Two reporters covering the 2025 Grammys red carpet are facing extensive backlash after cutting off their interview with Babyface to talk to Chappell Roan.
Not only are fans lambasting the journalists as “disrespectful” for snubbing the R&B legend but many are making accusations of racism and racial insensitivity, especially since the event took place on February 2 during Black History Month.
Highlights
- Two AP reporters faced extensive backlash after cutting off their interview with Babyface to talk to Chappell Roan.
- Fans and celebrities condemned the incident as “disrespectful” to the 13-time Grammy winner.
- Khloé Kardashian posted a lengthy message about the incident as well.
- The AP reporters were forced to apologize following the incident.
In the clip that swiftly went viral on Sunday evening, Associated Press entertainment reporter Krysta Fauria can be seen speaking with the illustrious singer and songwriter alongside her colleague Leslie Ambriz. In the middle of Babyface’s answer to a question, she looks away and spots Chappell Roan, cutting off the musician mid-sentence.
AP red carpet reporters sparked outrage at the 2025 Grammys by cutting off R&B musician Babyface to talk to Chappell Roan
Image credits: Francis Specker/CBS/Getty Images
“I think it’s interesting—” the 13-time Grammy winner says.
“Chappell!” the reporter calls across the red carpet, cutting off the interviewee.
Babyface gracefully hands the mic back to his interviewers and says, “Go do that,” before walking away. Ambriz immediately apologizes to the dismissed performer while Fauria begins speaking with Chappell Roan.
Viewers quickly flooded social media to point out how “disrespectful” the interaction was.
“These interviewers need to do their homework!” someone commented on the video. “You don’t disrespect anyone like that, let alone a legend.”
“Omg he was in the middle of saying something they were so rude for that,” said another.
Image credits: Recording Academy / GRAMMYs
“Just rude and unprofessional,” stated a third.
Many netizens went so far as to suggest the journalists should lose their jobs.
“They need to be fired asap,” wrote one enraged fan.
“Take those mics away and fire those girls IMMEDIATELY,” blasted another.
Yet a third demanded: “Fire those clowns!”
Several celebrities have even spoken out about the viral incident.
Fans and celebrities alike have condemned the incident as “disrespectful” to one of the industry's most influential producers
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Khloé Kardashian posted the clip on her X account with a scathing commentary. “This is so disrespectful how Babyface was treated in this interview,” she wrote in defense of the 65-year-old record producer. “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. He is a pioneer and deserves so much better than this.”
After hailing his influence on the music industry and sharing her gratitude for “all that [he has] blessed us with,” the reality star also praised the way Babyface handled the situation: “By the way- what a class act you are.”
She wrapped up her tweet with some advice for the reporters: “PS 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.”
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Dionne Warwick also posted the clip of the interview to her X profile with the caption “13x Grammy Award winning Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds? Am I seeing this correctly?”
Eric West had some harsh words as well. “When you don’t know how to do your job! Babyface is a legend!” he wrote on X. “40 years strong. They should have introduced Babyface to Chappell Roan for a seamless transition. Super easy to say ‘Babyface, have you met Chappell?!’”
Fauria was quick to apologize for the snub. While still on the red carpet, she addressed the camera, joined by Ambriz and Gary Gerard Hamilton. “I’m really sorry about interrupting Babyface earlier,” she 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, so I just wanted to say that I really apologize.”
The journalists quickly apologized for the interaction, but it didn’t stop netizens from demanding they be fired
Image credits: PopBase
Nevertheless, the public apology does not seem to have been enough to quell the fountain of criticism online, especially those pointing out the racial dynamics of the snub and the irony of the incident’s occurrence during Black History Month.
“This was blatant racism and rudeness,” said one X user, cutting right to the chase.
“Racism is alive and well,” claimed another.
“Disrespecting Babyface??? these reporters are racist,” wrote a third viewer.
One person speculated that the reporter’s race would shield her: “Disrespecting Babyface like this during BHM should get you fired but she’s white so there’s gonna be a half a** fake apology with no real consequences.”
Nick Hamilton used the opportunity to address systemic issues in the industry: “But this what happens when artists skip over Black & Black owned media outlets,” he wrote.
Many more expressed anger at the timing:
“And this happened during Black History Month! The nerve.”
“So unbelievably disrespectful. And during Black History Month?! Even more diabolical.”
“The audacity of these random women to disrespect babyface during black history month.”
