The Lifetime docu-series Surviving R. Kelly debuts tomorrow, and in the first episode, new details of the R&B crooner’s relationship with Aaliyah are revealed.
Upon the release of first episode’s trailer, however, the late singer’s mother, Diane Haughton, has issued a statement via Instagram in response to a testimonial from Kelly’s former backup singer, Jovante Cunningham, who claims she witnessed Aaliyah having a sexual tryst with Kelly while on tour.
“The woman and so-called back up singer in the forthcoming Surviving documentary that described seeing, meeting or ever breathing the same air as my daughter, Aaliyah, is lying and is a liar,” Haughton’s statement begins. “My husband and I were always on tour with her and at interviews and every place she went throughout her entire career. Whoever this woman is, I have never seen her before anywhere on planet Earth, until now.”
Haughton continues: “These lies and fabrications cannot be tolerated and allowed to be spewed from the forked tongue of saboteurs of Aaliyah’s legacy…. Shame on all those involved in this project who though it kosher to drag Aaliyah’s name into a situation that has nothing to do with her today.”
The upcoming Liftetime docu-series features an emotional testimony from Cunningham, who claims she witnessed Kelly engaging in a sexual act with the then-15-year-old Aaliyah on his tour bus. She described what she saw as “things that an adult should not be doing with a child.”
Surviving R. Kelly was aired on Jan. 3, on Lifetime at 9/8C.
Meanwhile, John Legend is doubling down on his support of R. Kelly‘s alleged abuse victims.
Following the airing of Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly documentary, in which Legend appears, the R&B crooner took to Twitter to expound on why he chose to participate in the series.
“To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn’t feel risky at all,” he wrote. “I believe these women and don’t give a f*** about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision.”
Legend continued by recognizing the shocking expose’s producer Dream Hampton for her work. “We should all thank my friend @dreamhampton for her very necessary work to create #SurvivingRKelly,” he added. “These survivors deserved to be lifted up and heard. I hope it gets them closer to some kind of justice.”
In the wake of the premiere, Twitter also became a firestorm of reactions. While some devoted fans simply refused to be swayed, others were appalled by the salacious details of Kelly’s alleged illicit acts with under-aged women.
The remaining episodes of Surviving R. Kelly are set to air tonight and Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
