I agree with what the makers were trying to do here. My negative points aren't really based on the content, but more how it was handled. The topic at hand is dramatic all by itself so the addition of dramatic music, repeated statements for effect, etc was not needed and actually did the documentary a disservice in my opinion. It took away from the seriousness of the material being discussed. It could have been edited down a bit, too. That being said, I haven't really followed R. Kelly since the initial tape was released (that was enough for me to stop consuming his music), so I learned a lot. Know your worth people and know the signs. No amount of money or fame gives someone the right to mistreat another.
56 Reviews
This docu-series is the well deserved knockout blow that R-Kelly will not recover from
tkaine36 January 2019
I saw the pee tape and if anyone thought that girl was over 14 would be lying, she had the body of an 11 or 12 yr. Old I literally got frightened by watching it, It was truly a disturbing horror film. It's sad after all this evidence people are still calling these young ladies liars who all have the same story and this man continues to do him. I was the biggest Kelz fan before the tape and afterwards I admit I wanted to forget what I saw and forgive and pray he got his life back on track. But now after knowing and realizing he is a serial pedophile predator we have to ban anything and everything he tries to do. He won't stop because he can't and he trys to ask for support from the black community meanwhile he's abusing our young queens. Starvation, Desolation, Slapping, Verbal degrading. He's a monster and anyone pushing back against that reality is complicit in aiding a deceitful predator. It's never ok but it's one thing to treat grown woman a certain way because they will process your sickness faster and figure a way to get away from the madness, but under age girls haven't got a chance most will fold under those pressures. This docu-series was sincere and very well crafted the only person who should feel shame to tell this story is the one who is denying it. Robert Kelly who shows no remorse admits it on a 19 minute song but then says he's not a pedophile on the same song. He married a 15yo. When he was 27. Case closed.
How can someone except say the girls are lying and yet they all tell the exact same story
tkaine36 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Try Lyric Cabral, Nigel Bellis and Astral Finnie the writers and director of this project did a great job compiling this disturbing documentary about one of the biggest stars of all time
9/10 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I grew up recording music as a philly rap artist seeing first hand the abuse and humiliation of young females. Unfortunately certain high profile artists can basically get fans to do just about anything. R-Kelly in my eyes was undoubtedly the biggest R&B singer of my time. When I first witnessed the pee tape on VHS 20yrs. Ago I knew without a doubt this small pubescent girl gyrating on camera performing sexual acts was definitely atleast younger than 16 and watching the video of the man who's face was clearly shown from all different angles and for long periods of time it was no denying that was R-Kelly in the film. Even the way he was positioning his body for the camera before she appeared so he could ensure the best angle to video these acts were alarming, I mean you could see he was methodical and orchestrated everything for his enjoyment of filming this girl. I was furious after watching the tape and I definitely felt he was guilty for his actions. but by the time the case went to trial 6 years Later and he was acquitted of all charges the inner anger I harbored pretty much subsided and I really just wanted to forget about R-Kelly the pedophile who was still releasing hit after hit. Then more stories trickled out since then about the R-Kelly cult and abusing girls but still when you get these small sample sizes of information stretched out from year to year it doesn't hit you as hard I guess. Take for instance Donald Trump, The reason he is hated so much is because of the mounting evidence day after day for the past 3 years since he's been campaigning showing how corrupt and immoral his whole administration has become. Well this documentary is that full fledged KNOCKOUT of undeniable treachery showing decades of sexual abuse verbal abuse and physical abuse towards underage girls committed by Robert Kelly. The prowler who hung out at high schools, Secretly marrying Aaliyah and forging age documents. The countless confessions of women weeping while telling they're accounts of the overly protective control freak with an insatiable sexual appetite is just beyond disturbing. Managers, Bodyguards, his former music teacher, even his own brothers countless memories & scenarios. It also makes you question the people who are confessing and knew what he was doing was wrong and yet still turned a blind eye to his actions. When the story is laid out in this fashion we can now come to realize that R-Kelly is mentally sick or ill, his attraction for pedophilia will not just go away, he will not stop on his own because he can't and ultimately this will be his demise. He has the OJ syndrome of thinking his status in life will protect him so he keeps committing atrocities towards young girls with wreckless abandon. But now what "Surviving R-Kelly" has done in the age of the #METOO movement has given us the full magnitude of his sickness which will now overshadow as a whole whatever we may have thought before and any little tidbits will just add to this mountain of deceitful behavior. This is definitely a must watch because there isn't a person over the age of 5 who doesn't know the song "I believe I can Fly" so he is still relevant in todays music world and his story should be a warning to parents and kids who need to be aware to not fall prey to predators regardless of who they are. For someone to say this docu series offered nothing new is completely bonkers and untrue, This is definitely the destruction of R.Kelly there is no coming back from.
