R. Kelly’s manager has been charged after he called a theater and threatened the staff not to show the abuse documentary centered around Kelly’s alleged sex crimes.
Donnell Russell, 45, was charged Friday in two counts with threatening physical harm by interstate communication, and conspiracy to do the same, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New New York. The man was charged after he allegedly made calls to a Manhattan theater that screened the award-winning docuseries Surviving R. Kelly.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Russell allegedly made the call on Dec. 4, 2018, threatening to shoot up NeueHouse. As a result, The establishment postponed the screening. The audience was going to be filled with regular viewers and R. Kelly survivors who were featured in the film as well. The docuseries detailed the decades-long sexual assault and abuse claims made against Kelly. It also discussed Kelly’s illegal relationships with underage girls and featured survivors, witnesses, and family and friends of the musician.
The documentary series even helped lead to the arrest of the 53-year-old. He’s now been charged in multiple states for several sex crimes and is currently in jail awaiting trial. “Threats of gun violence aimed at intimidating and silencing victims of sexual abuse are unlawful as well as unacceptable. We are committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting such crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement.
His manager initially sent a cease and desist order to the theater prior to making the threatening call. However, an employee at the theater said Russell threatened that someone would shoot up the theater if the screening wasn’t stopped. THR reports that the charges against Russell could have him in federal prison for five years. Russell is set to appear in court Friday afternoon.
