The Related Press has issued an apology to legendary R&B singer-songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds after its reporters confronted web ire for a clumsy, Chappell Roan-induced purple carpet second earlier than the 2025 Grammy Awards.

The stalwart information company tweeted Monday that it was “deeply sorry for slicing our interview with Babyface brief” on Sunday’s purple carpet. Along with apologizing to readers, the outlet mentioned it had prolonged an apology to the 13-time Grammy winner by way of his representatives.

As a part of its Grammys protection on Sunday, AP streamed dwell from the purple carpet in downtown Los Angeles. Journalists Leslie Ambriz, Krysta Fauria and Gary Gerard Hamilton helmed the purple carpet protection, chatting it up with Grammys attendees and nominees as they confirmed off their Sunday finest. About 2½ hours into the livestream, Babyface — carrying a darkish go well with with a bedazzled lapel — approached Ambriz and Fauria.

The producer, 65, spoke to AP in regards to the music neighborhood displaying up for Los Angeles after the area’s devastating firestorm final month and about therapeutic via music. However the interview shortly grew to become awkward after Ambriz requested Babyface in regards to the rising prominence of ladies within the R&B area. As Babyface started to reply the query, Fauria flagged down “Good Luck, Babe!” performer Roan, calling out to the 26-year-old pop star a number of instances regardless of the continued interview.

“You guys wish to take that?,” Babyface requested after noticing what Fauria was doing. “Go do this.”

“So sorry, Babyface,” Ambriz mentioned, then shortly welcomed Roan.

Footage of the abrupt transition went viral on social media, catching warmth from customers together with Khloé Kardashian and Grammy winner Dionne Warwick. “Am I seeing this accurately?” Warwick tweeted Sunday.

The “That’s What Buddies Are For” singer adopted up her first response with one other tweet tagging AP and sharing a screenshot of a dictionary entry for “decorum.”

Kardashian slammed the reporters for his or her “disrespectful” remedy of Babyface. The fact TV persona praised the producer for his “important affect on the music business” and wrote that he “deserves so significantly better than this.”

She added: “PS massive or small, previous or new, — you don’t deal with individuals like this. A minimum of not in my eyes. There’s a option to deal with this and this was unsuitable in my view.”

Ernest Dukes, who represents Babyface, shared a clip of the gaffe on his Instagram story, writing “deliver again professionalism” and calling the AP reporters’ conduct “past wack” and “past disrespectful.” In one other story, Dukes shared a rundown of his shopper’s achievements together with his quite a few Grammy wins and a depend of his chart-topping hits.

Over the course of his decades-spanning profession, Babyface has collaborated with artists together with Usher, Toni Braxton, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin and SZA. On the 2024 Grammy Awards he earned a Grammy for his work on SZA’s “Snooze,” which took house the R&B track prize.

Heading into Sunday’s ceremony, “Sizzling to Go!” singer Roan earned six nominations. She gained the brand new artist prize and in her acceptance speech known as on labels to higher help up-and-coming artists with a dwelling wage and well being protection.

Fauria and Ambriz had already apologized for the snub on the finish of their pre-show livestream.

“There was plenty of commotion as there’s on these carpets,” Fauria mentioned. “However I’m a giant Babyface fan, as are all of us, and I simply needed to say that I actually apologize.”

Ambriz instructed viewers that “wild issues” out of their management can occur at star-studded occasions like awards-show purple carpets. She defined that behind-the-scenes wants can typically thwart reporters’ wishes to proceed conversations and mentioned she appears to be like ahead to talking to Babyface sooner or later.

She continued: “I ought to’ve finished extra to cease it however I’m very completely satisfied that he stopped to speak to us within the first place.”

“It was unlucky, but in addition this stuff occur,” Hamilton added.

By Monday, it appeared Babyface had shrugged off the encounter already. In a press release shared with The Occasions the producer mentioned “the most effective a part of the evening was reconnecting with previous mates, assembly new artists, and feeling all of the love within the room.”

The assertion added: “That’s what I’ll keep in mind. Music is greater than anyone second.”