Lifetime Sets January Premiere Date for 'Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter' Docu-Series

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Two-night documentary series to premiere January 2

Lifetime will conclude its Emmy-nominated documentary series Surviving R. Kelly with a two-night event debuting in January.

Surviving R: Kelly: The Final Chapter will air on consecutive nights beginning January 2,  and will focus on the fall out of the R&B singer’s crimes as he faces multiple federal and state trials, according to the network. The original 2019 documentary series Surviving R. Kelly series – and a second series, Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning which debuted in 2020 – chronicled sexual abuse allegations against singer.

Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter will feature over 60 voices and testimonials as it brings the saga to a conclusion, said network officials. The last episode features the survivors sharing their victim impact statements as they hear the final verdict against R. Kelly.

The Lifetime series is produced by Joel Karsberg, Tamra Simmons, Jesse Daniels, Maria Pepin and Brie Miranda Bryant.■ 

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.