Erykah Badu was forced to explain several comments she made about R. Kelly during a recent Chicago concert. Many people in the audience took her sentiments as defending the disgraced R&B star, but she clarified it was simply part of her unconditional love initiative.
But the topic was far from laid to rest. After a Twitter user accused Badu of declining to participate in Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kellydocumentary, she replied, “That’s not true. I’ve never worked with him, don’t know him personally and was never asked to be part of the documentary.”
Evidently, that’s where the series’ producer, Dream Hampton, had a problem with Ms. Badu. She insisted the neo-soul legend was absolutely asked to be in the documentary.
“I asked Producer T. Farris to contact @fatbellybella to be in the doc because I wanted clarity on two things: 1) a quote attributed to her, ‘No one has done more for Black people than R. Kelly’ & 2) what she was thinking when she called him her ‘brother’ at [the 2015] Soul Train Awards.”
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Badu wasn’t having it and said, “No ma’am. I WAS NOT EVER contacted by anyone to be in the documentary. @dreamhampton You know that’s not true. I wasn’t a necessary component. You had all the right people, the ones close to the situation…But from now, produce this ‘producer’s’ request or…APOLOGIZE. It’s simple.”
Hampton refused to provide proof and wouldn’t apologize.
“Apologize?” she replied. “Are you kidding? Again, you PUBLICLY said he did more for black people than anyone? If you want to apologize for that, fine, apology accepted, on behalf of Harriet and the whole crew. What you meant by calling him your brother from the stage, I’ll never know.”
She added, “And no, I’m not producing receipts.”
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Surviving R. Kelly premiered on January 3 and has been a heavy topic of conversation ever since. In the wake of the series, fans and peers alike have denounced Kelly and his music. Lady Gaga, Chance The Rapper and others have pulled their collaborations with Kelly as well.
