Cape Town - The woman who posted $100 000 (R1,3 million) bail for disgraced R&B singer R Kelly has come forward and identified herself as Valencia Patrice Love.
In an interview with Fox32 News, the 47-year-old businesswoman from Romeoville, Illinois, defended her decision, saying she believes Kelly (52) is innocent.
READ NEXT: R Kelly went straight to McDonald's after his release - the place he always went to pick up girls
Valencia claims the Ignition singer’s release was inevitable and that she’d planned to post bail by this Thursday, Complex reports.
“He’s my friend and I knew he needed help. He was going to get out regardless, I just went out there to help my friend,” she said.
Court documents reveal that Valencia handed over the full bail amount to grant Kelly’s release this past Monday, BET.com reports.
Valencia owns a series of restaurants and is also the owner of a Chicago childcare facility called the Lord and Child Christian Day Care, according to the Daily Mail.
Given the fact that the charges against Kelly include sexually abusing underage girls, many people are fuming about Valencia’s involvement in aiding the three-time Grammy winner.
“I’m disgusted at the fact that someone who works in childcare paid Kelly’s bail. I hope every parent pulls their child from her daycare,” one twitter user wrote.
“Being raised by a mom who owned a daycare and raised in a family of aunts and cousins who worked in childcare and healthcare for the disabled. Hearing that a daycare owner helped bail out R Kelly really makes me sick to my stomach,” another said.
Valencia responded by saying she doesn’t support paedophilia or the abuse of women and that Kelly is innocent until proven guilty.
“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 he’s innocent.
“I wasn’t there, you wasn’t there. Give him the chance and allow him to prove his innocence.
“He’s not a monster, he’s not [...] He’s only been a gentleman to me.”
Sources: Complex, BET.com, Daily Mail