Lady Gaga is reissuing physical editions of her 2013 album, ARTPOP—with one notable exclusion.
As pointed out by Rolling Stone, the updated CD and vinyl versions will not include the "Do What U Want" track featuring R. Kelly. The move isn't too surprising considering Gaga scrubbed the record from digital editions earlier this year, amid renewed outrage over Kelly's sexual abuse scandals. Gaga issued an apology for the collaboration and made it clear that she fully supports and believes Kelly's accusers.
"As a victim of sexual assault myself, 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," she wrote on social media, following the debut of the explosive Surviving R. Kelly documentary. "The song is called 'Do What U Want (With My Body),' I think it’s clear how explicitly twisted my thinking was at the time. 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 what we’ve been through."
Rolling Stone reports updated copies of ARTPOP are available for preorder on Gaga's website. The project is expected to arrive Nov. 11.
Kelly is currently behind bars awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges. It was reported that a judge has denied Kelly's request for pretrial release, as he is considered a danger to his accusers and their families. The 52-year-old is due back in court later this month.
