Update: The "friend" who paid $100,000 to secure R. Kelly's release from jail has been identified as Valencia Love.
The Daily Mail reports 47-year-old Love lives in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville. Love is an entrepreneur who owns several restaurants and operates a child care business called the Lord and Child Christian Daycare.
The Herald-News spoke with Love; she told the paper Kelly is a childhood friend.
"If your friend was in trouble, wouldn't you bail them out?" she said.
Love also said she believes R. Kelly deserves a chance to defend himself.
"We've heard their side," she said. "We'll wait for his side to come out."
The paper tried to get the entrepreneur to confirm the bail money was hers and was not raised by other Kelly allies. Love refused to comment on the issue.
"He's out," the businesswoman said. "It doesn't matter who [posted the bail]."
Original: R. Kelly has been released from police custody after a friend posted his bond.
Kelly spent three nights in Cook County Jail because he could not afford to pay 10 percent of his $1 million bond. It was finally paid using checks from a woman identified as a “friend” of his, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
Kelly’s first stop after his Monday release was the McDonald's he allegedly frequented to pick up girls. He also visited a cigar bar.
Don Russell, Kelly’s friend and advisor, had an explanation for his post-jail trips.
“Rob is a connoisseur of the great cigar — that’s what distinguished gentlemen do,” Russell said. “[And] McDonald’s is where he spent time with his mother … Going to McDonald’s was taking him back to home; that’s where it started for him. He ate a lot of food. He had Big Macs and all that stuff.”
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He also professed the “Happy People” artist’s innocence.
“He spent some time with close friends who know him and know he’s not capable of that,” Russell added.
Russell isn’t alone in his support. Throngs of fans greeted Kelly as he walked out of jail, reports The Chicago Tribune. A car stereo blasted “I Believe I Can Fly” as a fan sang along. Others shouted “Free Kels.” Children were present.
Steven Greenberg, Kelly’s attorney, pleaded not guilty on his behalf. Kelly was charged with 10 counts related to four separate cases of alleged sexual abuse. He faces up to 70 years in prison. Kelly is not allowed contact with any of the victims or people under the age of 18.
Attorney Michael Avenatti says he has another tape to give to prosecutors, but Greenberg isn’t worried.
“We’re going to try the case in the courtroom,” Greenberg said. “We’re going to see what the evidence is, and we’re not going to worry about some grandstanding.”
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