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Is this camera on me?
Are you still loyal?
Am I still the center of your attention?
Through accusations of sexual assault, physical abuse, and kidnapping, R. Kellys narrative has remained obdurate.
These narratives endured (and still endure).
Unfortunately for R. Kelly and Jackson, they no longer command the attention of societys gaze.
As viewers, we hang on every word, analyze every gesture.
Watching these documentaries and observing the aftermath, its easy to see that R. Kellys paranoia is justified.
The camerahasshifted from him, and from Jackson, whose postmortem estate is valued at billions.
In many ways, they actually serve as extensions of our victim-blaming society.
A core component of victim-blaming attitudes is the insatiable need for details.What were they wearing?
How many men has she slept with?In this respect, Leaving NeverlandandSurviving R. Kellyreinforce those urges.
They anticipate and answer all our invasive questions, disregarding the pain that it clearly causes the survivors.
In both, they must emotionally impact us so that be believed.
Tight camera shots show Robson and Safechuck wince when they recount the abuse they faced at Jacksons hands.
We knew that Jacksoninvited little boys he wasnt related to into his bedwith startling frequency.
We knew his relationships with children were inappropriate, and thatsome of those children claimed they were sexually abused.
We knew that R. Kelly hadmarried singer Aaliyahwhen she was 15, and he was 28.
We had a video clearly showing himurinating on a 14-year-old.
We knew more than enough.
Why are these graphic details, voice recordings, pictures, tapes, and engaging narrative precursors to belief?
The documentary knows this, and it doesnt challenge it.
They were genius-level entertainers, who captivated the world through the art they produced.
Both have been enormous cultural events.
As its third most-watched documentary in a decade,Leaving Neverlandwas a boon for HBO.
The sexual assault documentary is a powerful genre.
Will survivors be expected to expose every graphic detail of their violation to be believed?
