Erykah Badu has remained silent after Lifetime aired the six-part docuseries Surviving R. Kelly. The singer and entertainer who once referred to Kelly as her “brother” while hosting the Soul Train Awards and has kept a low profile during the series.
Badu has finally broken her silence during a show at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom in which attendees say the Grammy-award winning singer defended Kelly and instructed others to “keep their opinions to themselves.”
https://twitter.com/tomapapito/status/1086852606000095232
Another attendee tweeted Badu attempt at trying to bring light to the hypocrisy in the public outcry against Kelly.
https://twitter.com/boyDonavin/status/1086837463832776704
Many in attendance were hurt by Badu’s actions and left conflicted.
https://twitter.com/jacquemarquez_/status/1086852779614846976
https://twitter.com/hausmuva/status/1087028756731056128
This isn’t the first time Badu has come under fire for what many deem to be problematic commentary. In April 2016, Badu agreed with a school district that was making it mandatory for girls to wear longer skirts as a way to not “distract” the boys.
Erykah Badu’s defense of R. Kelly prompted Twitter to dig up old tweets.
https://twitter.com/lexxdadon/status/1087041489610440705
https://twitter.com/Mariah__Cara/status/1087041996986990592
Writer and director dream hampton said Badu was one of many celebrities she contacted to be in the series but denied her request.
One Twitter user in the audience shared more insight into what occurred at the event in a thread.
Ok, So I’m seeing tweets about the Erykah Badu show and her comments about R.Kelly. I’m about to give my take of it and what happened…..
— PaigeThePlug (@PaigeThePlug) January 20, 2019
Erykah Badu brought the that R.Kelly is from Chicago. Everyone immediately started Booing when she said his name( Including me)
— PaigeThePlug (@PaigeThePlug) January 20, 2019
She said that she is praying for him and hopes that he gets help.
— PaigeThePlug (@PaigeThePlug) 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
However, while she was talking about him the energy did switch and people@weren’t feeling it at all. Once she sensed that, she moved on to another subject and Song! That’s it!
— PaigeThePlug (@PaigeThePlug) January 20, 2019
Does Erykah Badu’s defense of R. Kelly make you think twice about the singer? Will you continue to listen to Badu’s music, or does the defense of R. Kelly mean she’s now an enabler? Sound off in the comments.