Lady Gaga is releasing new, physical editions of her 2013 album, Artpop - this time, without R. Kelly.
Earlier this year the pop singer apologised for collaborating with the R&B singer on the Artpop track “Do What U Want (With My Body)” in light of the numerous sexual assault allegations made against him. She also deleted the track from the album on streaming services.
Now, Artpop has been made available for pre-order on CD and vinyl without the track, as The Independent reports.
“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 said at the time. “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.”
Gaga previously performed the track live with Christina Aguilera instead of R. Kelly – the fans deserve that version instead.
R. Kelly is currently awaiting trial for 13 federal sex trafficking charges.