Despite a gun threat and a swath of celebs who declined to be interviewed, Lifetime's Surviving R. Kelly, the docuseries has made a major impact since it aired earlier this month. In fact, Atlanta investigators have reportedly launched a criminal investigation into R. Kelly as a direct result of the show.
According to TMZ, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Georgia is investigating numerous allegations lodged against the R&B star.
Though the D.A. will not comment on the story, sources told TMZ that investigators have reached out to several survivors who tell their stories in the docuseries. These include Asante McGee — a woman who escaped Kelly's home after alleging she was held there against her will — and the lawyers of Joycelyn Savage's family.
Investigators have reportedly been asking for contact information from others who lived in Kelly's former Atlanta home or those who might have direct knowledge of what happened. The D.A.'s office has been flooded with calls ever since the documentary first started airing.
In the doc, Chance the Rapper apologized for working with R. Kelly. John Legend, meanwhile, said, "I don't give a fuck about protecting a serial child rapist."
Surviving R. Kelly aired all six of its episodes between January 3 and 5.
UPDATE (1/8, 6:15 p.m. EST): Following news of the criminal investigation into the alleged actions of R. Kelly, the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx held a press conference tonight regarding the R&B star in Chicago. Foxx urged any survivors and witnesses to speak to authorities, saying, "Please come forward."
She also said her office had been approached by two different families in the search of two missing women they believe had been in Kelly's home in the Chicago area.
Speaking specifically about the Lifetime series, Foxx said, "I was sickened by the allegations, I was sickened as a survivor, I was sickened as a mother, I'm sickened as a prosecutor. I've worked in this office for a number of years including in 2008, and so the allegations were not new to me, but I think listening to survivors and giving the platform for survivors to tell their stories was heartbreaking."
You can watch Foxx's press conference below.
According to TMZ, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Georgia is investigating numerous allegations lodged against the R&B star.
Though the D.A. will not comment on the story, sources told TMZ that investigators have reached out to several survivors who tell their stories in the docuseries. These include Asante McGee — a woman who escaped Kelly's home after alleging she was held there against her will — and the lawyers of Joycelyn Savage's family.
Investigators have reportedly been asking for contact information from others who lived in Kelly's former Atlanta home or those who might have direct knowledge of what happened. The D.A.'s office has been flooded with calls ever since the documentary first started airing.
In the doc, Chance the Rapper apologized for working with R. Kelly. John Legend, meanwhile, said, "I don't give a fuck about protecting a serial child rapist."
Surviving R. Kelly aired all six of its episodes between January 3 and 5.
UPDATE (1/8, 6:15 p.m. EST): Following news of the criminal investigation into the alleged actions of R. Kelly, the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx held a press conference tonight regarding the R&B star in Chicago. Foxx urged any survivors and witnesses to speak to authorities, saying, "Please come forward."
She also said her office had been approached by two different families in the search of two missing women they believe had been in Kelly's home in the Chicago area.
Speaking specifically about the Lifetime series, Foxx said, "I was sickened by the allegations, I was sickened as a survivor, I was sickened as a mother, I'm sickened as a prosecutor. I've worked in this office for a number of years including in 2008, and so the allegations were not new to me, but I think listening to survivors and giving the platform for survivors to tell their stories was heartbreaking."
You can watch Foxx's press conference below.