Surviving R. Kelly is Dream Hampton’s explosive three-part series that renewed attention in R. Kelly’s string of sexual assault allegations and ultimately brought the singer down. Now, as Deadline reports, the docuseries is getting a follow-up special, Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact.
The two-hour Lifetime special will delve into the fallout from the previous special, which originally aired in January of this year. The three-part series opened up more conversations about sexual violence and perpetrators in popular culture. It featured more than 50 people who shared stories around alleged abuse by the R&B star.
Journalist Soledad O’Brien, the anchor for the syndicated weekly show Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, is set to host the special which includes interviews with legal experts and psychologists.
The special will examine Gyle King’s interview with both Kelly and the women who continue to stand by him. His interview with King on CBS This Morning made headlines–and even spawned memes–for his outbursts and outrageous behavior.
The impact of the docuseries was swift. Sexual assault hotlines saw a 35 percent increase in calls, according to Deadline. Kelly’s record label, RCA, dropped him from their list of artists after activists protested, and more women have since come forward with stories of assault.
Kelly was arrested in February by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and charged with 10 felony counts of aggravated sexual against four people, three of whom were minors at the time, over a 10-year time span. He has since then been released on bail.
More than 26 million people have watched Surviving R. Kelly, according to Deadline.
The Impact is slated to air on Lifetime, May 4 at 10pm ET.
H/T Deadline
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