Lifetime’s new ‘Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning’ is just as powerful as the original docu-series

Surviving R. Kelly: The Reckoning is the aptly named title of a new docu-series from Lifetime producers who created the original Surviving R. Kelly doc last year. That series, which featured alleged victims of singer R. Kelly’s sexual abuse, was the first time that many people in the general public heard directly from the women offering their first-hand accounts at length.

The artist has allegations against him that date back to the 1990s, mostly involving sexual misconduct with teenage girls under the age of consent.

The impact of the series went beyond ratings and social media trending topics. While R. Kelly decided to party at a Chicago nightclub days after the docu-series debuted and brashly proclaimed his lack of worries, officials in Illinois were inspired by the documentary to ask for any potential victims to step forward. And they did just that.

R. Kelly is currently in jail in Chicago and he has multiple charges against him in both Illinois and New York, including 10 counts of sexual abuse with minors. In December 2019, he was charged by the federal government for bribing a government employee to obtain a fake identification for the late singer Aaliyah for the purposes of getting married. She was 15 years old at the time. That marriage was later annulled.

READ MORE: R. Kelly charged with bribing official for fake ID to marry Aaliyah when she was 15

The new R. Kelly docu-series details everything that has happened since the original doc aired in 2019 and not just about the singer. There has been long-lasting and on-going impacts for the alleged victims. One woman had a seizure after she said she was confronted by someone from R. Kelly’s camp. Another has a hard time enjoying sex with her husband due to how traumatized she says she is from her sexual interactions with R. Kelly as a teen. Many of the women have experienced blowback from R. Kelly supporters.

The first installment of the new docu-series aired on January 2nd and it is a heavy watch. It combines footage from the past year (including the threat that caused last year’s screening event to evacuate), R. Kelly’s brothers detailing the sexual abuse they endured at the hands of a neighbor when they were children, Dame Dash sharing his thoughts about his late girlfriend Aaliyah’s relationship with R. Kelly, a heart-wrenching account from the singer’s former hair-braider, mental health experts, and a couple of  R. Kelly’s female employees who 100% vouch for his innocence.

There is no shying away from the brutality, brokenness, anger, and sadness that permeate through much of the first installment. No soundbites or click-bait headlines will do it justice. It is something to watch for yourself and consider. 

Surviving R. Kelly: The Reckoning comes on Lifetime in three parts: January 2 at 9 pm, January 3 at 9 pm, and January 4 at 8 pm.

Watch the trailer below:

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Cannabis sales in Illinois hit nearly $3.2 million on first day of legalization

The state of Illinois is starting off the new decade with a bang after reportedly making nearly $3.2 million in sales of recreational marijuana on its first day

According to CNN, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is reporting that when they calculated the earnings of the 77,128 transactions made at the state’s 37 dispensaries, the sum came out to be over $3.17 million.

READ MORE: Illinois city plans reparations fund for Black residents using cannabis revenue

After Governor JB Pritzker signed the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act into law back in June, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize weed. The bill allows residents who are age 21 and older to possess 30 grams of cannabis “flower” and for non-residents to have up to 15 grams.

The Chicago Tribune reports that these massive first-day sales are amongst the highest showings for any state that has legalized marijuana in the country.

“The amazing thing about that is that there’s a significant portion of these dollars that go directly into this community reinvestment fund, so we can continue to rebuild communities that have been hardest hit by the war on drugs,” Toi Hutchinson, Governor Prtizker’s senior adviser for cannabis control, said. “So sales are great but let’s never lose sight on the impact that we’re having on families around this state.”

READ MORE: Mike Tyson’s weed farm to boost economy on Caribbean islands

To Hutchinson’s point, under the new law, any taxes obtained from these sales would first be used to expunge approximately 770,000 minor cannabis-related cases. Then, any remaining money will be put towards supporting drug treatment and enforcement programs, among other statewide initiatives.

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Check Out Octavia Spencer as Madam C.J. Walker, America's First Black Female Self-Made Millionaire

Do you smell the scent of hot combs in the air? Well, that’s because Madam C.J. Walker’s televised biopic is coming this year!

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Marriott Being Sued for $300G by Black Woman Over Discriminatory ‘No Party’ Policy

Marriott Hotels is being sued for discrimination by a black woman who was told there was a ‘no party’ policy at the hotel.

According to Fox News, Felicia Gonzales, 51, says the front desk clerk at the Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Downtown/Convention Center informed her that all incoming guests had to sign the policy. But Gonzales soon found out that wasn’t the case as she watched white guests who checked in after her and they weren’t required to sign the policy she was told about, according to the lawsuit.

The policy, which was written out on two pages, states that it was established to inform all guests of noise limits and “not to insinuate any distrust in the ‘average’ guest,” according to a copy obtained from Gonzales’ attorneys. “No hotels want to have parties in them and we don’t want that type of business,” the policy read. The policy also said guests are responsible for any missing items from their suites and any damage caused to the outside hotel property by “invited or uninvited person(s).”

The filed lawsuit states that Gonzalez, who is a Marriott rewards member, “had never had a problem or noise complaint at any other Marriott hotel she had ever stayed at.” When Gonzalez arrived to check-in for her five-day stay, hotel employees refused to give her a key until they received a signature on the “no party policy” agreement they presented her.

“Having to sign a “NO PARTY” policy form felt uncomfortable to Gonzales and she went back to the front desk,” the suit says. This is where she observed multiple Caucasian guests check-in without having to sign the policy.

The suit, which was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, seeks $300,000 for embarrassment, frustration, humiliation and “feelings of racial stigmatization.” The suit also says it could later be amended to add $1 million in punitive damages.

“As a result of the above-described discrimination, Ms. Gonzales suffered, continues to suffer, and will in the future suffer from embarrassment, frustration, anger, humiliation, a sense of increased vulnerability, and feelings of racial stigmatization,” the lawsuit says.

Jeff Flaherty, a Marriott spokesperson, said the company doesn’t comment on pending lawsuits.

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