Erykah Badu has caught heat over the weekend after she appeared to defend R. Kelly during her concert.
The neo-soul icon was met with boos from her audience on Saturday night at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, where she appeared to challenge the backlash faced by R. Kelly following the recently aired showtime documentary about his alleged misdemeanors.
The showtime docuseries, Surviving R Kelly, detailed allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct made against the R&B artist throughout his career.
TMZ reported that Badu said she was “putting up a prayer” for Kelly, following the backlash he’d received from the recently aired programme.
A video filmed by one fan sees Badu address the crowd: “I hope he sees the light of day if he’s done all those things that we’ve seen on TV and heard those ladies talk about, I hope he sees the light of day and comes forward.”
Auntie @fatbellybella we understand your point of view and you’re not raising monsters. Your belief is simple love, unconditional love. It’s not meant to be perceived as you taking his side. I think that’s the misconception, you’re obviously not condoning his behavior. pic.twitter.com/6XWGIf4Ku4
— Graphics 20/20 (@G20Twenty) January 21, 2019
She went on: “But y’all say ‘fuck it!’ See, that’s not love. That’s not unconditional. But what if one of the people that was assaulted by R. Kelly grows up to be an offender, we gonna crucify them? I mean how do we do this? Just something to think about.”
However, on Sunday night Badu appeared to backtrack on her statement in a Twitter post: “I love you. Unconditionally. That doesn’t mean I support your poor choices.”
I love you. Unconditionally.
That doesn’t mean I support your poor choices.
I want healing for you and anyone you have hurt as a result of you being hurt. Is that strange to you ?
That’s all I’ve ever said. Anything else has been fabricated or taken out of context. – eb— ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) January 21, 2019
Badu’s comments come after Dream Hampton, the director of Surviving R. Kelly, alleged that the neo-soul artist had refused an offer to appear on the programme.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsuVsGQnVUb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In an Instagram post, Badu appeared to reiterate her love for the artist: “Having eyes that can see all points of view is a blessing… and a curse in the court of public opinion.”
Photo by Prince Williams/Wire Image
