The child molestation allegations against R. Kelly did not stop fans from listening to his music.

Chris Brown admitting to allegedly abusive behavior towards his ex-girlfriend Rihanna did not stop his music sales either.

Notorious B.I.G’s alleged exploitation of Lil’ Kim while she was a minor is overlooked as fans still see him as an icon.

Fame and money do not justify immoral behavior, but we should keep in mind that artists are not much different from any of us. We do not expect each other to be perfect and we should hold artists to the same standard. Artists are humans who make mistakes and with proper remorse, there is a possibility for redemption.

Artists can still be respected and appreciated for their content but not admired as a person. The idea of separating the artist from the art is possible.

In extreme cases, careers are ruined because of the link between artists and their art. Dixie Chicks’ guitarist Natalie Maines is one example where the failure to separate the art from the artist resulted in the downfall of a career. In 2003, Maines expressed her political views about then-President George W. Bush and got huge backlash. She was trashed by the public and radio stations refused to play the group’s music.

After apologizing repeatedly she was still unable to regain all the respect she’d lost. Artists should be allowed to express their opinions just like everyone else can. Freedom of expression is a right we all share. Maines and other artists should not lose their careers or lose respect for their personal opinions.

In Michael Jackson’s documentary “Leaving Neverland,” two men accused Michael of sexually abusing them as children. The documentary revealed how the singer used his fame to gain the trust of the victims’ families in order to get closer to them. But such allegations did not stop fans from listening to his music. Jackson’s fans knew how to separate the artist from their art which is why he is still remembered and thought of as an icon today.

But being an artist does not mean criminal or immoral behavior is justified. Artists should definitely be held accountable for their actions, but shunning them is unnecessary—especially after they’ve understood their mistake and apologized.

Artists should be judged for their wrongdoings like the rest of us. But that does not automatically mean you should boycott their work because the art they create is different from who they are.