BuzzFeed developing documentary on R Kelly sexual misconduct allegations

A feature-length documentary on the long-term allegations of abuse against young women by the R&B singer R Kelly is in production. BuzzFeed News is co-developing the film for Hulu based on its original reporting by reporter Jim DeRogatis and editor Marisa Carroll into Kelly’s alleged misconduct, Variety reports.

The documentary will feature interviews with key figures from Kelly’s past, including associates and several women who allege mistreatment. Lyric R Cabral, director of the Emmy-winning documentary Terror, will direct. Laura Poitras (Citizenfour, Risk) and Charlotte Cook, co-founders of the documentary production company Field of Vision, will produce.

R Kelly has consistently denied the allegations against him..

DeRogatis is credited with bringing the allegations against Kelly to light. In 2001 he reported for the Chicago Sun-Times on Kelly’s alleged “pattern of sexual predation on young women” based on public record accounts of suits settled out of court and later sealed. In February 2002 he received an anonymous tape of Kelly appearing to have sex with an underage girl, which became the subject of a Sun-Times story and a police investigation.

Kelly was cleared of 14 charges of child pornography in June 2008.

(August 31, 1994) Marries underage singer Aaliyah

Then 27, Kelly married protegée Aaliyah, then 15, in an illegal ceremony in Cook County, Chicago.

(February 3, 2002) Video emerges appearing to show Kelly urinating on minor

A sex tape passed to Chicago Sun Times journalist Jim DeRogatis appears to show Kelly urinating on and having sex with an underage girl, which Kelly denies.

(June 5, 2002) Indicted on 21 counts of child pornography

Officers recovered 12 images that allegedly depicted Kelly having sex with an underage girl. The charges are dropped in March 2004.

(June 13, 2007) Kelly cleared of 14 counts of child pornography

A Chicago jury found that the identity of the girl depicted in the urination video was not conclusive, acquitting Kelly of the charges.

(July 17, 2017) BuzzFeed reports that Kelly is holding women in a sex 'cult'

Three former members of Kelly's circle claimed Kelly was holding six women in properties in Chicago and Atlanta, controlling every aspect of their lives. Kelly denied the claims.

(August 22, 2017) Woman accuses Kelly of underage sex and physical abuse

Jerhonda Pace told Rolling Stone that she lost her virginity to Kelly age 16, and that she ended the relationship after he allegedly slapped, choked and spat on her.

(March 28, 2018) Accused of grooming 14-year-old as 'sex pet'

In a BBC3 documentary, former girlfriend Kitti Jones alleged that Kelly groomed an underage girl as well as her and other young women. Kelly refused to comment.

(April 17, 2018) Accused of 'intentionally' infecting women with STD

An unnamed woman told Dallas police that Kelly had given her an STD and attempted to recruit her into his alleged sex "cult" after the pair initiated a sexual relationship when she was 19. Kelly "categorically" denied all allegations.

(April 20, 2018) Kelly's lawyer, assistant and publicist quit

Kelly's spokesperson Trevian Kutti, entertainment lawyer Linda Mensch and assistant Diana Copeland confirmed they were no longer working with the singer.

(April 30, 2018) Time's Up's Women of Color branch support #MuteRKelly movement

The group published an open letter in support of the campaign to suppress Kelly's work. Kelly described the campaign as the "attempted lynching of a black man".

(May 4, 2018) Four more women accuse Kelly of abuse

The allegations included abusive relationships, brainwashing, forced sex, infection and pressure to have abortions.

(May 10, 2018) Spotify removes Kelly's music from editorial playlists

The streaming service announced that it would remove all of Kelly's music from its editorial playlists. Apple Music and Pandora followed suit. Kelly's music is still on the platforms.

(May 23, 2018) Kelly responds to #MuteRKelly: 'It's too late'

Video from a private event depicts Kelly apparently describing attempts to suppress his music as "too late".

In July 2017, DeRogatis reported for BuzzFeed that three sets of parents were accusing Kelly of holding their daughters in an “abusive cult” in which he allegedly imprisoned women in his Chicago and Atlanta residences and subjected them to physical, verbal and sexual abuse. Kelly denied the charges. In an interview with the Village Voice about his decades-long pursuit of the story, DeRogatis said: “You have to make a choice, as a listener, if music matters to you as more than mere entertainment.”

Allegations against Kelly continue to surface, with new accusations made by at least five women this month, including by one woman who alleges nonconsensual sex and that he infected her with herpes. The #MuteRKelly campaign is putting pressure on Kelly’s record label, concert promoters and streaming services to withdraw their support of his music. The Women of Color branch of the Time’s Up movement has pledged its support to the campaign, which Kelly described as “the attempted lynching of a black man”.

Spotify has withdrawn Kelly’s music from its editorial playlists in accordance with a new “hateful conduct” policy. Kelly’s management issued a statement in response: “He is innocent of the false and hurtful accusations in the ongoing smear campaign against him, waged by enemies seeking a payoff.” Apple Music and Pandora have also withdrawn Kelly’s music from their editorial playlists. His music remains available on all these streaming platforms. This week, footage emerged of Kelly telling a roomful of supporters that attempts to suppress his career are “too late”.