9/10 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I grew up recording music as a philly rap artist seeing first hand the abuse and humiliation of young females. Unfortunately certain high profile artists can basically get fans to do just about anything. R-Kelly in my eyes was undoubtedly the biggest R&B singer of my time. When I first witnessed the pee tape on VHS 20yrs. Ago I knew without a doubt this small pubescent girl gyrating on camera performing sexual acts was definitely atleast younger than 16 and watching the video of the man who's face was clearly shown from all different angles and for long periods of time it was no denying that was R-Kelly in the film. Even the way he was positioning his body for the camera before she appeared so he could ensure the best angle to video these acts were alarming, I mean you could see he was methodical and orchestrated everything for his enjoyment of filming this girl. I was furious after watching the tape and I definitely felt he was guilty for his actions. but by the time the case went to trial 6 years Later and he was acquitted of all charges the inner anger I harbored pretty much subsided and I really just wanted to forget about R-Kelly the pedophile who was still releasing hit after hit. Then more stories trickled out since then about the R-Kelly cult and abusing girls but still when you get these small sample sizes of information stretched out from year to year it doesn't hit you as hard I guess. Take for instance Donald Trump, The reason he is hated so much is because of the mounting evidence day after day for the past 3 years since he's been campaigning showing how corrupt and immoral his whole administration has become. Well this documentary is that full fledged KNOCKOUT of undeniable treachery showing decades of sexual abuse verbal abuse and physical abuse towards underage girls committed by Robert Kelly. The prowler who hung out at high schools, Secretly marrying Aaliyah and forging age documents. The countless confessions of women weeping while telling they're accounts of the overly protective control freak with an insatiable sexual appetite is just beyond disturbing. Managers, Bodyguards, his former music teacher, even his own brothers countless memories & scenarios. It also makes you question the people who are confessing and knew what he was doing was wrong and yet still turned a blind eye to his actions. When the story is laid out in this fashion we can now come to realize that R-Kelly is mentally sick or ill, his attraction for pedophilia will not just go away, he will not stop on his own because he can't and ultimately this will be his demise. He has the OJ syndrome of thinking his status in life will protect him so he keeps committing atrocities towards young girls with wreckless abandon. But now what "Surviving R-Kelly" has done in the age of the #METOO movement has given us the full magnitude of his sickness which will now overshadow as a whole whatever we may have thought before and any little tidbits will just add to this mountain of deceitful behavior. This is definitely a must watch because there isn't a person over the age of 5 who doesn't know the song "I believe I can Fly" so he is still relevant in todays music world and his story should be a warning to parents and kids who need to be aware to not fall prey to predators regardless of who they are. For someone to say this docu series offered nothing new is completely bonkers and untrue, This is definitely the destruction of R.Kelly there is no coming back from.
Wow.
carlywise9310 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The whole thing is crazy. I feel horrible for all affected by his actions. His older brother seemed to be in total support. I cant understand how friends and employees were totally cool with everything he was and is doing. I was blown away by the Juror saying he didn't believe the victims because they are women!!
However the fact that so much of the message on why hes gotten away with it is the race of the women was frustrating. Maybe I'm naive but I think the reason hes gotten away with it for so long is the pay offs and NDA's in years past, and then him changing his "preference" to barley legal along with his friends in the police department. Lawyers definitely "educated" him when he was on trial. So he knows just how far he can go and get away with it. Seriously he is sick. I truly hope his a** goes to jail and these women do see justice. All those who watch this happen,support him, and help him get away with this are just as guilty.
Eye opener
sugarjanjan6 January 2019
Lives up to the hype
jesser29914 February 2019
Full disclosure: I am not a Lifetime watcher, but the buzz surrounding this and the constant questions at work: "Have you seen Surviving R. Kelly?" led me to the channel. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this series while simultaneously repulsed with the crimes R. Kelly has committed and (so far) gotten away with. I think that's coming to end soon, thanks to this series. Well done.
Credible, firsthand accounts... if you really think R Kelly is innocent watch this...
