The Associated Press issued an apology to Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds on Monday after people online criticized reporters at the outlet for cutting their Grammys red carpet interview off to beckon nominee Chappell Roan.
“We are deeply sorry for cutting our interview with Babyface short on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys red carpet,” the outlet wrote on X. “We have apologized to him through his representative and to our viewers on the livestream.”
In the stream, AP entertainment reporters Leslie Ambriz and Krysta Fauria are seen chatting with the 65-year-old Grammy-winning artist, songwriter and producer ahead of the Sunday awards ceremony when the interview suddenly took what some viewers online described as an awkward and disrespectful turn.
Mid-conversation, Fauria suddenly appears to lean to the side of the shot before then shouting over Babyface to get Roan’s attention. Roan was nominated for several awards including best new artist, which she later won.
Babyface then smiled and stepped aside. He told the reporters, “Go do that,” and returned the microphone to Ambriz, who apologized for the interruption.
The AP’s post on X came after the journalists themselves had already addressed the moment at the end of their livestream.
“I’m really sorry about interrupting Babyface earlier,” Fauria said, standing alongside Ambriz and another AP journalist, Gary Gerard Hamilton. “Chappell Roan had come up and there was a lot of commotion, as there is on these carpets.”
But a clip of the interview continued to spark outrage from fans and celebrities as it circulated across social media platforms.
Chappell Roan attends the Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles, Calif.Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Babyface has not publicly issued a statement. A representative for the artist did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reality TV star and entrepreneur Khloé Kardashian was among those who weighed in, calling the exchange “disrespectful” and highlighting Edmonds’ legacy.
“It’s maddening to see a LEGEND not get the respect and attention they deserve. He is a pioneer and deserves so much better than this,” the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star wrote on X. “I love you @babyface and I am a forever fan and thankful for all that you have blessed us with.”
Singer and actor Dionne Warwick also shared her thoughts, reposting the clip on X with a pointed question: “13x Grammy Award-winning Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds? Am I seeing this correctly?”
She followed up with a screenshot of the dictionary definition of “decorum,” tagging AP in the post.
Terry Dickerson
