Updated at 1:30p.m.PT on 2/20/2024: After an awkward appearance on the “TODAY” show that led to viewers calling out disrespect at the hands of co-host Savannah Guthrie towards singer and actress Kelly Rowland and a game of dressing room musical chairs that led to Rowland eventually leaving the studio—the show is speaking out and attempting to right its wrongs.
On Tuesday’s episode of “TODAY with Hoda and Jenna,” cohost Hoda Kotb—with whom Rowland was supposed to guest cohost with last week the same day of the aforementioned kerfuffles—took the time out to indirecttly but directly address the situation.
“I just wanna say this, I have great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland. I adore her. And I want her to come back on our show, and I want her to host again,” Kotb said. “She can share my dressing room — we’ll be in it together!”
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Anytime we get to see Kelly Rowland out and about, it feels like a special treat. That’s exactly what the folks at the “TODAY” show got on Thursday when she stopped by to talk her new film, “Mea Culpa.”
Written and directed by Tyler Perry and produced by and starring Rowland, the “erotic thriller” tells the story of criminal defense attorney Mea Harper (Rowland) who takes on the murder case of artist Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes). While she tries to determine the innocence or guilt of her cagy-yet-seductive client, it is uncovered that everyone is guilty of something and the truth isn’t always as obvious as it seems.
Fans online were quick to call out co-host Savannah Guthrie when she tried to change the subject midway to talk about Rowland’s best friend and former Destiny’s Child member Beyoncé and whether or not the “Motivation” singer had new music coming out herself.
With only a simple response for both inquiries, Guthrie quickly got the message and reverted back to questions about Rowland’s new movie. But folks online weren’t so quick to move on:
“Kelly Rowland was on the Today show this morning and she was not having them wanting to ask her about Beyoncé doing country music lol. Her reaction was hilarious to me. She’s there for her movie and her stuff. She handled it w/grace when asked but I get why she’d be annoyed,” wrote on user.
“The interview was doing well until the last few minutes. Savannah, I know you are just doing what the producers tell you - but come on - this is about Kelly! So not cool to pry about Beyonce, it’s unfair to Kelly who was there to promote her upcoming film - keep it at that! Kelly looked absolutely stunning and amazing per usual,” said another in the comments on YouTube.
Added another: “Kelly is tired of people asking her about Beyoncé as she should. No body asks Kelly about Michelle or ask Beyoncé about Kelly. So stop with the silliness folks.”
“Kelly is her own person, why is she still getting questions about Beyoncé,” echoed another.
Truthfully, they’re all correct. I, too, understand trying to get a soundbite but at some point, folks have got to let Kelly Rowland just be Kelly Rowland because she’s phenomenal in her own right.