Controversial S#!T

R. Kelly might as well be record label-less right now -- because his current one has frozen him out ... putting new music on ice until the dust settles in his latest scandal ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with R. Kelly's contract and dealings with RCA/Sony tell us ... the label will not produce any of the singer's new music, it will not put money behind any of his projects, and it will not release any additional music until the criminal investigations in Georgia and other fallout resolve one way or the other.

We're told R. Kelly is pissed because he's been in the studio recording new music to fulfill the obligations under his RCA contract ... which requires 2 new albums.

Our sources say he's especially annoyed RCA/Sony won't provide money for music videos.

RCA/Sony is in a tough spot -- they can read the tea leaves and know they will have hell to pay in terms of PR if they release R. Kelly's songs in the wake of the growing #MuteRKelly movement.

On the other hand, the label has a deal with R. Kelly, and if they formally walk away from him now without any criminal charges to justify ending the contract ... they could be sued. We don't know if there's a "morals clause" in R. Kelly's contract ... which would allow the label to give him the boot for crossing the line.

It sounds like they could mutually agree to end things because we're told R. Kelly is very unhappy and if the label doesn't embrace him, he wants out. The problem ... where to go? On top of that, our sources say other artists are now turning him down for possible collabs.

In case you haven't noticed, Kelly has been releasing new music via social media and SoundCloud for a minute. Yes, R. Kelly is a SoundCloud singer ... at least, for now.

We've reached out to RCA/Sony for comment ... so far, no word back.

DJ Paul says R. Kelly will continue being a musical legend despite what happens with the fallout from Lifetime's docuseries -- even if the guy gets charged and convicted.

We got the Three 6 Mafia rapper Sunday at LAX, where he agreed with French Montana that R. Kelly should be allowed to enjoy his legacy ... despite allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse.

Paul takes it one step further, saying R. Kelly's personal life is separate from his music. He says Robert Kelly is totally distinguishable from R. Kelly.

The MC seems to be well aware of what Kelly has been accused of, but even so ... he insists R. Kelly's music will live on forever no matter what comes from all this.

The family of one of R. Kelly's alleged sex slaves is demanding a meeting with their daughter ... but ONLY if her alleged captor isn't there.

A family attorney for Joycelyn Savage's parents fired off a letter to Kelly's attorney, Steven Greenberg, Monday morning that spelled out a request for an in-person meeting between Joycelyn and her folks, Timothy and Jonjelyn Savage. They don't want R. Kelly there.

In the letter, obtained by TMZ, the Savages' lawyer says some of Kelly's former associates have made threats against Tim and Jonjelyn, which they say are now being investigated in Henry County, GA. This appears to be a different criminal investigation than the one that's already underway in nearby Fulton County, GA.

The Savages also make another thing clear ... they're terrified for their lives and refuse to meet with Joycelyn in Chicago without the presence of law enforcement.

The Savages say they want to meet with Joycelyn to determine once and for all whether her relationship with Kelly is in fact consensual. Ideally, they'd like to meet in Atlanta ... but say they're willing to meet in Chi-Town, only if it's at the State Attorney's Office.

President Trump had time to reflect on Jeff Bezos' divorce drama -- and he let it rip on Sunday by trashing the Amazon honcho ... while praising the National Enquirer.

Trump just tweeted, "So sorry to hear the news about Jeff Bozo being taken down by a competitor whose reporting, I understand, is far more accurate than the reporting in his lobbyist newspaper, the Amazon Washington Post."

DT continued ... "Hopefully the paper will soon be placed in better & more responsible hands!"

Bezos owns WaPo -- and, of course, Trump doesn't like the way they cover him ... much like the "Failing New York Times." Regarding the Nat'l Enquirer, the tabloid published alleged text messages between Bezos and GF Lauren Sanchez after he announced he and MacKenzie Bezos were getting a divorce.

Trump seems to be implying that the paper forced Jeff's hand.

We broke the story ... Jeff and MacKenzie don't have a prenup, and his $137 billion fortune could be on the line as the divorce proceeds.

It's interesting that Trump's weighing in on the Bezos situation at more length now than he did on Thursday ... when he wished Jeff luck and said the divorce would be a "beauty."

