Babyface Receives Apology from Associated Press After Grammys Interview
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
(CNN) — Disrespecting Babyface will not be tolerated by his fans. The renowned singer and 12-time Grammy-winning producer is known for his impact on the music industry, being responsible for numerous hit songs and frequently collaborating with some of the biggest stars in contemporary music.
Babyface, co-founder of LaFace Records alongside L.A. Reid, has played a significant role in launching the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, and TLC. However, during an interview with the Associated Press on a live stream at the Grammys, an incident occurred that many found disrespectful toward his esteemed career and contributions.
During the interview conducted by journalists Krysta Fauria and Leslie Ambriz, Fauria attempted to get the attention of best new artist nominee Chappell Roan while Babyface was speaking. In a show of grace, Babyface noticed the commotion and said, “You guys wanna take that? Go do that then,” before passing the microphone back to the journalists as Roan approached.
This moment quickly ignited reactions across social media. Reality star and entrepreneur Khloe Kardashian expressed her frustration, stating, “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.” She highlighted Babyface's decades of groundbreaking work as a songwriter, producer, and performer.
Another powerful voice in the music industry, singer Dionne Warwick, joined the conversation by sharing the video on social media, questioning, “13x Grammy Award winning Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds? Am I seeing this correctly?” She emphasized the need for respect by posting a screenshot of the word “decorum” while tagging the Associated Press.
Later that evening, Fauria publicly apologized on camera, saying, “I’m really sorry about interrupting Babyface earlier. Chappell Roan had come up, and there was a lot of commotion, as there is on these carpets. I’m a big Babyface fan, as are we all, and I just wanted to say that I really apologize.”
The Associated Press also made an official apology through a statement shared on social media, saying, “We are deeply sorry for cutting our interview with Babyface short on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys red carpet. We have apologized to him through his representative and to our viewers on the livestream.”
CNN has reached out to Babyface's representatives for a comment. In a statement obtained by USA Today, Babyface appeared to have moved past the situation, reflecting on the overall experience of the night.
He remarked, “The best part of the night was reconnecting with old friends, meeting new artists, and feeling all the love in the room. That’s what I’ll remember. That’s what it’s really about. Music is bigger than any one moment. Much love to everyone who won and everyone out here making great music.”
Babyface, Grammys, AP