LiveLoveLead6 January 2019
I hardly know how to review this documentary but that these idiots who gave 1 star are so naive (or just don't care) about domestic abuse, brainwashing, grooming children, and victimization infuriated me. This is a documentary trying to desperately reach out to inform people and get support to stop an extremely sick, abusive, sexual predator who has gotten away with his perverted and vile behavior for over 25 years because he's famous and chart-topping songs. Yes, this piece can get a bit repetitive in the 6 1-hour segments of interviews and maybe it could have been cut in half, but I found this show very informative and necessary as a voice for the survivors/victims. Similar to Harvey Weinstein, Kelly seems to continually get away with crimes even though people around him knew/know what's going on. What's worse is Kelly's victims were more often underage girls (12-17-years old). Hearing from survivors, people in the industry, friends and family of Kelly, psychiatrists, and the families of girls still caught in R Kelly's web is informative and heart-wrenching. It is so sad that people turn their back or are even complicit in helping these narcissistic, bullies just because the perpetrator is famous and people don't want to loose their friendship, risk their job or just don't want to get involved so it goes on and on and on creating more and more victims and more and more pain and brokenness. It's also shocking at how many people so easily don't want to believe that a smooth voiced, smooth talking, charismatic, handsome musician would "do such a thing" when the damning evidence and witnesses are plentiful (I mean sex tape people!!) Finally, after all these years, people in the music industry are starting to stand up for these victims and let Kelly know they won't condone this disgusting behavior and treatment of girls/women and it's because of courageous people like the ones who made and spoke out in this documentary and the #MuteRKelly movement. Why do we let people harm others? Harvey Wienstein, Bill Cosby, OJ Simpson, R Kelly...maybe this film will help us open our eyes and recognize these predators, encourage us to stand up for victims (instead of judging, ignoring, or accusing them) and also maybe we can get these predator the help they need... hurt people, hurt people.
It was good, but too long.
Raxing7 October 2019
The series gives a little bit of background on R. Kelly and outlines some of the stories of abuse. The stories are quite compelling and any reasonable person would conclude that R. Kelly has some serious problems after watching this. R. Kelly gets older but his mentality does not change as he continues to manipulate and abuse women. My only issue with this series was how repetitive it is. At points the same footage is literally used over and over again. I am not stupid. I get it. I don't need the same nails to get hit over and over again. I would have preferred a documentary that focuses on what the allegations against him are and the people make them and R. Kelly's response to them.
Crying Tears
trendsetter-555796 January 2019
This documentary was epic. It was shocking, heartbreaking, scary, and a wake up call for so many people. I couldn't imagine my daughters being in this type of situation. My babies, my precious girls who are innocent and full of life and potential to do so many great things. This monster is in plain sight preying on these naive souls. Children and women with broken self esteem. We as a people need to start the conversation and grooming from early years to place that value in our girls that they are worthy and deserving of all the love and respect as any other ethnicity. I am shaking as I type this review with tears streaming down my face. R. Kelly, get help sir. Get your soul in order. Get right with with your higher power. Wow, how sad is it that he continues to walk freely in the world. There are people behind bars for lesser crimes. I do take solace in knowing that he will pay for what he has done. One way or the other. I do feel like he had a lot of enablers around him allowing him to continue this sick and demonic behavior. They are guilty as well. Some of these women say he loved them. He didn't, he only cares for himself and his sick need to exploit and control. It's a must see! It's important, it's thought provoking, it's impactful and it should start a conversation with the young women around you. Say something, teach, guide and love on our babies. So, they won't someday go and run into the arms of a monster. There are R. Kelly's all over the world.
Sadly expose sends R.Kelly sales way up. The criminal courts are where this needed to be solved, not a Docum. that serves as an advert for Keely
VoyagerMN19869 January 2019
Look the problem is the COURTS, especially the jury members who refused to convict R. Kelly, because they thought he was targeted for his race.
When it comes to this documentary I suggest people google news articles showing R, Kelly is helped by this documentary and his recording sales are up as a direct result. Billboard reports his sales are up, he is up more than 50% on Spotify in just three days.
The fact is his audience has never been mainstream, it has ALWAYS been people who enjoy songs about denigrating women. His behavior is no different than similar genre artists who kill or shoot someone for "street cred." They are not harmed by their fans knowing their behavior -- they are helped by it That is why Vic Mensa could be arrested for committing THREE gun felonies last year. Three. And go up in the charts. Why Cardi B can say she wants gun control but thinks her kids rapper father should not be charged with gun crimes after himself committing TWO gun felonies in the last year alone.
