The 65th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 2nd, 2025, was marred by a red carpet incident involving music legend Babyface and two reporters from the Associated Press. During a live-streamed pre-show interview, Babyface, a 12-time Grammy winner and music industry icon, was abruptly interrupted mid-sentence by the reporters, who abandoned his interview to pursue Chappell Roan, the eventual winner of Best New Artist and five other awards that night. The jarring interruption, captured in its entirety on the AP’s livestream, quickly went viral, sparking widespread condemnation of the reporters’ perceived disrespect towards the esteemed musician.
The video showed Babyface, whose real name is Kenneth Edmonds, graciously handling the awkward situation. While he was speaking, one of the AP reporters called out to Roan twice, effectively halting the interview. Recognizing their intent, Babyface calmly said, “You guys want to do that? Go do that,” before walking away. The incident immediately ignited social media, with celebrities and fans alike expressing their outrage at the perceived slight against the veteran artist.
The backlash was swift and substantial. Khloé Kardashian, Dionne Warwick, and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men were among the high-profile figures who publicly criticized the reporters’ actions. Kardashian took to X (formerly Twitter), highlighting Babyface’s immense contributions to the music industry and calling the incident “disrespectful.” She emphasized his pioneering work as a songwriter, producer, and performer, shaping the sound of multiple generations, and declared herself a lifelong fan. Stockman echoed these sentiments, referring to Babyface as a “legend in the music business” and lamenting the music industry’s tendency to disrespect those who deserve honor.
Warwick, another music legend, expressed her disbelief on X, questioning whether she had correctly witnessed the disrespectful treatment of the 13-time Grammy winner. Tamar Braxton added her voice to the chorus of disapproval, commenting on Babyface’s Instagram post that the reporters’ behavior was “unforgivable.” The incident underscored the importance of respecting established artists and acknowledging their contributions, especially in a context designed to celebrate musical achievement.
Amid the widespread condemnation, the Associated Press and one of the reporters involved issued apologies. Krysta Fauria, one of the AP reporters, expressed remorse during the red carpet coverage, stating, “I wanted to say that I’m really sorry about, um, interrupting Babyface earlier.” The AP also posted an apology on X, acknowledging their mistake and expressing regret for cutting short their interview with Babyface. Despite the unfortunate incident, Babyface himself took the high road, choosing to focus on the positive aspects of the evening.
In a statement to USA Today, Babyface emphasized the joy of reconnecting with old friends, meeting new artists, and feeling the love in the room. He extended his congratulations to all the winners and acknowledged everyone making great music. His gracious response further amplified the public’s appreciation for his character and professionalism. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of treating all artists, regardless of their current level of fame, with respect and acknowledging their contributions to the music industry. The outpouring of support for Babyface highlighted the deep appreciation for his legacy and the industry-wide recognition of his enduring impact.
