The Chicago restaurateur and daycare owner who paid $100,000 in cash to bond R&B singer R. Kelly out of jail is defending her actions amidst an onslaught of criticism and even death threats on social media.
Kelly, 52, spent the weekend in jail after his arrest on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of four female victims, including three minors under age 18.
Fox 32 anchorwoman Tia Ewing identified Valencia P. Love and the name of her establishments on Twitter.com on Tuesday.
“Valencia Patrice Love, age 47 of Romeoville says she is a friend of #RKelly on his 4 bond slips. She paid a total of $100,000 to get Kelly out of jail. @fox32new,” Ewing tweeted on Monday.
Love owns the Love On the Blu restaurant in Blue Island, Illinois. She also owns the Lordanchild Christian daycare center on Chicago’s Far South Side.
Edit: A daycare once associated with the friend who posted bail for R. Kelly has distanced itself from her. The Blast reports that Valencia Love is registered as a secretary for Lordanchild Christian Day Care in Chicago.
The Blast called the daycare and spoke with a woman claiming to be the owner. She said Love “has nothing to do with the daycare,” and claims her position as a secretary was “years ago,” despite the current registration still bearing her name.
The owner, who refused to identify herself, told The Blast, “Children are safe here,” and as far as R. Kelly is concerned, she made it clear, “Let him be convicted.”
Angry customers flooded Yelp.com with negative reviews trashing the restaurant and its owner on Tuesday.
One reviewer wrote, “There was a time I thought this place was an okay spot to visit. Decent food, generally nice people. All that changed today.”
Another reviewer wrote: “Cannot support a business owner that so blatantly and so swiftly supports a rapist and abuser. Better to take your money elsewhere.”
Ewing spoke with Love amid the backlash on Twitter.com.
During their lengthy discussion, Love dropped hints about the source of the bail money.
Love said Kelly is “not broke” and he was going to post bond on Thursday anyway.