To people saying this is in all news and an "eye opener"...have your eyes bee that tightly clamped shut? There are scores and scores of major rap artists who are major gun criminals and serial abusers of women -- both in their music and in the lives they lead..
Where wsa the outrage when he won three Grammys in 1997 whee he had just dispicalbe songs and his interest in very young women was already known?
When it comes to this documentary I suggest people google news articles showing R, Kelly is helped by this documentary and his recording sales are up as a direct result. Billboard reports his sales are up, he is up more than 50% on Spotify in just three days.
The fact is his audience has never been mainstream, it has ALWAYS been people who enjoy songs about denigrating women. His behavior is no different than similar genre artists who kill or shoot someone for "street cred." They are not harmed by their fans knowing their behavior -- they are helped by it That is why Vic Mensa could be arrested for committing THREE gun felonies last year. Three. And go up in the charts. Why Cardi B can say she wants gun control but thinks her kids rapper father should not be charged with gun crimes after himself committing TWO gun felonies in the last year alone.
To people saying this is in all news and an "eye opener"...have your eyes bee that tightly clamped shut? There are scores and scores of major rap artists who are major gun criminals and serial abusers of women -- both in their music and in the lives they lead..
Where wsa the outrage when he won three Grammys in 1997 whee he had just dispicalbe songs and his interest in very young women was already known?
Informative
diesel-boy8013 January 2019
A few months back, I recall seeing an "R Kelly Cult" sticker stuck to a light post in the city where I grew up. I thought it was a bit hilarious as it seemed to be used to mock the whole R Kelly Cult rumors circulating at the time, which I knew very little about (which is why I thought it was a bit silly to see that sticker). After watching Surviving R Kelly, I'm no longer laughing. While I did not love the series, I'm now much more informed on what has taken place and what continues involving R Kelly. I have mixed feelings about the series, the "survivors", and all those involved. More than R Kelly needs to be held responsible and take accountability for their involvement in all that has transpired. This is also not just a black girl matter as there was also at least one Latina involved with R Kelly as well, and who really knows who else and how many other girls/woman. Hopefully everyone learns for what has happened and what has come to light. R Kelly surely isn't the first and or only celebrity to participate in these types of activities. It is all pretty sad and sickening. Ladies and gentlemen raise your standards, there is only one God to follow and worship (celebrities aren't gods or God), remember your morals, and listen to your instincts. Following fame and furtune rarely leads to anything good.
Heartbreaking and Mesmerizing
breckstewart26 March 2019
I admit, I didn't really follow the whole R Kelly situation too closely over the years and since it's been going on for so long with him being cleared in 2008, I was largely ignorant about the details and boy, is this the right thing to watch to clear things up!
Surviving R. Kelly is a riveting documentary that displays facts and offers both sides of the equation without trying to manipulate viewers, interviewing many of the abused girls, women and their families while exposing a plethora of testimonies and video footage showing concerned parents trying to rescue their daughters. It is viscerally powerful and really shows the viewers the whole history of this ongoing tragedy.
I can't review this without making a connection with Leaving Neverland. Michael Jackson was proven innocent in a court of law because they didn't have any true evidence nor testimonies strong enough to declare him guilty while the R Kelly case is quite different in that he was cleared of all charges not because of a lack of proof but mostly because of several technicalities.
But the most striking thing is that a court of law would find this man innocent even with the actual infamous sex tape being shown in court! I was absolutely disgusted that anything like this could ever happen since the evidence against him was so strong then and is even stronger now.
Leaving Neverland is a manipulative piece of propaganda aimed at desecrating the memory of Jackson while trying to extort money from the family. It only feature two "survivors" who previously declared under oath that Michael never touched them only to change their stories 10 years after the man is dead and therefore no threat to anyone even if he had been a predator which I truly feel he never was.
Surviving R. Kelly on the other hand is a very well done expose on a man who has consistently displayed questionable and perverse behavior for decades with a very impressive amount of evidence and who is still running around doing the exact same thing he's been getting away with for such a long time. Therefore the man is still a threat and very dangerous.
It presents to the viewer an impartial and fair format showing facts, testimonies, evidence and a narrative that always tries to remain connected to exposing the truth. At no point did I ever get the impression that I was manipulated or fed lies unlike Leaving Neverland which doesn't offer one shred of evidence and only relies on emotional testimonies which in themselves can't prove anything.
If Surviving R. Kelly only relied on the interviews it wouldn't have been as powerful and efficient in exposing the monster in him. But it gives us so much more and I was absolutely transfixed as I couldn't believe how long Kelly has been getting away with so much abuse and very disturbing behavior.
