R. Kelly is a free man thanks to a very generous friend.

On Monday (Feb. 25), the disgraced singer was released from jail after turning himself in on charges of aggravated sexual abuse involving four women, three of whom were minors at the time.

Now, new details are emerging about the Chicago businesswoman who covered his $100k bond. Valencia P. Love has been identified as a childhood friend of Kelly and the 47-year-old admits she helped the singer with his financial woes earlier this week. “As a friend if he says he’s innocent, I can only believe that he is innocent,” Love told FOX32 reporter, Tia A. Ewing, on Tuesday (Feb. 26).

While she stopped short of revealing if it was her own money she used to make his bond, she did note that Kelly is “not broke,” as his lawyer previously argued in court. “He was going to post bond by Thursday anyway,” she told Ewing.

Love continued, “There are three sides to every story, his side, there’s (the alleged victims), and the truth.” Love also added that she doesn’t “condone any man sodomizing anyone or abusing a woman,” but urged everyone to “give [Kelly] the chance and allow him to prove his innocence.”

Kelly’s friend, who owns a daycare, went on to described him as a “gentleman” and told Ewing “he’s not a monster” even though he has been accused of engaging in sexual relations with minors for decades.

According to Love, there are other issues society should be focused on instead of Kelly, including the case of Kierra Coles, a pregnant postal worker who went missing in Chicago last year. “No one is giving the stories that really need attention, the coverage they deserve,” she stated.

Kelly is due back in court on March 22. In addition to his bond release, the 52-year-old has been ordered to pay up to $160k in back child support fees or he could end up in jail again as early as next week. If convicted on all 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse charges, he faces up to 70 years in prison.

Keep reading to see the full notes of Love’s interview with Ewing ahead.