Lifetime Schedules Follow-up to 'Surviving R. Kelly'
The conversation about R. Kelly is far from over. Lifetime is planning a follow-up to its much-talked-about docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly."
"Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact," will examine how the first series, which aired in January, affected the conversation about sexual violence. It featured more than 50 people sharing the abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of the R&B singer.
Journalist Soledad O'Brien will host the two-hour special, which will air May 4. It will include an "in-depth look" at the singer's infamously tense CBS interview with Gayle King.
After "Surviving R. Kelly" aired, calls to sexual assault hotlines increased by 35 percent. And it led to the February arrest of the singer, who was indicted on 10 felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse against four people, including three minors, dating back to 1998.
The docuseries was a huge hit for Lifetime, averaging 2.1 million viewers for its initial airing an gaining more viewers on each of the three nights it aired. The network reports that more than 26 million people have seen at least a portion of the documentary.
As for the singer himself, he is free on bail, but was a no-show Thursday at a Chicago court, according to the Chicago Times. A woman only identified as H.W. filed a civil suit against the singer in February, accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was 16. His failure to show up means Kelly lost the civil suit by default.
[Via THR]