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Erykah Badu reportedly defended R. Kelly at a concert and fans aren't happy

Erykah Badu (pictured in November) upset fans with her comments on R. Kelly. (Photo: Mindy Small/FilmMagic)
Erykah Badu (pictured in November) upset fans with her comments on R. Kelly. (Photo: Mindy Small/FilmMagic)

When fans went to see Erykah Badu in Chicago on Saturday, they probably didn’t expect to hear the singer defend R. Kelly — who has been accused of sexual abuse by multiple women — during her concert.

But according to numerous sources on Twitter, that’s exactly what happened, the Independent reports. One person tweeted that Badu “tried to justify and defend R. Kelly’s actions and reputation during her set.”

Another person quoted Badu as saying at the event, “What if one of the people who was assaulted by R. Kelly becomes an offender? We gonna crucify them too?” The same person noted that a number of people booed the singer at that point.

A different fan tweeted that Badu “said that she is praying for him and hopes that he gets help,” referring to Kelly. But that person said she didn’t believe Badu was “trying to justify or condone his actions.”

The reports about the Chicago concert come after Badu shared several vague Instagram posts that fans speculated were about Kelly. The Independent pointed out that Badu seemed to confirm that she was referencing the allegations against the rapper when she responded to a fan’s Instagram comment.

“I loved you until I realized you support a rapist and pedophile as your brother,” the person wrote on Badu’s Instagram post.

“Correction: Love has very little to do with supporting others’ bad choices. Love is wisdom,” Badu wrote back. The singer also reportedly declined to appear in Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly docuseries.

Screenshot: Erykah Badu via Instagram
Screenshot: Erykah Badu via Instagram

After allegations against Kelly resurfaced in Surviving R. Kelly, reports emerged that Sony Music has parted ways with the rapper. There are numerous allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct against Kelly, including multiple allegations of sexual assault. For Kelly’s part, his attorney said in the Dateline special Accused: The R. Kelly Story that “all of these women are lying.”

Whatever Badu’s intentions were with the reported comments at her concert, plenty of fans weren’t happy with how things went.

Badu hasn’t addressed the backlash on Twitter.

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