Color Me Badd, the Oklahoma City pop/R&B group behind early-'90s hits like "I Wanna Sex You Up" and "I Adore Mi Amor," has distanced itself from co-founder Kevin Thornton following abuse allegations from his estranged daughter.
Thornton, an original member of the group that formed in 1985, left Color Me Badd in 1998 to become a minister in Fort Worth, Texas, though he occasionally rejoined the act over the years. The group's lineup has shifted constantly since their commercial peak, with only Mark Calderon remaining from the original lineup in the current iteration.
The abuse accusations against Thornton mark another chapter in Color Me Badd's fractured history. The group rode considerable commercial success in the early 1990s with their brand of pop and R&B, scoring multiple chart hits that capitalized on the era's preference for smooth, accessible pop-soul hybrids. Their chart run proved relatively brief, however, and the group pivoted toward the nostalgia circuit that sustains many '90s acts.
By distancing themselves from Thornton, Color Me Badd joins a growing pattern of musical acts confronting allegations against members. The move reflects evolving industry standards around accountability, particularly regarding abuse claims from family members. Whether the group will maintain this separation or continue operating as a three-piece remains unclear.
The allegations resurface uncomfortable questions about legacy acts operating in a post-#MeToo landscape, where touring nostalgia-driven acts must increasingly navigate the personal histories of their members. For casual fans who remember "I Wanna Sex You Up" from MTV rotation, the news introduces a complicated footnote to their childhood soundtrack.