Even though R. Kelly is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, that isn’t going to stop Lifetime from creating new installments of their docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter.
As seen in the trailer above, airing January 2nd and January 3rd, the two-part special will examine the aftermath of the disgraced R&B singer’s crimes as he faces multiple federal and state trials. “While millions have read the headlines, the final chapter connects the shocking fine print with unspeakable details never shared with the public, culminating in the verdict heard around the world.”
The first night of the special will follow Azriel Clary‘s court testimonial, where she reveals how she was instructed to lie for R. Kelly’s interview with Gayle King and shares details of her abuse on the witness stand. Clary was just 17 years old when she became Kelly’s live-in girlfriend. She and Kelly’s other girlfriend, Joycelyn Savage, often spoke publicly in the singer’s defense, even as accusations of sexual abuse against him multiplied in the wake of the first Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly in 2019. The Clary family will also detail the intimidation tactics used to corner them by R. Kelly supporters while legal experts and journalists provide insight into the racketeering charges against Kelly.
The first night of The Final Chapter will touch on the aftermath of the gun threat at the 2018 premiere screening of the documentary, for which Kelly’s former manager was convicted. Night two will focus on Jane Doe #1 and, for the first time, a group of John Does who take the stand as new survivors emerge. The series concludes with survivors sharing their victim impact statements as they hear the final verdict against Kelly.
R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison in June after a jury found him guilty of racketeering related to the sexual exploitation of children, kidnapping and forced labor. Three months ago, a Chicago federal jury found Kelly guilty of six counts of sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor, and he will face sentencing in February. Kellycurrently being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.
