‘Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact’ addresses victim backlash, sexual abuse trauma

Washington: In the wake of Lifetime’s documentary series titled ‘R. Kelly”>Surviving R. Kelly’, which chronicled the allegations of sexual misconduct against singer-songwriter R. Kelly, a follow-up special examines the reaction to the claims along with the reaction from the music industry at large.
Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact’ showcases journalists, activists, criminal justice attorneys and mental health professionals taking a look into the conversations about the abuse allegations that have surfaced since the show aired, reported The Hollywood Reporter.
It opens with host and broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, calling Surviving R. Kelly’ the most talked-about documentary of the year. It was seen by nearly 26 million people. Stressing upon her place as a journalist and a woman, she noted the importance of telling this story.
Various brief clips from the prior documentary are featured, with one woman declaring, “The breaking point was when he slapped me and choked me until I blacked out.” As the women speak about being humiliated and abused by Kelly, he is described as a “monster.” The 52-year-old singer, who was acquitted on child pornography charges in 2008, was indicted before a Cook County grand jury in February, this year and charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sex abuse involving four victims, three of which were reported to be minors.
Each charge carries a potential prison sentence of three to seven years, which is emphasised in the special follow-up of the prior documentary.