R. Kelly knew good and well that his one-time protege (and future wife) Aaliyah was a 14-year-old child the same year he married her -- which debunks a claim put forth by his lawyer that the singer was oblivious to her being a minor.

An old video of a documentary about R. Kelly from 1994 has resurfaced online and in this section ... Kelly clearly acknowledges Aaliyah's age (apparently, 14 at the time this was shot) as she records a song in the studio, with him serving as producer.

In the YouTube clip, you hear Kelly say clear as day ... "Right now I'm producing a very talented lady -- a young lady. She's 14, Aaliyah. She's real street."

Kelly went on to marry Aaliyah that same year, which reportedly got annulled shortly after. Despite this evidence of Kelly clearly being aware of Aaliyah's age, the singer's new attorney, Steve Greenberg, insisted to ABC News last week that his client was unaware of her being 15.

He says she must've lied about her age to legally marry Kelly, and that Kelly had "no idea."

R. Kelly hasn't said much about his marriage to Aaliyah or her age, but he told GQ in 2016, "I can tell you I loved her, I can tell you she loved me, we was very close. We were, you know, best best best best friends."

Kelly and Aaliyah appeared together for a BET interview in 1994, where they denied they were in a romantic relationship ... and played coy about her age, calling it a "secret."

In light of this new video, Greenberg tells us ... he misspoke during the ABC interview, and probably shouldn't have put words in R. Kelly's mouth, as he says he never spoke to Kelly about Aaliyah specifically.

Little Mix member Jesy Nelson is catching tremendous backlash for playfully singing along to one of R. Kelly's most famous songs in the wake of Lifetime's docuseries.

The British singer was at a dinner party in London Saturday night with some friends, and she recorded herself dancing in her seat and singing Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)" as it played over the speakers. Her buddy who was sitting next to her got in on the fun as well.

In the clip -- which has since been deleted from Jesy's IG story -- you hear her say, "'Ignition,' R. Kelly" with an added "Ooh" for emphasis. She continues to sing along to the first verse as she playfully touches her pal's face. It's clear she had no issue with the song.

Welp, her fans didn't like that a whole lot. Tons of people tweeted their criticism at Jesy, both with shock, disgust and disappointment. One user wrote, "Jesy Nelson what the f**k? First you film a white person saying the n word and put it on Instagram and now you are bopping along with R Kelly after what has just happened?"

The user continued... "Shame on you... I'm done with you, CANCELLED. You just ruin LM's reputation too. Bye sis."

Little Mix did not comment one way or another on the allegations leveled against Kelly in "Surviving R. Kelly." It's interesting too -- Kelly has continued to secure bookings for shows in Germany despite the airing of the docuseries and the uproar it's caused in the States.

12:39 PM PT -- French Montana is drastically changing his tune ... now claiming that his "heart is with the victims." He tweeted Sunday, "Let me be clear. My heart is with the victims. I never thought the people I looked up to as a kid, who sang and danced and gave me hope to become a superstar would become drug addicts, child molestors and rapists. I am hoping we as a culture create better leaders. We need them."

Definitely not in line with what he told us, but okay. Thanks, French.

French Montana seems to be saying R. Kelly should have a right to enjoy his legacy ... despite the flood of allegations that he's been a sexual predator.

We got French Saturday night leaving the L.A. Coliseum after the Rams game, and he invoked Michael Jackson's name, saying, "All the greats went down like that," adding, "Let somebody enjoy their legacy. Whatever happened, happened, man."

French said R. Kelly's M.O. was clear when he sang, "My mind's tellin' me no, but my body, my body's tellin' me yes" in his song, "Bump and Grind."

That's when our photog asks French if everyone should stop listening to R. Kelly, and French launches ... saying, "They [people] don't let nobody have their legendary moments."

"Love & Hip Hop Miami" star Amara La Negra tried to compose herself before addressing allegations against R. Kelly ... and then she ferociously unleashed.

The up-and-coming musical artist was leaving iHeartRadio in Atlanta Friday when we asked about the drumbeat to prosecute Kelly in the wake of Lifetime's docuseries, "Surviving R. Kelly."

Amara scoffs, saying there was plenty of proof to lock Kelly up years ago ... when he was accused of making a sex tape with an underage girl. Kelly was acquitted of the child pornography charges in 2008, but clearly ... Amara thinks there was more than enough smoke.

