The 2025 Grammy Awards was a night meant to celebrate musical excellence, but an awkward red-carpet moment involving R&B legend Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds stole headlines for all the wrong reasons.
During a live interview with the Associated Press (AP), reporters Krysta Fauria and Leslie Ambriz abruptly cut off Babyface—one of the most influential figures in music history—to call out to rising star Chappell Roan, a Best New Artist nominee. Without hesitation, Babyface stepped aside, maintaining his composure despite the blatant dismissal.
The clip quickly went viral, igniting backlash from fans and industry heavyweights. Khloé Kardashian slammed the incident as “disrespectful,” pointing to Babyface’s legendary contributions to music, while Dionne Warwick voiced her disappointment at the lack of respect shown to a pioneer of R&B.
Feeling the heat, AP issued a public apology, acknowledging their misstep:
“We are deeply sorry for cutting our interview with Babyface short on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys red carpet. We have apologized to him through his representative and to our viewers on the livestream.”
Reporter Krysta Fauria also attempted damage control, blaming the chaos of the red carpet for the interruption.
Yet, through it all, Babyface remained unshaken, later reflecting on the night’s true significance:
“The best part of the night was reconnecting with old friends, meeting new artists, and feeling all the love in the room. That’s what I’ll remember. That’s what it’s really about. Music is bigger than any one moment.”
Meanwhile, Chappell Roan, who went on to win Best New Artist, used her moment in the spotlight to advocate for better industry support for up-and-coming musicians.
Though the night ended on a high note, the incident served as a stark reminder that respect for legends should never be optional.
