Babyface attends the 67th GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. | Supply: Frazer Harrison / Getty
Probably the most recognizable mainstream information retailers has lastly issued a proper apology for what critics described because the impolite interruption of an interview with music legend Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds on the pink carpet on the Grammy Awards on Sunday night time in Los Angeles.
The Related Press provided apologies in a social media put up on Monday morning and stated it has additionally individually stated sorry to Babyface.
“We’re deeply sorry for reducing our interview with Babyface brief on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys pink carpet,” the AP wrote in a put up to its almost 16 million followers on X, previously Twitter. “Now we have apologized to him by way of his consultant and to our viewers on the livestream.”
The apology got here hours after a trio of AP journalists provided numerous excuses on Sunday night time for why two of them felt compelled to successfully dismiss Babyface whereas he was mid-sentence with a purpose to accommodate singer Chappell Roan, as an alternative.
Leslie Ambriz, who was one of many two AP journalists interviewing Babyface, inexplicably blamed “plenty of commotion” on the pink carpet for the interruption. Ambriz insisted that she was “an enormous Babyface fan.”
However footage from the interrupted interview with Babyface rapidly went viral and urged something however Ambriz and fellow AP journalist Krysta Fauria being followers of the Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer.
An 18-second clip from the aborted interview was shared extensively on social media and reveals Babyface starting to reply a query and in mid-sentence when Ambriz tries to get Roan’s consideration.
“Chappell!” Ambriz stated whereas gesturing as Babyface regarded over his shoulder to see who she was talking to.
“You guys need to do this” Babyface, who was the mannequin of grace and professionalism, requested Ambriz and Fauria. “Go do this.”
Ambriz provided a fast “I’m sorry” as Fauria swiftly took the microphone from Babyface at hand to Roan whereas each ladies smiled.
They then eagerly greeted Roan, who went on to win the Grammy Award for Greatest New Artist.
Watch beneath.
The collective response throughout social media to the journalists interrupting Babyface was one in every of disgust with requires the journalists to lose their jobs. That was notably true as observers famous that the AP dismissed Babyface, an African American, in favor of a white girl, all as Black Historical past Month was getting underway.
“Think about reducing off BABYFACE EDMONDS in the course of an interview to shout Chappell Roan’s title,” one viral put up stated in response to the incident. “Insanely impolite and unprofessional. I want them fired, IMMEDIATELY.”
One other put up stated: “The Related Press allowed two idiots to interview artists on the pink carpet. What proved they have been idiots was their blatant disrespect of legendary artist, producer, author, and director—Babyface. And this occurred throughout Black Historical past Month! The nerve. Fireplace these clowns!”
It was in that context that the AP lastly apologized for the incident nearly 16 hours after it first occurred.
To make certain, Babyface is an icon who has been nominated for Grammy Awards a whopping 54 occasions, profitable 12 of the coveted gramophone trophies starting greater than 30 years in the past.
Conversely, Roan launched her lone studio album in 2023 in a profession that’s spanned lower than a decade and garnered six Grammy nominations for this 12 months’s ceremony.
That is America.
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