Sun Jan 6, 2019, 10:01 AM

'Surviving R. Kelly' Documentary on Lifetime Details Sex Abuse Accusations

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/arts/music/surviving-r-kelly.html

By Jacey Fortin

For more than two decades, the R&B singer Robert Kelly, who performs as R. Kelly, has faced accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse.

This week, a six-part documentary on Lifetime is taking an expansive look at the allegations against Mr. Kelly, a chart-topping artist whose history has invited extra scrutiny in recent years.

The series, “Surviving R. Kelly,” includes testimony from several women who accuse the singer of abuse, as well as commentary from Mr. Kelly’s critics, including the founder of the #MeToo movement, Tarana Burke, and the singer John Legend.

The six episodes, each an hour long, cover the long history of allegations against Mr. Kelly. They feature women who described being controlled or abused by him, often when they were teenagers, as well as associates and relatives of the singer.

In addition, a private screening of the documentary was shut down by threats last month. The series itself was devastating. We must do better in general, and by girls and WOC in particular.

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9 replies	Author	Time	Post
'Surviving R. Kelly' Documentary on Lifetime Details Sex Abuse Accusations (Original post)	WhiskeyGrinder	Jan 2019	OP
i've never understood why R. Kelly is just given a free pass.............	Takket	Jan 2019	#1
Same reason guys like Weinstein and Cosby were.	WhiskeyGrinder	Jan 2019	#3
I watched the whole series, last night	Siwsan	Jan 2019	#2
I'm sorry the series held extra weight for you.	WhiskeyGrinder	Jan 2019	#4
Thanks for the link	Siwsan	Jan 2019	#5
Be good to yourself. Thinking of you.	WhiskeyGrinder	Jan 2019	#7
Great post, WG.	Anon-C	Jan 2019	#6
More links to resources and support for survivors:	WhiskeyGrinder	Jan 2019	#8
I've watched the first 2 episodes...why is this rapist mf'er not in jail?	kimbutgar	Jan 2019	#9

Response to WhiskeyGrinder (Original post)

Sun Jan 6, 2019, 10:06 AM

Takket (18,269 posts)

1. i've never understood why R. Kelly is just given a free pass.............

I've been aware of the allegations against him for YEARS but he's never faced and charges or arrest.... and some of the details are quite HEINOUS. In this current climate especially where careers are destroyed (and rightfully so by the way!) for things a lot less heinous than what R. Kelly has done, he still flies under the radar.

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Response to Takket (Reply #1)

Sun Jan 6, 2019, 10:29 AM

WhiskeyGrinder (19,151 posts)

3. Same reason guys like Weinstein and Cosby were.

They're talented and powerful. In addition, black men assaulting black women and girls can sometimes be seen as a "black problem" that white people can't, shouldn't or aren't interested in talking about. But in the era of #MeToo -- which was started by a black woman -- it's vital that society sees this problem as systemic under male power, not a niche issue.

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Response to WhiskeyGrinder (Original post)

Sun Jan 6, 2019, 10:15 AM

Siwsan (24,007 posts)

2. I watched the whole series, last night

Which was probably not smart because, well, damn. As someone who was the target of a serial molester, when I was a child, what I viewed is haunting me, and probably will for quite a while.

What shocked the hell out of me were the parents who, even AFTER so much had come out, decided to let him take their very talented young daughter under his 'tutelage'.

And I strongly suspect that there were some pay off's issued, before his trial, to the family of the young girl who was on that tape. Also, the clip of the juror was very disturbing. My gut said there was something very hinky going on with that guy. Must have been some good acting to get him past Voir Dire.

The man is very talented - no question about that. He is also very a very demented and dangerous man. It will be an interesting situation to follow, but I have no doubt it will end badly for him, and for others.

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Response to Siwsan (Reply #2)

Sun Jan 6, 2019, 10:31 AM

WhiskeyGrinder (19,151 posts)

4. I'm sorry the series held extra weight for you.

Tarana Burke tweeted some thought about survivors watching:

https://www.colorlines.com/articles/tarana-burke-offers-advice-survivors-watching-surviving-r-kelly

There will always be people who make excuses for bad men. We need to talk about why and how we can stop it.

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Response to WhiskeyGrinder (Reply #4)

Sun Jan 6, 2019, 10:35 AM

Siwsan (24,007 posts)

5. Thanks for the link

Watching that, and dealing with the upcoming 4th anniversaries of losing my sister (Jan 9) and mom (Feb 4) is making for a bit of an emotional overload.

Deep breaths.

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Response to Siwsan (Reply #5)

Sun Jan 6, 2019, 11:35 AM

WhiskeyGrinder (19,151 posts)