Erykah Badu had some explaining to do after seemingly defending R. Kelly during one of her concerts.
Badu experienced swift backlash when concertgoers complained about her voicing her support for Kelly during a Saturday concert in Chicago.
"I don't know how everybody else feels about it, but I'm putting up a prayer right now for R.," Badu said in a video obtained by TMZ. "I hope he sees the light of day if he's done all those things that we've seen on TV that those ladies talk about."
Her opinion drew boos from the crowd. Instead of pivoting to another subject, the “Bag Lady” songstress stuck her foot further in her mouth.
"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,” she continued. "Everybody involved has been hurt."
Her fans expressed their disappointment on Twitter.
I really want to say how much i loved Erykah Badu’s concert tonight.
But i can’t get over how she tried to justify and defend R. Kelly’s actions and reputation during her set… I’m so disappointed…
— jacque (@jacquemarquez_) January 20, 2019
Let’s not forget Erykah Badu was all for victim blaming young girls for grown men not being able to control their fucking eyes. I see exactly why she sides with R Kelly. She been let us knew her thoughts ???? pic.twitter.com/UjLGhJDj7A
— 30s L A M E ???????? (@majistiii) January 20, 2019
Erykah Badu came to Chicago and told us all she finna love R Kelly anyway & we can keep our opinion to ourselves. Mad disrespectful to our city and a shitty use of her platform. Crusty ass bitch.
— hot headed yam (@tomapapito) January 20, 2019
Erykah Badu saying she still loves R Kelly doesn’t shock me. This is the same woman who saw “something good in Hitler”…. ☠️
— ????????Seeester-In-Chief ???????? (@TheJessieWoo) January 20, 2019
I really don't understand why Erykah Badu even brought up R Kelly name at the show like that….she low-key fucked the vibe up.
— J Bambii (@Oprah_Gucci) January 20, 2019
Erykah Badu: what if one of the people who was assaulted by R Kelly becomes an offender? we gonna crucify them too?
Everybody: Yes, b!tch. When u cross from being a victim to an abuser, u hv to deal w/the consequences of your actions. You can't be allowed to create more victims pic.twitter.com/1l7EHmpvAo
— whisperwatch (@whisperwatch) January 20, 2019
She clarified her comments on her Twitter account on Sunday.
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
“I love you. Unconditionally. That doesn’t mean I support your poor choices,” she wrote. “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.”
Badu isn’t the only celeb to openly support R. Kelly and paint him as a sympathetic character.
Rapper Da Brat expressed concern for the “Ignition” crooner and scolded his accusers’ parents.
"I think he needs help, for sure," she told TMZ. "I love him. I hope he don't get mad at me. And I think the parents need to take responsibility. Where is your 14-year-old child?"
She also admitted she would not stop listening to his music.
"I might not buy it no more, but it’s already in my playlist!” she added.
Unlike Badu, Brat didn’t offer any additional commentary.
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