Cyrus Langhorne
Soul singer Erykah Badu isn’t biting her tongue for anyone. The veteran musician has stepped up to address the backlash she received for appearing to show sympathy for R. Kelly.
Badu hit up Twitter Tuesday (January 22) to deny getting asked to appear in Lifetime’s “Surviving R. Kelly” docuseries and shut down other rumors.
Over the weekend, footage surfaced of Badu telling a Chicago crowd she hoped Kells would see the light during a show.
“I’m putting up a prayer right now for [R. Kelly],” Badu told audience members at the Aragon Ballroom. “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.” Badu continued, “What if one of the people that was assaulted by R. Kelly grows up to be an offender? Are we gonna crucify them? I mean, how do we do this? It’s just something to think about.” (Huffington Post)
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https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs3RNwmlvI8/
Once the footage went viral, the Internet erupted with mixed reactions.
https://twitter.com/welljanelle_/status/1087003680430272514
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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
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https://twitter.com/jacquemarquez_/status/1086852779614846976
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https://twitter.com/hausmuva/status/1087028756731056128
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It’s real funny how so many people are at the same show but hear things differently. It’s blowing my mind how many posts I’m seeing about last night. @fatbellybella didn’t defend R. Kelly. Stop cancelling people because the angry mob on twitter says to do so.
— Decay, The Llama (@emceedecay) January 21, 2019
Erykah Badu has BEEN problematic.
— Grizzlies😁 (@Imma_GENE_Us) January 20, 2019
She did say ‘ if one of the people he assaulted, begins to attack others, will we crucify the as well’. What I believe she was saying was, since R.Kelly was also victim of sexual abuse and grew up to became a predator, he started a sick cycle and it’s still going on today
— PaigeThePlug (@PaigeThePlug) January 20, 2019
She wasn’t trying to justify or condone his actions but was saying the she hopes he gets some help! That’s what I took from it
— PaigeThePlug (@PaigeThePlug) January 20, 2019
Following the online outbursts, Badu went to social media with a direct message to her 2.59 million Twitter followers.
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
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