JAY-Z, Dave Chappelle, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Lil Kim & More Turned Down the Opportunity to Appear in “Surviving R. Kelly”

Surviving R Kelly, which premiered in the US on Thursday, explores decades of sexual abuse allegations brought against the artist, all of which he denies.

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The new documentary series “#SurvivingRKelly” premieres tonight (January 3) on #Lifetime. •swipe• #HHUCIT … Speaking with the Detroit Free Press, #Dreamhampton revealed that #ErykahBadu, #JAYZ, #DaveChappelle, and #LadyGaga—all of whom have collaborated with #RKelly—declined interviews. #Questlove, #MaryJBlige, and #LilKim also turned down the opportunity to speak.

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#Aaliyah’s mother #DianaHaughton released a statement concerning #Lifetime’s six-part document-series, Surviving #RKelly. One of Kelly’s background singers claims to have witnessed a sexual encounter between Kelly and then underaged #AaliyahHoughton. Aaliyah’s mother says this is a lie and is tired of her daughters legacy being dragged through the mud. •swipe• #HHUCIT

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#SurvivingRKelly aired last night. What are your thoughts? •swipe• #HHUCIT

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John Legend is one of the only musicians who agreed to be interviewed. In December 2018, the New York screening of the series was evacuated. It followed individuals stating they received “a threatening phone call”.

‘Messy and Muddy’

The show’s producer Dream Hampton said it was “incredibly difficult” to get celebrities who had collaborated with Kelly to come forward. “We asked Lady Gaga. We asked Erykah Badu. We asked Celine Dion. We asked Jay-Z. We asked Dave Chappelle. (They’re) people who have been critical of him,” she told the Detroit Free Press. But Hampton doesn’t believe it’s because they support him or his actions.

“It’s because it’s so messy and muddy. It’s that turning away that has allowed this to go on,” she told Shadow and Act.

John Legend is one of the only major musicians involved in the docuseries made by Lifetime – he appears in the final episode which airs on Saturday.

 

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#JohnLegend speaks on his decision to appear on the #SurvivingRKelly series on #Lifetime. #HHUCIT

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