I highly recommend this to everyone. And even if like me, you've never been affected by this horrible abuse or don't know anyone personally who has been going through this, I feel like everyone must watch to really understand just how devastating this can be to anyone who has the misfortune to be in the path of a predator.
And I can safely say that after watching every minute of this riveting series, I am truly convinced that R Kelly deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life. Let's just hope that justice will finally prevail and that all his victim will finally get some peace and closure to soothe their battered psyches.
I must say this is how a true documentary must be done and it deserves 10 stars in my book.
Surviving R. Kelly is a riveting documentary that displays facts and offers both sides of the equation without trying to manipulate viewers, interviewing many of the abused girls, women and their families while exposing a plethora of testimonies and video footage showing concerned parents trying to rescue their daughters. It is viscerally powerful and really shows the viewers the whole history of this ongoing tragedy.
I can't review this without making a connection with Leaving Neverland. Michael Jackson was proven innocent in a court of law because they didn't have any true evidence nor testimonies strong enough to declare him guilty while the R Kelly case is quite different in that he was cleared of all charges not because of a lack of proof but mostly because of several technicalities.
But the most striking thing is that a court of law would find this man innocent even with the actual infamous sex tape being shown in court! I was absolutely disgusted that anything like this could ever happen since the evidence against him was so strong then and is even stronger now.
Leaving Neverland is a manipulative piece of propaganda aimed at desecrating the memory of Jackson while trying to extort money from the family. It only feature two "survivors" who previously declared under oath that Michael never touched them only to change their stories 10 years after the man is dead and therefore no threat to anyone even if he had been a predator which I truly feel he never was.
Surviving R. Kelly on the other hand is a very well done expose on a man who has consistently displayed questionable and perverse behavior for decades with a very impressive amount of evidence and who is still running around doing the exact same thing he's been getting away with for such a long time. Therefore the man is still a threat and very dangerous.
It presents to the viewer an impartial and fair format showing facts, testimonies, evidence and a narrative that always tries to remain connected to exposing the truth. At no point did I ever get the impression that I was manipulated or fed lies unlike Leaving Neverland which doesn't offer one shred of evidence and only relies on emotional testimonies which in themselves can't prove anything.
If Surviving R. Kelly only relied on the interviews it wouldn't have been as powerful and efficient in exposing the monster in him. But it gives us so much more and I was absolutely transfixed as I couldn't believe how long Kelly has been getting away with so much abuse and very disturbing behavior.
I highly recommend this to everyone. And even if like me, you've never been affected by this horrible abuse or don't know anyone personally who has been going through this, I feel like everyone must watch to really understand just how devastating this can be to anyone who has the misfortune to be in the path of a predator.
And I can safely say that after watching every minute of this riveting series, I am truly convinced that R Kelly deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life. Let's just hope that justice will finally prevail and that all his victim will finally get some peace and closure to soothe their battered psyches.
I must say this is how a true documentary must be done and it deserves 10 stars in my book.
Wtf but too many episodes
drpainters11 May 2020
Better editing and structure could have done these brave survivors and their stories justice
Jeremy_Urquhart22 February 2021
Gets a 5/10 for the comprehensive collection of testimonies from brave survivors who came forward and told their stories. Whatever problems I have with the quality of the filmmaking here, the documentary miniseries will likely do more good than harm, thanks to these stories being put out there (because R. Kelly deserves to be held accountable for these crimes, and for the lives he's damaged, of course).
What isn't impressive is the way this is put together. While there are a variety of compelling topics covered, there's little attempt to sew them together in a way that creates meaning or coherency. It feels like a lot of research that's yet to be put together into a satisfying essay, to use a University metaphor.
The music and tacky editing is so overdone, and really, the whole presentation is awful. Sometimes it will show an image, cut to picture 1, cut back to the interview, show a very similar looking picture 2, do some more interview footage, and then show picture 1 again. And we're not supposed to notice you ran out of stuff to show? It's a nitpick, but it's similar for the music: they never seem to play more than 5 seconds of a song on the soundtrack at a time, making me think it was the producers being cheap when it came to proper licensing.
Then there's the cheapened storytelling due to the bad editing. We get an interview about how R Kelly proposed to one young girl by having her name on a banner flown behind a plane, with a man then parachuting out and delivering her the ring upon hitting the ground... yet the marriage itself was done in secret and parents didn't know? Okay, so why draw attention to the proposal with literally one of the most spectacular methods of marriage proposal? These two parts of the story clash and NOTHING is done to explain the contradictory nature of Kelly's proposal and then marriage ceremony.
