Erykah Badu defends R Kelly in Chicago, then responds to backlash (pics, video)
Erykah Badu is in the midst of playing some shows, and we caught her at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on Saturday night (1/20). Pictures of that show are in the gallery above.
That was the same show where Erykah made controversial comments on stage about R. Kelly, which were captured in a video posted by TMZ. “I dunno how everybody else feel about it but I’m putting up a prayer right now for R. 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. I hope he sees the light of day and comes forward,” Erykah said. She was met by boos from the audience, and then replied: “What y’all say, fuck him? That’s not love. That’s not unconditional love. But what if one of the people that was assaulted by R Kelly grows up to be an offender, we gonna crucify them? They ’bout to R Kelly me to death on the internet, I’m like goddamn. I just want peace and light for everybody and healing for those who are hurt because everyone involved has been hurt, victimized in some kinda way. Love for everybody.”
Erykah since clarified her comments on Twitter, writing: “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.”
You can watch the TMZ video below.
https://youtu.be/ts_gY7EBccs
photos by James Richards IV
