Despite previous allegations of sexual misconduct, child pornography and urinating on an underage girl in a sex tape, R. Kelly's career has proved indestructible. However, now the R&B singer might finally be 'cancelled' following the shocking allegations in Lifetime's six-part docuseries Surviving R. Kelly.
In the series, survivors and people from R. Kelly's inner circle come forward to share heartbreaking stories about his sexual, mental, and physical abuse. "We went through a lot. We experienced a lot. We saw a lot," said backing singer Jovante Cunningham, who witnessed the singer's alleged abuse and manipulation of young women. "He destroyed a lot of people. I can’t stress to you enough how people are still suffering behind things that went on 20 years ago."
TMZ reports that R. Kelly is now under criminal investigation in Georgia. Sources claim the Fulton County District Attorney's Office opened an investigation into allegations made against the singer during 'Surviving R. Kelly.' Reportedly the probe was launched as a direct result of the docuseries, and investigators are reaching out to the survivors.
The media outlet confirmed investigators reached out to Asante McGee, one of the women who allegedly escaped R. Kelly's home, plus the attorney for the family of Joycelyn Savage, one of the women suspected of being held in R. Kelly's alleged sex cult. Joycelyn denies the claim, but her parents believe she has been brainwashed. According to a police report obtained by The Blast, her father, Timothy Savage, claimed R. Kelly's manager is sending him threats. One text read, "it would be best for him and his family if the documentary does not air."
According to dream hampton, the producer of Surviving R. Kelly, several notable musicians who collaborated with the singer refused to be interviewed. "I asked Jay-Z, I asked Mary J. Blige, I asked Lil Kim, Erykah Badu, Dave Chappelle. But they all said no," said hampton. It's not because they support him, it's because it's so messy and muddy. It's that turning away that has allowed this to go on."
Only two of R. Kelly's former collaborators appear in the docuseries: Chance The Rapper, who says "making a song with R. Kelly was a mistake," and John Legend. "To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn't feel risky at all," tweeted Legend. "I believe these women and don't give a f*** about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision."
Reportedly R. Kelly's album sales have spiked substantially since the docuseries aired, which is pretty disturbing. On The Daily Show, correspondent Roy Moore roasted television stations for playing snippets from R. Kelly's "irresistible" hit singles Ignition and I Believe I Can Fly while covering his alleged abuse. "Stop playing his music and just tell us what he did," said Moore.
R. Kelly has staunchly denied all allegations of sexual, mental, and physical abuse. Yesterday he vowed to expose all of his accuser's "blatant lies" on a Facebook page dedicated to the cause, according to TMZ. However, the page got pulled after posting alleged text messages between R. Kelly and a young female who called him "Daddy." A Facebook representative said the page violated their community standards: "We do not tolerate bullying or sharing other’s private contact information and take action on content that violates our policies as soon as we’re aware."
Reportedly R. Kelly's camp is building the website survivinglies.com to contest all the allegations from survivors on the Lifetime series. Investigators are asking for contact information from others who lived in R. Kelly's Atlanta, or have any knowledge about what happened there.
