Black Cat event

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Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.

There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.

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NLGJA-DC Pride happy hour at Trade

Local queer journalists celebrate Pride

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(Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)


Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free. 

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DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday

Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery

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The 14th annual DC Front Runners' Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m. 

Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.

The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.

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