On the topic of music again: all the music composed for this is so overdone and overbearing, and when paired with the boring visuals and cheap editing tricks that aim to make things "more suspenseful", it occasionally has the effect of actually weakening the stories of the survivors, as well as the information conveyed by various doctors and other experts who also find themselves being interviewed.
Look, it's hard, because this is a well-deserved deep dive into many crimes committed by a terrible person who hasn't yet had his comeuppance, but the execution is so lacking. If this had been done to the same standard as the OJ Made in America documentary series from 2016, it could be a genuinely great documentary.
As it stands, much of the info and personal stories are compelling and revealing, but the way it's shoddily put together just doesn't do the content (or the survivors!) justice, which makes for a frustrating watch. Maybe seeing the Lifetime logo at the start should've been a better received warning on my part.
I could see others giving it a higher rating just for the message and what it represents, while I could also see others giving it a lower rating because of just how badly it butchers the content with its editing, music, low budget, and lack of structure. For me, I'll take into account a bit of both, and give it a 5/10; right in the middle.
Whoever researched and/or conducted the interviews did a real good job, and I hope they can work with some editors or directors in the future that could do their work justice.
What isn't impressive is the way this is put together. While there are a variety of compelling topics covered, there's little attempt to sew them together in a way that creates meaning or coherency. It feels like a lot of research that's yet to be put together into a satisfying essay, to use a University metaphor.
The music and tacky editing is so overdone, and really, the whole presentation is awful. Sometimes it will show an image, cut to picture 1, cut back to the interview, show a very similar looking picture 2, do some more interview footage, and then show picture 1 again. And we're not supposed to notice you ran out of stuff to show? It's a nitpick, but it's similar for the music: they never seem to play more than 5 seconds of a song on the soundtrack at a time, making me think it was the producers being cheap when it came to proper licensing.
Then there's the cheapened storytelling due to the bad editing. We get an interview about how R Kelly proposed to one young girl by having her name on a banner flown behind a plane, with a man then parachuting out and delivering her the ring upon hitting the ground... yet the marriage itself was done in secret and parents didn't know? Okay, so why draw attention to the proposal with literally one of the most spectacular methods of marriage proposal? These two parts of the story clash and NOTHING is done to explain the contradictory nature of Kelly's proposal and then marriage ceremony.
On the topic of music again: all the music composed for this is so overdone and overbearing, and when paired with the boring visuals and cheap editing tricks that aim to make things "more suspenseful", it occasionally has the effect of actually weakening the stories of the survivors, as well as the information conveyed by various doctors and other experts who also find themselves being interviewed.
Look, it's hard, because this is a well-deserved deep dive into many crimes committed by a terrible person who hasn't yet had his comeuppance, but the execution is so lacking. If this had been done to the same standard as the OJ Made in America documentary series from 2016, it could be a genuinely great documentary.
As it stands, much of the info and personal stories are compelling and revealing, but the way it's shoddily put together just doesn't do the content (or the survivors!) justice, which makes for a frustrating watch. Maybe seeing the Lifetime logo at the start should've been a better received warning on my part.
I could see others giving it a higher rating just for the message and what it represents, while I could also see others giving it a lower rating because of just how badly it butchers the content with its editing, music, low budget, and lack of structure. For me, I'll take into account a bit of both, and give it a 5/10; right in the middle.
Whoever researched and/or conducted the interviews did a real good job, and I hope they can work with some editors or directors in the future that could do their work justice.
Turning a blind eye
d_welland20 February 2019
It's amazing to watch and try to understand the network that must have been created around this man to allow him to continue in what he has been doing and still does. The denials of the American public and manipulation. Absolutely shocking documentary
WAKE up call!!
nrishiraj14 January 2019
Just watched the entire 6 parts, an eye opener!
I've listened to R.Kelly's music since the 90s and have to say he's an incredible talent, but there's this other dark side that is very disturbing. I was aware of the allegations ever since that Sex tape got leaked. Yes, I do wear spectacles and I made sure that my eyes were tested, YES, it's him in that video or he has a identical twin!
This documentary series not only interviews the survivors / victims, but also R. Kelly's brothers, producers, childhood friends, teachers, psychiatrists, family friends, and personal assistant, who are all saying the same thing, claiming he's a control freak and a monster.
