Kelly Khumalo responds to being cancelled

Award-winning singer Kelly Khumalo seems unbothered after being dropped from yet another music festival.

The star’s upcoming performance at the Maseru Jazz Festival was put “on hold” on Thursday, just days after the Tribute to Women concert announced its decision to remove her from the line-up of this year’s festival.

Kelly will be performing at the Rusty Rocks All for Women Music Concert on 12 August, and some wondered if she would be cut from that line-up too.

“Oohh…. They haven’t thought of the cancel culture on you yet seeing that Maseru has jumped in based on social media posts alleging you are cancelled until the #JusticeForSenzoMeyiwa is served,” said one fan.

In response, Kelly used the famous words of Musa Mseleku on Uthando Nesthembu.

“Abahambe abahambayo sosala siyincenga [Let those who want to leave, leave. We will stay trying].

ALSO READ: ‘We are putting Kelly Khumalo on hold’: Singer dropped from another music festival

Kelly Khumalo cancelled

Tribute to Women concert organisers said Kelly’s removal was to safeguard the festival and afford her time to deal with the “issues emanating from the current court proceedings” of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

“We have noted, with concern, comments on social media platforms and calls from many patrons of our festival. We respect the legal processes and wish to indicate that Ms Kelly Khumalo is innocent until proven otherwise.”

The Maseru Jazz Festival is set to take place next month at Maseru Park in Mafikeng, North West, and will not include Kelly.

“As Maseru Park, we’re here to inform you we have seen comments about one of our guest performers, which came to [our] attention… we need to inform the public and society that we are putting Kelly Khumalo on hold,” read the short statement from the organisers.

“In the interest of our jazz festival, we have taken the decision to relieve Kelly Khumalo of the obligation to perform at our festival and we acknowledge she is not guilty until proven so.”

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