Many Artists Declined To Be Interviewed For ‘Surviving R. Kelly’

The Lifetime docu-series Surviving R. Kelly premiered Thursday night and featured shocking accounts of the R&B crooner’s alleged illicit acts with underage women.

The breadth of the six-part expose is carried by interviews with Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, culture critic Toure, members of the singer’s inner circle and his alleged “sex cult” victims. The shortlist of potential interviewees, however, included the likes of Jay Z, Questlove, Lady Gaga and more, executive producer Dream Hampton revealed to The Detroit Free Press.

Damn! R. Kelly needed clarification on what a teen was.. pic.twitter.com/8PfKNdKF0c

— Korede and 92 others (@aoasuni) January 4, 2019

“We asked Lady Gaga. We asked Erykah Badu. We asked Celine Dion. We asked JAY-Z. We asked Dave Chappelle,” Hampton told the newspaper, adding Mary J. Blige and Lil Kim were also tapped for the project. All declined to participate.

It’s really not that hard to stop listening to R Kelly’s music. There is an infinite number of songs. There are SO many 90s and early 2000s RnB singers to listen to instead. You can never listen to R Kelly again and you will be absolutely fine

— Third Force (@NalediMashishi) January 4, 2019

“I remember [Questlove] was like, ‘I would do anything for you but I can’t do this,’” Hampton claimed. “It’s not because they support him, it’s because it’s so messy and muddy. It’s that turning away that has allowed this to go on.”

Two entertainers, however, did agree to be interviewed: R&B singer Sparkle, who testified against Kelly in 2008, and John Legend. “That makes John Legend even more of a hero for me,” Hampton said.

We should all thank my friend @dreamhampton for her very necessary work to create #SurvivingRKelly. These survivors deserved to be lifted up and heard. I hope it gets them closer to some kind of justice.

— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 4, 2019

To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn’t feel risky at all. I believe these women and don’t give a fuck about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision.

— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 4, 2019

As previously reported, Kelly has allegedly threatened to take legal action against Lifetime with a federal lawsuit if the program airs.

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