An Associated Press reporter is apologizing after a gaffe on Sunday’s Grammys red carpet.
Leslie Ambriz, alongside Krysta Fauria, greeted Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds during AP’s live red carpet show by calling him a “legend.” They discussed how the fires that have ravaged Los Angeles have brought the community together and how music helped the multi-Grammy winning talent process his emotions.
But when Ambriz asked Edmonds about the rising trend of artists bending genres with their music, her co-host Fauria began screaming at Chappell Roan to get her attention.
Babyface, seemingly defeated, encouraged the reporters to chat with the “Hot to Go!” artist and handed back the microphone.
“I’m so sorry, Babyface,” Ambriz offered.
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The women asked Roan about her archival Jean Paul Gaultier look and Roan did not seem to notice Edmonds’ abrupt exit.
Edmonds chose to focus on the bright spots of the evening.
“The best part of the night was reconnecting with old friends, meeting new artists, and feeling all the love in the room,” Edmonds said in a statement emailed Sunday to USA TODAY by representative Ernest Dukes. “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.”
Khloe Kardashian, Dionne Warwick, more stars defend Babyface
The snub upset a number of people on social media, including Dionne Warwick. “Am I seeing this correctly?” she posted on X.
Warwick then shared a screenshot of the definition of decorum and tagged AP.
had a lot on her mind in response to how the interview with Babyface was handled. “This is so disrespectful how Babyface was treated in this interview,” she wrote on X along with the clip of the interview. “Babyface has had such a significant impact on the music industry, in sooo many ways. Its maddening to see a LEGEND not get the respect and attention they deserve.”
Kardashian continued: “He is a pioneer and deserves so much better than this. With decades of groundbreaking work as a songwriter, producer, and performer, he’s shaped the sound of multiple generations.”
She sent Babyface her love and shared she’s “forever” thankful for “all that you have blessed us with.” The 40-year-old Good American founder also called him a “class act,” and concluded that, “big or small, old or new, – you don’t treat people like this. At least not in my eyes. There’s a way to handle this and this was wrong in my opinion.”
Actor Eric West suggested on X that “they should have introduced Babyface to Chappell Roan for a seamless transition. Super easy to say ‘Babyface, have you met Chappell?!’…..”
AP and reporter apologize to Babyface after interview mishap
The news outlet expressed regret Monday on X.
“We are deeply sorry for cutting our interview with Babyface short on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys red carpet,” AP posted. “We have apologized to him through his representative and to our viewers on the livestream.”
Fauria owned up to her error Sunday at the end of AP’s red carpet broadcast.
“I wanted to say that I’m really sorry about interrupting Babyface earlier,” Fauria said. “Chappell Roan had come up, and there was a lot of commotion, as there is on these carpets. But I’m a big Babyface fan, as are we all. And so I just wanted to say that, that I really apologize.”