Jada Pinkett Smith, along with her daughter Willow and mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones, had a heart-to-heart with one of R. Kelly's alleged victims ... and things got very emotional.

Jada had Lisa Van Allen on the latest addition of her Facebook series, "Red Table Talk," to talk about her history with the singer ... who, as you know, is surrounded by controversy and allegations of sexual abuse and child pornography in the wake of Lifetime's docuseries, "Surviving R. Kelly."

Lisa says she feels like a weight's been lifted from her now that she's able to open up, and she shed some light on how her life became intertwined with Kelly's. Her claims are disturbing.

She explains that her rough childhood and other difficulties led her to connect with Kelly and view him as her "knight in shining armor," which is why she overlooked his abuse and other suspicions for years.

The ladies described it as his way of luring her in, and Van Allen also gives a troubling account of how controlling he was.

Earlier in the show, both Jada and Willow also opened up about how they had heard the rumors about Kelly and had their own suspicions.

Jada even said she feels complicit for ignoring the allegations against Kelly, and brought up how as recently as September, she and Will used Kelly's famous track, "I Believe I Can Fly," for a video of Will bungee jumping.

R. Kelly is rationalizing his daughter's powerful condemnation of his behavior -- he believes his ex-wife cooked it all up, despite the fact he's been estranged from their child for years.

Sources close to R. Kelly say ... the R&B singer isn't upset with Joann Lee Kelly for breaking her silence and calling him a "monster," because he thinks his daughter was only parroting her mother, Drea Kelly's views. We're told he feels Drea's brainwashed all 3 of their kids into hating him.

Although our sources say Kelly loves and misses his kids, he seems to be ignoring the reality -- that he has no relationship with them -- and hasn't for some time now.

Kelly did have a musical collab in 2015 with Joann, who is a talented singer -- but we're told he thinks Drea drove a wedge between them after that, because she was furious Joann had been in the studio with him.

We're told Drea brought their kids to an R. Kelly concert in Atlanta a couple years ago, but since then he's had little contact with them, and he has no clue why things switched up.

However, anyone who's seen "Surviving R. Kelly" knows exactly how Drea feels about her ex ... and it ain't good. Worth nothing, Drea told us earlier this month she's open to Kelly reaching out to the kids because they're all adults now and free to make their own choices.

R. Kelly came face-to-face with cops in Chicago after an anonymous caller claimed the singer was holding two women hostage.

The Cook County State Attorney's Office got a tip Friday that Kelly was at his Trump Tower residence with the women ... and he was holding them against their will. We're told cops raced to the property and made contact with R. Kelly and the women.

Our sources say 5 officers came to the home and ordered Kelly into the other room while they questioned the women. According to Chicago PD, both women said they were at the residence voluntarily and nothing untoward was going on. Police then left without incident.

We're told the 2 women were Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary, both of whom have maintained they were with R. Kelly voluntarily, despite their parents' strong claims they were the victims of brainwashing.

TMZ broke the story ... cops were called to a Chicago club Thursday morning after a tip was called in that Kelly was at the club partying and there was a warrant out for his arrest. Officers spoke with Kelly -- determined there was no warrant -- and let the singer continue to party.

3:29 PM PT -- The Rock just set the record straight by categorically denying the so-called interview with the Daily Star EVER HAPPENED. He's adamant -- the article was "100 percent fabricated." He goes on to say trashing a group, community or generation is not his style. He says, "I always encourage empathy, I encourage growth, but most importantly I encourage everybody to be exactly who they want to be."

Watch ... he also encourages everyone to get on board with "the Tequila Generation."

Excuse us while we hop on board.

Originally Published -- 7:50 AM PST

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's got a big problem with people who have problems with everything, because he thinks they're crapping on the freedom of speech.

The Rock says there are way too many people in this generation who are looking for reasons to be offended, and they can't handle simple disagreements. According to England's Daily Star, he says, "I don’t have to agree with what somebody thinks, who they vote for, what they voted for, what they think, but I will back their right to say or believe it."

Johnson believes that's the beauty of democracy, adding ... "So many good people fought for freedom and equality - but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended."

