Lawsuit claims defamation against Lifetime and Netflix over R. Kelly docuseries
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A former assistant to R. Kelly has sued Netflix and the Lifetime network for defamation over her portrayal in the "Surviving R. Kelly" "documentary series.
According to the lawsuit filed in Delaware on Tuesday, Diana Copeland claims the multi-part documentary series that aired its final season in January 2023 “depicts her in a sinister and defamatory light.”
Kelly is serving three decades in prison for racketeering and sex trafficking charges that include crimes against children. The documentary series used the stories of survivors to lay out long-running allegations of sex abuse by the R&B singer and how those allegations had been suppressed through the years. The popular series won a Peabody Award, was critically acclaimed and credited by advocates for empowering sex-abuse survivors to report abuse.
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The first portion aired on Lifetime network in 2019 and later, along with additional installments, on Netflix. Both Netflix and Lifetime’s parent company, which are both legally domiciled in Delaware, are named as defendants. Attorneys for the organizations were not yet listed in court documents at the time of publication.
The complaint describes Copeland as having worked as one of several personal assistants and house managers by Kelly from 2006 to 2008 and 2017 to 2018.
"She—like many others—were unaware that R. Kelly, her former employer, was a predator, trafficking in women and children," wrote Angela Buchanan, one of Copeland's attorneys in a written statement. "Copeland testified for the prosecution in Mr. Kelly’s criminal trial and was never implicated in any wrongdoing, nor does she have any criminal history."
The lawsuit claims Copeland declined several invites to participate in the documentary, which won a Peabody Award. It claims producers of the documentary became angry after she had spurned their invites and appeared on the "Good Morning America" show in 2021 to discuss her experience with Kelly.
The complaint centers on the third part of the series that first aired last year. Specifically, it claims the film inaccurately conveys that Copeland:
Was directly involved in helping underage women cross state lines
Was willing to do whatever it was that Kelly wanted because she was close to him and instrumental in his day-to-day life
Operated as a liaison between Kelly and all of his female relationships, including his underage female relationships
Made travel arrangements for Kelly’s underage victims
Knew about Kelly’s criminal conduct and turned a blind eye
Was part of Kelly’s criminal enterprise
The lawsuit claims that the portrayal has caused her reputational and economic harm. It makes legal claims including defamation, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress and seeks damages.
"The Surviving R. Kelly series, which has been seen by millions, and taken as gospel by most, wrongly connects Ms. Copeland’s to R. Kelly’s despicable actions," wrote Ron Poliquin, one of Copeland's attorneys in a statement. "Due to these media giants’ conduct, Ms. Copeland’s reputation has been forever tarnished."
Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Former R. Kelly assistant sues Netflix and Lifetime over documentary