The incident also provoked claims of “racism,” especially due to the Grammys taking place during Black History Month
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Kenneth Brian Edmonds, known by his stage name Babyface, is a renowned singer, songwriter and record producer. He has won 13 Grammy Awards in his distinguished career and written or produced over 26 number-one R&B tracks.
Born in Indiana, he has been active in the music industry since 1974. In 1989 he co-founded LaFace Records, signing superstars TLC, Usher and Toni Braxton shortly after.
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He wrote and produced part of TLC’s second album CrazySexyCool, which went on to become the best-selling album of all time by an American girl group. He also produced the number-one hits “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston, “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men and “Take a Bow” by Madonna.
In 2012, NME ranked the R&B pioneer #22 on their list of “50 Of The Greatest Producers Ever.”
The 67th Grammy Awards took place on February 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, California, just weeks after wildfires scourged the area. The ceremony addressed the disaster with calls for donations to MusiCares Fire Relief, the performance of songs like Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” and The Mamas & the Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” and awards presentations by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Comedian Trevor Noah presented the event, which was highlighted by Beyoncé’s triumphant albeit controversial album of the year win for Cowboy Carter. In a stunning twist for fans, neither Taylor Swift nor Billie Eilish took home a single award.
The Grammys were marked by a focus on the recent LA wildfires and Beyoncé’s win for album of the year—Chappell Roan would go on to win Best New Artist
Image credits: Recording Academy / GRAMMYs
Complete list of Grammy winners:
Album of the year: Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter
Record of the year: Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us”
Song of the year: Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us”
Best new artist: Chappell Roan
Best pop vocal album: Sabrina Carpenter - Short n’ Sweet
Best pop solo performance: Sabrina Carpenter - “Espresso”
Best pop duo/group performance: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars - “Die With A Smile”
Best dance/electronic recording: Justice and Tame Impala - “Neverender”
Best dance/electronic album: Charli XCX - Brat
Best dance/pop recording: Charli XCX - “Von Dutch”
Best traditional pop vocal album: Norah Jones - Visions
Best Latin pop album: Shakira - Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran
Best rock performance: The Beatles - “Now And Then”
Best rock song: St. Vincent - “Broken Man”
Best rock album: The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
Best alternative music album: St. Vincent - All Born Screaming
Best alternative music performance: St. Vincent - Flea
Best metal performance: Gojira, Marina Viotti and Victor Le Masne - “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)”
Best rap performance: Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us”
Best melodic rap performance: Rapsody ft. Erykah Badu - “3:AM”
Best rap song: Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us”
Best rap album: Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal
Best country solo performance: Chris Stapleton - “It Takes A Woman”
Best country duo/group performance: Beyoncé ft. Miley Cyrus - “II Most Wanted”
Best country songs: Kacey Musgraves - “The Architect”
Best country album: Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter
Best R&B performance: Muni Long - “Made For Me (Live On BET)”
Best R&B song: SZA - “Saturn”
Best progressive R&B album: Avery*Sunshine - So Glad to Know You / NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge) - Why Lawd?
Best R&B album: Chris Brown - 11:11 (Deluxe)
Best African music performance: Tems - “Love Me JeJe”
Producer of the year, non-classical: Daniel Nigro
Songwriter of the year, non-classical: Amy Allen
Best comedy album: Dave Chappelle - The Dreamer
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Ségun, Bradley Cooper - Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein
Best score soundtrack for visual media (includes film and television): Hans Zimmer - Dune: Part Two
Best score soundtrack written for video games and other interactive media: Winifred Phillips - Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Best song written for visual media: Jon Batiste - "In Never Went Away (From American Symphony)"
Best audiobook narration: Jimmy Carter - Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration
Best music video: Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us”
Best music film: American Symphony
Best jazz vocal album: Samara Joy - A Joyful Holiday
Best jazz instrumental album: Chick Corea & Béla Fleck - Remembrance
Best alternative jazz album: Meshell Ndegeocello - No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin
Best jazz performance: Samara Joy ft. Sullivan Fortner - “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me”
Best musical theater album: Hell’s Kitchen
Best opera recording: Kaija Saariaho, composer, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale - Adriana Mater
Best orchestral performance: Gabriela Ortiz, composer, Gustavo Dudamel, conductor, Los Angeles Philharmonic - Revolución Diamantina
Netizens slammed the AP reporters for snubbing Babyface on the red carpet
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