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You’d think that after 25 years of allegations and an extensive documentary we would have cancelled sex predator R Kelly by now. But nope, there are still legions of fans rising to his defence, writes Grethe Kemp.
Surviving R Kelly
CI (DStv channel 170)
Wednesday, 8pm and 8.50pm
. . . - -
Much-talked-about docuseries Surviving R Kelly is coming to South African television, with a double bill airing on the Crime + Investigation channel on Wednesday.
Executive produced by film critic Dean Hampton and featuring commentary from #MeToo founder Tarana Burke, it documents 25 years of allegations against the R&B singer and 50 interviews with victims, and people from his inner circle.
A media screening of the documentary series was hosted this week, with veteran actress and activist Rosie Motene as host.
"Audiences, children, parents, educators, everyone should know that perpetrators live among us, emotional and psychological abuse is very real and is often the cause behind victims not getting assistance.
The series also proves the fact that wealth and fame plays a big part," Motene told #Trending.
Some of the allegations include sexual relationships with minors, including marrying the late 15-year-old R&B star Aaliyah; multiple counts of inappropriate sexual contact with a minor; creating child pornography; and creating an abusive “sex cult” of young women, whom he allegedly isolates, brainwashes, and abuses physically and emotionally.
The child pornography charge revolved around a sex tape he made, where he urinated on a 15-year-old girl. Charges were dropped when the girl denied it was her on the tape, although speculation that her family was paid off is rife.
What has been reiterated over and over again is that Kelly has managed to get away with his predatory behaviour because the victims of his crimes are young, often poor, black women – a segment of society we seem to care little about.
But one would think that after #MeToo, Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, the rise in intersectional feminism, call-out culture and activism, R Kelly’s career would have been dead by now.
But in the context of all that, there is still a large community who not only look past his misdemeanours, but actively support him on social media. Many of them are black women.
A recent tweet I read from a certain Yolanda Fordham? read: “I still love #RKelly! I’m still waiting on SOLID PROOF! You know how many thirsty rachet thot females are going to try to come forward with lies...I’m not saying he didnt do it! I’m saying I NEED SOLID PROOD [sic]!!”
Surviving R Kelly is not a perfect documentary, with a narrative style that is unimaginative and a little flat.
Nevertheless, it’s important for just existing. There’s finally an extensive piece of film that thoroughly documents R Kelly’s crimes and puts front and centre some of the women devastated by them.
Since its airing, the FBI has renewed investigations into the singer, most recently for flying a 17-year-old girl across US state lines in 2015.
RCA Records has dropped R Kelly as an artist, several stadiums cancelled his tours and many celebrities who once collaborated with him apologised or pulled their songs from music services. But then again, streaming of his music went up after the documentary aired and although Spotify pulled his music from its platform, it reinstated it after accusations of censorship.
R Kelly enjoys an active Twitter account with more than 1 million followers and, according to his latest tweet, is releasing a new album soon. As much as you’d think his career would be in the coffin, R Kelly keeps kicking.