Interestingly, when you connect the dots i.e. read his lyrics, the sex performances on stage, the fact he was molested as a child, the whole thing with Aaliyah etc...you start to get a picture of what is going on here. Yet, he's still not been arrested? Why?
Of course, I'm keeping an open mind. There's always two sides to every story, from what I can see over the years, it doesn't look good for him!.
People like R. Kelly have deep psychological scars from being abused as a child. They want to be in control as adults and one of the reasons he has all those women in that house is partly due to having power and being control. He's afraid of becoming powerless. This is deep, the fact he had no father to guide him as a child and living in the projects certainly caused some level of inner trauma.
R Kelly says in his song called "I like the crotch on you"
"C'mon baby, let me see you swing it, swing it I like the way you come up, baby, when you wiggle it Jiggle it, mmmm tasty And once you see the D's, oh, you're gonna want to freak me, freak me Only if you're old enough, BABY 18 AND OVER OR 16 AND UNDER, Oh, but how I wonder, I wonder."
"BABY 18 AND OVER OR 16 AND UNDER " <--- That's blatant!!
Either all the victims are professional lairs and R. Kelly is telling the truth or R. Kelly is a professional liar and the victims are telling the truth, nevertheless, there needs to be an investigation into this.
I've listened to R.Kelly's music since the 90s and have to say he's an incredible talent, but there's this other dark side that is very disturbing. I was aware of the allegations ever since that Sex tape got leaked. Yes, I do wear spectacles and I made sure that my eyes were tested, YES, it's him in that video or he has a identical twin!
This documentary series not only interviews the survivors / victims, but also R. Kelly's brothers, producers, childhood friends, teachers, psychiatrists, family friends, and personal assistant, who are all saying the same thing, claiming he's a control freak and a monster.
Interestingly, when you connect the dots i.e. read his lyrics, the sex performances on stage, the fact he was molested as a child, the whole thing with Aaliyah etc...you start to get a picture of what is going on here. Yet, he's still not been arrested? Why?
Of course, I'm keeping an open mind. There's always two sides to every story, from what I can see over the years, it doesn't look good for him!.
People like R. Kelly have deep psychological scars from being abused as a child. They want to be in control as adults and one of the reasons he has all those women in that house is partly due to having power and being control. He's afraid of becoming powerless. This is deep, the fact he had no father to guide him as a child and living in the projects certainly caused some level of inner trauma.
R Kelly says in his song called "I like the crotch on you"
"C'mon baby, let me see you swing it, swing it I like the way you come up, baby, when you wiggle it Jiggle it, mmmm tasty And once you see the D's, oh, you're gonna want to freak me, freak me Only if you're old enough, BABY 18 AND OVER OR 16 AND UNDER, Oh, but how I wonder, I wonder."
"BABY 18 AND OVER OR 16 AND UNDER " <--- That's blatant!!
Either all the victims are professional lairs and R. Kelly is telling the truth or R. Kelly is a professional liar and the victims are telling the truth, nevertheless, there needs to be an investigation into this.
He can't fly but maybe he can walk
Mango-3079318 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Mixed feelings on this one. He definitely messed with girls and he definitely did wrong but it doesn't mean some ( not all) of the women in this aren't telling some embellished versions of certain parts. Like the girl telling the part about taking the tape but not blackmakling him. Hmmm. Or the girl called Sparkle who had hung out with him as his backing singer for years, knew him well, and his reputation...and still managed to hand her 12 yr old niece to him on a platter. Some of this just doesn't add up.
Moving, disturbing, important, THE TRUTH
marywoods822 January 2019
1 out of 10 people are survivors of sexual trauma; the survivors of r kelly are the definition of SURVIVORS. Every woman that spoke on that documentary are heros, it was by far one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. In the era of #metoo and #blacklivesmatter this documentary came out at a perfect time. It was so good, I watched it because I'm a true crime buff, but it was more than just a thrilling true crime story. It was so moving and showed how impressionable young teenage girls are. These girls all wanted to be famous and that is what he promised. Fortune and fame, and instead they got assaulted and mentally broken. This is by far a must watch by EVERYONE. Every color, every country, every class, every gender, and every religion needs to watch this.
#muterkelly #metoo #ALLlivesmatter
Season 2, what's up with the 'background' music???
biermani9 January 2020
Season 1 was an excellent documentary about this horrible man and the story of his victims. Season 2 is almost unwatchable due to the continuous overwhelming 'background' music that accompanies the interviews with the people involved........a shame.
