B2K singer DeMario “Raz B” Thornton announced he was quitting the R&B group’s ongoing reunion tour after just a week, but rescinded his announcement after speaking with his bandmates and clearing up the situation.
The Millenium Tour just kicked-off last week, and the group is slated to perform in Rochester, New York tonight. However, earlier this week, Raz B announced he would be backing out of the tour.
“I don’t feel safe because I feel like Chris Stokes is around,” he said. “So guess what? I’m off the tour. Good luck to everybody. No disrespect to [Omarion] because he’s my brother. [Omarion] if you want to come talk to me and you want me to do the tour, I’ll do the tour, but I’m officially off the tour.”’
“Oh, guess what? I guess we’re about to shoot the new ‘Surviving Chris Stokes’ movie, right?” he said, referencing the R. Kelly docu-series Surviving R. Kelly. “So call Lifetime ’cause I’m ready to talk.”
According to Hot New Hip-Hop, Raz B accused the group’s former manager Chris Stokes of molesting him when he was 11 or 12-years-old. In a video from 2007, Raz B noted that although he couldn’t speak for everyone, he believed Stokes molested other members of the group. Additionally, his brother Ricardo claimed he was sexually abused by Stokes.
During the controversy back then, Omarion issued a statement and said that Raz B and Ricardo were lying about Stokes, noting that he was a “father figure to myself and many others in the industry” and he “won’t stand silent and will do all within my means to speak the truth on this matter.” Stokes also spoke out when Raz made the allegations, denying that he was ever involved with the boys.
In 2018, to coincide with the announcement of the tour, Stokes took to Twitter to deny allegations again.
“I never hurt any of B2K & Always had their best interest at heart including financially,” he tweeted. “I forgive any negative energy or tweets. God forgives and so do I. They back! Now stay positive in 2019 & Go get your tix! Enjoy them being back!”
Multiple media outlets reported that Raz B was bailing on tonight’s show, however, the group announced in an Instagram video yesterday that all of the bandmates will continue with the tour, including Raz B. They thanked fans, media outlets, and friends who reached out to check on Raz B and said they handled the matter privately.
“I am a work in progress,” Raz B wrote in an Instagram story. “I appreciate the outpouring of love, empathy, and understanding from my supporters. I look forward to continuing The Millennium Tour for ours fans. You all deserve it!”
The reunion tour is set to run through late April. Following tonight’s show, the group will make stops in cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Baltimore, Oakland, New Orleans, and Chicago before wrapping-up in Louisville, Kentucky late April. Throughout the run, B2K will be joined by guest artists Mario, Ying Yang Twins, Lloyd, Pretty Ricky, and Chingy.
Visit Ticket Club to find tickets to see B2K on tour this year