[2] Filmmaker and music critic Dream Hampton served as executive producer[3] together with Joel Karsberg, Jesse Daniels and Tamra Simmons.

[21] "We've been working for over a year to bring forth the stories of these women," executive producer Joel Karsberg told The Hollywood Reporter.

[22] "[...] That executive, Jesse Daniels, and Tamra Simmons, another co-EP on this project, have been holding these relationships with some of his survivors for months before I came on board," Hampton said in an interview with NPR.

The website's critical consensus reads, "By unearthing previously suppressed histories, Surviving R. Kelly exposes the dangers of enabling predatory behavior and gives necessary voice to its survivors.

[31] Following the documentary, the office of Cook County, Illinois, State's Attorney Kim Foxx said on January 10, 2019, that it had received numerous new calls alleging sexual abuse by R. Kelly and that it was investigating the claims.

"[33] Other artists that have previously worked and collaborated with Kelly as well, such as Chance the Rapper, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, and Ciara, also took down their respective songs with him from music streaming services and retailers.

[34] Nielsen SoundScan has reported that after the initial airing of the series, Kelly's music saw a two-fold increase in streaming popularity.

[35] But, in contrast, after the series aired, many urban contemporary radio stations – where R. Kelly was a mainstay – in various markets have decided they would no longer play his music.

Stations like KKDA-FM and KRNB in Dallas,[36] KJLH in Los Angeles,[37] WBLS in New York City, and WAMJ in Atlanta have made the announcement they will not play R. Kelly's music anymore, while other radio stations that quietly banned his music did not make a public announcement on their decision.

[39] On February 22, 2019, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Illinois charged Kelly with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.