After receiving backlash online for interrupting their Grammy red carpet interview to beckon nominee Chappell Roan, the Associated Press apologized to Kenneth Babyface Edmonds on Monday.
“We are deeply sorry for cutting our interview with Babyface short on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys red carpet,” the publication stated on X. “We have apologized to him through his representative and to our viewers on the livestream.”
The 65-year-old Grammy-winning performer, composer, and producer was being interviewed by AP entertainment writers Leslie Ambriz and Krysta Fauria in the broadcast before to the Sunday awards ceremony when the conversation abruptly took a turn that some online viewers characterized as impolite and awkward.
Fauria appears to abruptly bend to the side of the frame in the middle of their talk, then shouts over Babyface to grab Roan’s attention. Roan earned best new artist, one of the several accolades for which she received nominations.
Then Babyface grinned and moved out of the way. After saying to the reporters, “Go do that,” he handed the microphone back to Ambriz, who expressed regret for the disruption.
At the conclusion of their livestream, the journalists themselves had already addressed the situation before the AP’s post on X.
Fauria stood with Ambriz and Gary Gerard Hamilton, another AP journalist, and apologized profusely for interrupting Babyface earlier. As with these carpets, there was a great deal of noise when Chappell Roan appeared.
However, after a video of the interview spread on social media, fans and celebrities started to express their outrage.
Babyface hasn’t made a statement in public. A request for comment was not immediately answered by the artist’s representation.
Among those who voiced their opinions, reality TV personality and businesswoman Khlo Kardashian referred to the exchange as rude and emphasized Edmonds’ history.
Seeing a LEGEND not receive the recognition and respect they are due is frustrating. The star of Keeping Up with the Kardashians commented on X that he is a trailblazer and deserves so much more than this. I am eternally grateful for everything you have given us, and I adore you, @babyface.
Actress and singer Dionne Warwick also expressed her opinions, reposted the video on X with a direct query: Three-time Grammy winner Kenneth Babyface Edmonds? Do I have this right?
She tagged AP in the post and followed up with a screenshot of the dictionary definition of decorum.