The monsters we create
amgcmg329 September 2019
Wow! If this is true, I'm appalled at how disgusting this man is. I like R.Kelly's music but this was jaw dropping. The truth is in the eye of the beholder but it's hard to ignore the volume of accusations. The show may exaggerate the claims but the volume of claims is hard to ignore.
Charlamagne Tha God stated he believes the public refuses to acknowledge these crimes because the victims are young black women. I think R.Kelly's situation is very close in comparison to the (alleged) sex crimes against young white males committed by Michael Jackson.
Not to say racism didn't play a part but the real problem is the status we hold celebrities up to instead of judging them by their character. The worst thing you can do to our community is enable those with drug and/ mental problems. But to give them social power? We are the ones creating these monsters.
Charlamagne Tha God stated he believes the public refuses to acknowledge these crimes because the victims are young black women. I think R.Kelly's situation is very close in comparison to the (alleged) sex crimes against young white males committed by Michael Jackson.
Not to say racism didn't play a part but the real problem is the status we hold celebrities up to instead of judging them by their character. The worst thing you can do to our community is enable those with drug and/ mental problems. But to give them social power? We are the ones creating these monsters.
and this monster still believes he can fly...
mapika8 September 2020
Just because he got away with abusing children and women several times for decades, despite the heavy proves and countless victims!
I hope we can see him, his allies and supporters fall as deep as it gets!
The topic of this miniseries clearly is a ten. Just because of the exaggerated dramatic music and repeated statements for effects I only gave it 8 stars. Like some reviewers already mentioned, the story itself would have been dramatic enough and even better without this worn out effects.
attachment:
I have to admit after more than 40 years on this planet I would be totally fine with death penalty for narcissistic, pedophile sadists like him, not only for murderers!
I am European. In my country we don't have death penalty at all. And I grew up thinking there's always a reason for something and there only needs to be more help and support for both, victims and perpetrators to avoid this kind of things going on and on.
BUT I'm done with this. I have experienced, seen and heard enough myself to know: abusive and sadistic people will always have the urge to hurt others, no matter if the victims are animals, children, women or men. They can't be really treated, there is no cure against this kind of evil.
Our laws need to be rewritten to provide with appropriate court hearings and sentences in these cases.
I hope we can see him, his allies and supporters fall as deep as it gets!
The topic of this miniseries clearly is a ten. Just because of the exaggerated dramatic music and repeated statements for effects I only gave it 8 stars. Like some reviewers already mentioned, the story itself would have been dramatic enough and even better without this worn out effects.
attachment:
I have to admit after more than 40 years on this planet I would be totally fine with death penalty for narcissistic, pedophile sadists like him, not only for murderers!
I am European. In my country we don't have death penalty at all. And I grew up thinking there's always a reason for something and there only needs to be more help and support for both, victims and perpetrators to avoid this kind of things going on and on.
BUT I'm done with this. I have experienced, seen and heard enough myself to know: abusive and sadistic people will always have the urge to hurt others, no matter if the victims are animals, children, women or men. They can't be really treated, there is no cure against this kind of evil.
Our laws need to be rewritten to provide with appropriate court hearings and sentences in these cases.
Sofrimento
souquasengenheiro31 March 2019
Compelling stories & important subject, but poorly executed
safcine13 January 2019
Look at Leah Remini's Scientology and the Aftermath for how to tell stories of abuse and survivors. In this they muddled the stories between episodes, and they were told incomplete and disjointed, with nothing linking them, which is a shame, because they deserved better. An episode on R. Kelly's predatory behavior in schools, another on the music industries lack of response, another on the sex tape, another on his childhood, others focusing on each survivor would have been more compelling.
A life changing documentary but brutal on the soul
shannonmariekennett20 February 2020
I hope that everyone who was part of this documentary, through either direct abuse or indirect as a parent, friend, or employee, etc manages to find some healing in life after all of this. It was significantly hard to watch, regardless of If you've endured anything like it personally or watched it happen to someone, it will hit you. It's brutal. Horrifying in fact. What everyone has and is saying about how painful to watch this is, they aren't lying at all so please don't take it lightly. I couldn't get through it all as sadly it hit me in ways that left me feeling almost depressed for an entire day but it was probably supposed to impact people like this, to show us everything those humans have endured and tell their stories to maybe even release some pain and feel even the tiniest of fraction of justice that so awfully they've never gotten and maybe never will. Approach this documentary with caution if you are sensitive to this kind of thing.
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