The Rock concedes it's a good thing today's society is much more tolerant, accepting and progressive, but believes the whining ways of "generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards.”

It's interesting, because the mega movie star doesn't mention any specific examples, but you have to wonder if the recent Oscars fiasco with his buddy, Kevin Hart, fueled his rant.

And, we gotta ask ...

R. Kelly and his record label are now being attacked by ground AND air, because a women's rights group flew a banner over the record label's owner, calling him a "sexual predator."

UltraViolet is the group behind the move ... and they just had an airplane tow a banner over Sony Music HQ in Culver City Friday morning, and it reads "RCA/SONY: DROP SEXUAL PREDATOR R KELLY."

On Thursday, Kelly's daughter released a statement denouncing her dad, saying, "The same monster you all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house."

With calls to drop and mute R. Kelly intensifying in the wake of Lifetime's "Surviving R. Kelly" docuseries, RCA has largely remained silent. RCA, which is owned by Sony Music, has been Kelly's label throughout his successful solo career.

R. Kelly is feeling the heat in the wake of Lifetime's docuseries, because while law enforcement hasn't nailed him yet, he's been suffering panic attacks severe enough to require medical attention.

Sources connected to the embattled singer tell us the panic attacks started in the days leading up to "Surviving R. Kelly" airing last week. The firestorm that erupted after it aired is affecting him, too, because we're told they've continued ... with one attack being so serious, he sought treatment at a hospital.

Our sources say, more often, he's had doctors make house visits. We're told the episodes are triggered by the overwhelming backlash Kelly's getting from celebs and the general public. He's shocked how the tables have turned ... with most people now believing his accusers.

We're told Kelly's aware the pendulum isn't swinging his way right now in the court of public opinion.

As for his birthday celebration Wednesday night ... we're told Kelly's looking for reasons to get out of his house. Quite frankly, we're told he still believes he's done nothing wrong and doesn't want to seem like he's hiding.

Shaquille O'Neal is calling for people to back off Kevin Hart ... saying he shouldn't have to keep apologizing for his old homophobic jokes and wants everyone to "just move on."

"Some people feel he made a mistake," Shaq said ... "He apologized for his mistake. I always thought comedians were allowed to crack jokes."

"Anyone that knows Kevin Hart should know that anything he said was never malicious."

Of course, Shaq is referring to some of Hart's tweets and stand-up bits from 2009 to 2011 -- when the comic described how he'd react if he found out his son was gay.

"Yo if my son comes home & try's 2 play with my daughters doll house I'm going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that's gay,'" Hart tweeted in 2009.

The material resurfaced after Hart was named the host of the 2019 Academy Awards -- and after a backlash online and a demand for renewed apologies, Hart pulled out of the show and only apologized after stepping down.

"He shouldn't have to keep apologizing," Shaq said ... "He apologized twice."

"People should just move on. Everyone makes mistakes."

Of course, Shaq and Kev go way back -- Hart was a headliner Shaq's All-Star Comedy Jam back in 2009 and they've been friends ever since.

Shaq's not the only big star who's come to Hart's defense -- Ellen DeGeneres also went to bat for the comic ... backing Kev's stance that he's evolved and said it's his right to host the Oscars.

High school basketball superstar Maori Davenport will be ALLOWED to play in her game Friday night after a judge called off her suspension.

Davenport's story became national news when athletic officials in Alabama ruled her ineligible after learning she received an $857 check from Team USA basketball for playing in a tourney back in August. The check covered lost wages and expenses.

The check was sent to Davenport as the result of a clerical error -- she never sought out the payment.

Davenport initially cashed the check under the assumption it was a standard operating procedure for people playing for Team USA. When the organization realized the error, they asked for the money back and she returned it the next day.

Still, officials in Alabama believed cashing the check violated the rules -- and deemed her ineligible for her senior year.

It's a big deal considering 6'4" Davenport is one of the best players in the country -- and committed to attend Rutgers next year.

Huge stars like Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Billie Jean King and more spoke out in Davenport's defense -- calling the suspension ridiculous and insisting she did nothing wrong.

An emergency motion was filed in Pike County Circuit Court and on Friday the judge decided to repeal the suspension -- pending the outcome of a hearing on the matter.

Translation, Davenport can play with her high school team for now.