Lady Gaga’s R. Kelly collaboration removed from iTunes and streaming services
Gaga vowed to do away with “Do What U Want” earlier this week.
Lady Gaga has delivered on her promise to remove R. Kelly collaboration "Do What U Want" from streaming services. As of January 11 her controversial 2013 single is no longer available on iTunes or major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. An EP of remixes of the song has also been removed.
Earlier this week Gaga issued an apology for working with Kelly, who is accused of multiple acts of sexual abuse and was the focus of a high-profile Lifetime documentary series at the start of the year. "I'm sorry, both for my poor judgement when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner," she tweeted on January 10.
"Do What U Want" appeared on Gaga's 2013 album Artpop. She and R. Kelly performed the song on the AMAs and Saturday Night Live that same year. A music video directed by Terry Richardson was filmed but never released.
Gaga joins a growing list of former collaborators to apologize for working with R. Kelly. John Legend called him a "serial child rapist" while Chance The Rapper and French band Phoenix have both said they regret their decision to record music with Kelly.