Erykah Badu Faces Backlash Over ‘Defending’ R. Kelly
Musician Erykah Badu is drawing huge criticism after seemingly defending R. Kelly during a recent concert.
Kelly is currently facing allegations of sexual abuse, which were highlighted by his alleged victims in a recent docu-series, “Surviving R. Kelly.” He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Badu was performing on Saturday, 19 January, at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, when she made comments about Kelly that drew heavy jeers from the audience.
In a fan-made video, Badu is heard saying to the crowd: “I’m putting up a prayer right now for R. [Kelly]. I hope he sees the light of day if he done all those things that we’ve seen on TV and heard those ladies talk about [sic].”
She added: “What if one of the people who was assaulted by R. Kelly becomes an offender? We gonna crucify them, too?”
Badu’s comments drew widespread ire from fans, prompting her to tweet out to Kelly himself in clarification: “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.”
Image: Erykah Badu. [online image] (2019) sourced on 22 January 2019 from: https://ewedit.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/erykah-badu.jpg?w=2000
