Valencia Love has confirmed she was the "friend" who posted R. Kelly's $100,000 bail on Monday, just days after the singer was arrested on sexual abuse charges.
The 47-year-old business woman defended her decision during an interview with Fox32 News' Tia Ewing. Love told the reporter she believes Kelly is innocent, but would not say whether the $100,000 she paid was hers.
"Im not going to say it was my money or [Kelly's] and he's not broke," the woman said, according to Ewing. "[...] He's my friend and I knew he needed help."
Love claimed Kelly's release was inevitable, as he had planned to post bond by Thursday.
"He was going to get out regardless," she said. "I just went out there to help my friend."
According to the Daily Mail, Love is listed as the owner of several restaurants as well as a Chicago childcare facility called the Lord and Child Christian Day Care. Considering the charges against Kelly involve underage girls, many people were shocked to find out that Love worked within the childcare industry; however, Love insists Kelly's critics are being too quick to judge.
"I wasn't there, you wasn't there. Give him the chance and allow him to prove his innocence," Love told Ewing. "He's not a monster, he's not [...] He's only been a gentleman to me."
She continued: "Let him have his chance in court to prove if he's innocent or guilty. As a friend if he says he's innocent, I can only believe that he is innocent."
Love went on to say she does not support pedophilia or the abuse of women, but questioned why authorities weren't pursuing other sexual abuse cases with the same urgency as Kelly's case. Love specifically pointed to the alleged sexual abuse occurring within the church.
"Look at all these priest, why isn't anyone going after them," she asked. "[...] The prosecutors and attorney general need to be prosecuting the priest that were sleeping with 5- and 6-year-old children."
You can read Love's statements below.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The 52-year-old singer's next court date is for March 22.
