The internet “Cancel” culture is a thing, and not even the almighty Erykah Badu is above it.
After the singer appeared to be sympathetic to R.Kelly at her concert last night, internet users from all over the world are all but calling for her head.
Erykah while performing at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on Sunday, had unexpectedly paused her performance to offer a prayer up for R.Kelly following the release of the Surviving R. Kelly documentary and the backlash that has followed.
In clips circulating on social media, the singer was seen saying, “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.”
She went on to say, “But y’all say ‘fuck it!’ See, 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.”
This didn’t sit well with most of the concertgoers and a whole lot of folks on the internet, and they didn’t waste time to express their disappointment and declare her “cancelled”.
Below are some of the reactions to her comment:
Erykah Badu is proof that if u dress artsy & talk about “vibrations” people will think you’re deep, no matter what stupid crap comes out your mouth lol
— Chief ROCKa (@alysSAWRAH) January 20, 2019
Erykah Badu is an idiot but because she talks like a hotline psychic and don’t shave her armpits she got people thinking she speaks on behalf of the moon and the stars
— Young Person (@EricTrillman_) January 20, 2019
Me canceling Erykah Badu after she tried to defend RKelly. #MuteRKelly pic.twitter.com/hBoLtIpXBh
— 🛹 (@meechskates) January 20, 2019
Social media is truly toxic. All of you attacking Erykah Badu for doing the same thing yall was doing BEFORE the Lifetime doc came out. Yall knew R. Kelly was a pedo but continued playing his music. It took a TV show to stop supporting a known pedophile? Yall just as bad as her.
— BEEEN (@Ab2Blue) January 20, 2019
Y’all gotta stop touting Erykah Badu as some ethereal muva earth bitch. The veil been down. Her thought processes are violent. I feel sorry for her daughters
— thicko mode (@jojobaoilhoney) January 20, 2019
Erykah Badu is ruining her legacy over R Kelly ?! what a fucking joke.
— Yù (@_AndJade) January 20, 2019
Your reminder to unfollow R Kelly and Erykah Badu. Unless you support it
Then let us know so we can unfollow you ☺️
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) January 20, 2019
But there were some people who didn’t see anything wrong with what she said…
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
I was at this concert last night. @fatbellybella stated that she would pray for R.Kelly and his healing and the worlds healing and now everyone is fake outraged. The people writing the blogs and the people upset weren’t there and are completely taking what she said out of context
— Jonelle Glori (@JonelleGlori) January 21, 2019
Erykah also took to Twitter to attempt to set the records straight. According to her, what she is preaching is unconditional love, which doesn’t translate to supporting the poor choices of the people you love.
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
