Pleas to #MuteRKelly are being heard. It looks like we’re about to hear much less of the singer’s music and much more about his decades of alleged abuse. Lifetime already announced that it’s working on a docuseries about the Grammy winner and a feature about the women who have come forward accusing him of sexual misconduct and coercion, and now comes word that Buzzfeed and Hulu are joining forces for a feature doc detailing the R&B star’s history of alleged abuse.
Set to be directed by Lyric Cabral (“(T)ERROR”), the film will explore Kelly’s “exploitation of young black women and will be streamed exclusively on Hulu,” Deadline reports.
Oscar-winning “Citizenfour” director Laura Poitras and Charlotte Cook (“Risk”) will produce.
“BuzzFeed News is producing based on its own reporting, led by music critic and radio host Jim DeRogatis and deputy national editor Marisa Carroll,” the source details. BuzzFeed News’ Linzee Troubh and Shani Hilton developed the project.
On May 1 #TimesUp released an open letter voicing support for the #MuteRKelly campaign. The move was spearheaded by the Women of Color of Time’s Up, a subgroup of the collective that includes Ava DuVernay and Shonda Rhimes. “As women of color within Time’s Up, we recognize that we have a responsibility to help right this wrong,” part of the letter read. “We intend to shine a bright light on our WOC sisters in need. It is our hope that we will never feel ignored or silenced ever again.” #MuteRKelly is demanding that companies cut ties with the singer.
You can read Kelly’s (truly vile) reaction to the letter over at Complex.
It’s only fairly recently that the mainstream media started covering the story, but Kelly has been linked with abuse allegations for many years. He married late singer Aaliyah illegally when she was 15 years old. Kelly was 27 at the time. The marriage was later annulled because Aaliyah lied about her age in their marriage license, where she claimed to be 18.
Kelly has been accused of holding women against their will in a sex cult. He allegedly dictates where the young women go, what they do, who they talk to, etc. The new docs are sure to uncover even more horrifying details.
