AceShowbiz -

On the roots of Ne-Yo filing a lawsuit against R. Kelly, a statement has been released today (January 3) by the latter's lawyers regarding the situation. They insisted that the dropping of Ne-Yo, real name Shaffer Chimere Smith, from Kelly's 'Double Up' tour was pure contractual.

In a statement acquired by Undercover.com.au, Kelly's lawyers said, "The idea that R. Kelly had anything to do with Ne-Yo being dropped from the Double Up tour is just plain silly. As we said at the time, Ne-Yo was dropped because of a contractual dispute with the tour promoter, and in fact Ne-Yo is not suing Kelly but only the promoter."

Ne-Yo has on December 31 filed the lawsuit where among its content there stated: "Plaintiffs allege that an unknown representative of R. Kelly urged Rowe to terminate Smith from the tour given the audience's and critics' more favorable reaction to Smith than the reaction to R. Kelly."

In reaction to this claim the lawyers added, "Ne-Yo may think blaming the situation on R. Kelly will improve his chances of collecting from the promoter, but if he does, he is sadly mistaken. Anyone remotely familiar with R. Kelly knows he is confident enough in his own abilities to be happy to share the stage with enormously talented people - the more talented, the better."

The tour, that supported Kelly's 'Double Up' album, kicked off in November and Ne-Yo who was tapped as the supporting act was yanked out of it after mere two shows. He was then paid $50,000 out of the $785,000 that was in the contract should he completed the tour. Ne-Yo's camp now demand the rest of the money since they had spent a lot of money in preparation of the tour and rejected other deals for the commitment.