Executive Producer dream hampton of the docuseries Surviving R. Kelly says she reached out to many celebrities for her documentary, Surviving R. Kelly, including Jay-Z, Questlove, Dave Chapelle, Erykah Badu, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, and Lil’ Kim. Questlove has responded that his refusal to participate had nothing to do with support for Kelly.
In a recent interview with Shadow and Act, hampton talked about the celebrities who didn’t want to get involved with the Lifetime docuseries, which begin on January 3:
“John Legend was the only one,” hampton said. “I asked Jay-Z, I asked Mary J. Blige, I asked Lil Kim, Erykah Badu, Dave Chappelle…I mean, most people just don’t want to touch it. I remember Ahmir [”Questlove” Thompson] was like, ‘I would do anything for you but I can’t do this.’ It’s not because they support him, it’s because it’s so messy and muddy. It’s that turning away that has allowed this to go on.”
“I always thought Kels was trash. My reason for declining the RKelly docu that I support 10000000 percent is I didn’t wanna be in the ‘good times’ portion of the doc, like stanning for his ‘genius,’” Questlove wrote on Twitter. “I was asked to talk about his genius. I do not nor have I EVER stanned for him.”
hampton replied that she asked Questlove “to come on camera and say the same thing you said on Twitter. I told you I need black male allies.”
Here is what John Legend had to say.
To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn't feel risky at all. I believe these women and don't give a fuck about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 4, 2019
