After Surviving R. Kelly was nominated for the Outstanding Informational Series/Special Emmy award Rob Sharenow, President of Programming for A+E Networks, announced a follow-up series. Sharenow revealed at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Tuesday that the new series is in the works at Lifetime. The four part docuseries will be called Surviving R. Kelly: The Aftermath.
The original Surviving R. Kelly was a six-part docuseries that gave detailed accounts of sexual abuse perpetrated by the R&B singer R. Kelly. Surviving R. Kelly was seen by over 26 million people. Since the release of the docuseries, Kelly has been indicted on 18 accounts, in Illionis and New York, including child pornography and sexual exploitation of child. Artists – such as Lady Gaga – have distanced themselves from Kelly and Sony Music dropped Kelly from their label. Kelly has denied the allegations and threatened to take legal action against the series.
Surviving R. Kelly: The Aftermath will analyze the impact of the original series in addition to interviews with new survivors, psychologists, and experts on Kelly’s legal battles. Sudi Khosropur (Intervention) will be the showrunner and co-executive producer. Khosropur will produce with Joel Karsberg (Planet Primetime), Tamra Simmons (Growing Up Hip-Hop), Maria Pepin (Life of a Fitness Pop Star), Brie Miranda Bryant (Gretchen Carlson: Breaking the Silence), and Jessie Daniels of Kreativ Inc.
In addition to Surviving R. Kelly: The Aftermath, Sharenow announced that Lifetime is producing another docuseries, Surviving Jeffrey Epstein. The docuseries will tell the story of the multimillionaire who is accused of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls and collecting child pornography. In 2008 Epstein was convicted of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, but he received a plea deal and served about a year in custody. The show will also explore how Epistein used his connections to cover up his alleged illegal actions. Surviving Jeffrey Epstein is in development with Bungalow Media + Entertainment. Anne Sundberg (Reversing Roe) and Ricki Stern (The Fashion Fund) are attached to direct.