Lifetime devotes two hours Saturday May 4 to reactions from its January Surviving R. Kelly documentary, including an "in-depth look at his now infamous interview with Gayle King and the women who are still standing by his side."
Soledad O'Brien will host Surviving R Kelly: The Impact10 p.m. Saturday, May 4.
The Jan. 3-5 documentary miniseries was based on interviews with more than 50 people, many making allegations about Kelly's sexual, mental and physical abuse. It included comments from ex-wife Andrea Kelly; ex-girlfriend Kitti Jones; musicians Sparkle and John Legend; and civil rights activist Tarana Burke.
On Feb. 22 – seven weeks after Surviving R. Kelly debuted on Lifetime – the singer was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony, involving four alleged victims, by the Cook County attorney's office in Chicago. He was arrested that night.
https://youtu.be/4q0nOYtZsGU","_id":"0000017a-3b52-d913-abfe-bf5623410001","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/4q0nOYtZsGU","_id":"0000017a-3b52-d913-abfe-bf5623410000","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/4q0nOYtZsGU","_id":"0000017a-3b52-d913-abfe-bf5623410001","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/4q0nOYtZsGU" target="_blank">The special looks at "the impact the documentary has had on our culture globally, how it has elevated the conversation on sexual violence and what it means to be a survivor," says the Lifetime media release.
Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact will feature clips from the original series; highlights from King's exclusive March interviews on CBS This Morning with Kelly and two women currently living with him, Azriel Clary and Joycelyn Savage; legal experts; psychologists; and journalists.
An estimated 26.1 million people watched the documentary. Lifetime says that "in the days following the debut of Surviving R. Kelly on Lifetime … calls to sexual assault hotlines increased by 35 percent, and #MuteRKelly activists were galvanized to protest for R. Kelly’s record label to drop him."
RCA Records, Kelly's label, cut ties with him on Jan. 18, two weeks after the telecast.
