'Free Rodney Reed': Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and more try to stop death row inmate's execution

Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY
Updated

Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna, Dr. Phil and more celebrities are speaking out against the upcoming execution of Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed.

Reed has been incarcerated for more than 21 years for the 1996 rape and murder of Stacey Stites, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Reed has maintained his innocence, but is scheduled to be executed on Nov. 20.

His legal team filed for clemency after credible new witnesses and evidence that would exonerate Reed came to light, the Innocence Project said last week, including an alleged murder confession that Stites' fiancé, Jimmy Fennell, gave to another inmate.

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As Reed's execution date nears, many high-profile stars are advocating for his life.

Kardashian West, who helped commute Alice Johnson's sentence, urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to "do the right thing." She added, "I believe he is innocent."

View this post on Instagram

Our client Rodney Reed, who is scheduled to be executed on November 20, filed for clemency last week. ⁠ __⁠ “Mr. Reed’s execution is less than one month away, meaning Texas is frighteningly close to executing an innocent man. Between the medical and scientific evidence, and multiple new, credible witnesses, the original case trial has been completely deconstructed and disproven.”— Bryce Benjet, lead attorney for ⁠ #RodneyReed.⁠ ⁠ __⁠ Thank you @badgalriri + @questlove + @troubleman31 + @cyntoiabrownofficial + @meekmill + @llcoolj for sharing the story of #RodneyReed ⁠ ⁠ __⁠ Texans: Please contact @GovAbbott + the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to stop this execution today: 737-210-4800 and you’ll be connected. ⁠ ⁠ __⁠ Not in Texas? Tag a friend who is below.⁠

A post shared by Innocence Project (@innocenceproject) on Nov 4, 2019 at 2:47pm PST