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27th Apr 2019

A new Lifetime documentary on R. Kelly will air next month

Dave Hanratty

R. Kelly arrested

Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact will assess the aftermath of the six-part series that premiered earlier this year.

More than just a television series, six-part documentary Surviving R. Kelly has proven to be a major pop culture moment, one that could yet have huge ramifications for its subject.

First airing on American network Lifetime in January, Surviving R. Kelly – which has been viewed by an estimated 26 million people – detailed numerous allegations of abuse by R. Kelly towards multiple women.

The documentary led to significant protests against the singer, who was ultimately dropped by his record labels and subject to a criminal investigation.

In February, Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, to which he pleaded not guilty following his arrest.

While out on bail, Kelly gave an explosive interview with journalist Gayle King in which he categorically denied the accusations against him.

A new follow-up documentary, Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact, will examine the events of the past few months.

Scheduled to air on Lifetime on Saturday 4 May, the two-hour special will be hosted by broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien.

It will feature interviews with journalists, legal experts, non-profit organisations, and psychologists as all examine the impact that the original documentary had while discussing the developing story.

Kelly’s aforementioned intense sit-down interview will also be covered in-depth.

No word just yet on an Irish airing of the documentary.

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