"Surviving R. Kelly" caused quite a stir in early 2019. In the docuseries, numerous women have made serious allegations against the R&B singer. The TV show is believed to have sparked the sex abuse charges R. Kelly faces in the United States later this year. The 52-year-old has been behind bars since 2019. New episodes of the docuseries have now started in the USA. In "Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning" new supposed victims of Kelly have their say and Carey Kelly claims his famous brother wanted to bribe him.
Over 50 people wanted to take part in the first season, and over 70 for the second season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Seven of Kelly's alleged victims were interviewed for the first episodes, now there are ten women. Producers Brie Miranda Bryant and Jesse Daniels told The Hollywood Reporter that they initially didn't want to continue filming the docuseries, but then realized they had a certain "responsibility". With the new season, they want to delve deeper into some areas.
It's not worth selling my soul
As with season one, two of the singer's brothers, Bruce and Carey Kelly, have worked on the series. According to media reports, Carey Kelly describes in "Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning" that his famous brother once tried to get him to "admit a crime that I had nothing to do with". R. Kelly reportedly said to him, "I'll buy you a car, I'll get you a record deal, I'll give you $50,000."
It was about a sex tape from 2002 in which R. Kelly is allegedly seen having sex with a minor. In 2008 he was on trial because of this. The singer was acquitted at the time because the jury couldn't agree whether the girl in the video was really a minor.
Carey Kelly should claim that he is the man in the video. But he threw a spanner in the works for his brother. He told him that he would not claim for any money in the world that he could be seen in the video. "It's not worth selling my soul," said Carey Kelly.
Aaliyah as "sacrificial lamb"?
In "Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning" Tiffany Hawkins, among others, also speaks. She tells US media reports that she was "Image" for 15 years when she met the singer. At his request, she also brought her young friends together with R. Kelly and had a sexual relationship with him, although she did not find him attractive. She had to do it because she knew it would satisfy him so she could stay around him, Hawkins said.
The then-rising singer filed a lawsuit against R. Kelly and his recording, publishing and management company in 1996. She claimed she suffered "injury and emotional damage" from the alleged relationship with the singer, which reportedly ended when she was 18 years "Image". The case was eventually settled out of court.
Music producer and entrepreneur Damon Dash also has his say. According to US media reports, he comments on the annulled marriage of R. Kelly and the late singer Aaliyah. The two married in 1994 when Aaliyah was just 15 "Image". Damon Dash claims the singer wanted nothing to do with R. Kelly after their brief marriage. She was "just glad to be away from him," Dash said. R. Kelly, according to Dash, used Aaliyah as a "sacrificial lamb" to cover up his sexual proclivities and denounces why this marriage didn't get anything started.
Advocates for R. Kelly still exist
But not only new allegations are taken up and supposed new victims have their say. Lindsey Perryman-Dunn will serve as advocate for the fallen singer. She worked for R. Kelly from 1999 to 2007. She was his studio manager, personal assistant and then general manager. Perryman-Dunn says in the new episodes she's never seen the singer do anything inappropriate. She even turns the tables and says his supposed victims are just "upset". After all, they only came into the limelight when they were seen on television.
In a statement obtained by CNN, Steve Greenberg, Kelly's attorney, said the singer and his team are currently focused on the court case and they hope it will "uncover the truth." Greenberg accuses the documentary series of having no credibility, being profit-oriented, one-sided and only designed for propaganda. It is "a series of claims on an island of its own".
The singer has denied all charges and has pleaded not guilty to the lawsuits he faces in April and May 2020 in the US.
