The project will look into how the billionaire financier, who was arrested earlier this month, used his money and connections to wealthy and powerful people to allegedly shield predatory behavior with girls.
- Jul 24, 2019
AceShowbiz - Lifetime has set a follow-up to its Emmy-winning docu-series "Surviving R. Kelly". The network reportedly is developing similar show, though it will focus on convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The new project will be titled "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein".
The project will look into how Epstein, a billionaire financier, used his money and connections to wealthy and powerful people to allegedly shield predatory behavior with girls. A+E Networks president of programming Rob Sharenow revealed on Tuesday, July 23 at the Television Critics Association press tour that "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein" would bring to light predatory behavior that had been "hiding in plain sight."
It hails from Robert Friedman's Bungalow Media + Entertainment with directors Anne Sundberg and Ricki Stern ("The Preppy Murder", "Reversing Roe"). Also joining them in the project is New York magazine and New York Times journalist Christopher Mason.
After being long-rumored to be a serial creep, Epstein was arrested on July 6 with charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex. He is currently being held without bail at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center, facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted. According to prosecutors, he brought as many as 40 underage girls to his home for sex. He pleaded not guilty.
Back in 2008, Epstein was convicted of soliciting a 17-year-old girl for prostitution. He managed to dodge jail time after striking a plea deal overseen by former U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta. Acosta, who went on to become Donald Trump’s secretary of labor, resigned from his White House position after Epstein's arrest earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Lifetime is planning "Surviving R. Kelly: The Aftermath" with the team of "Surviving R. Kelly" developing it. It will feature interviews with new survivors, psychologists and experts on the case and analyze the developments in Kelly's case following the show.
