After Making Excuses For Cutting Babyface Grammy Interview, Associated Press Formally Apologizes

Babyface attends the 67th GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty

One of the most recognizable mainstream news outlets has finally issued a formal apology for what critics described as the rude interruption of an interview with music legend Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

The Associated Press offered apologies in a social media post on Monday morning and said it has also separately said sorry to Babyface.

“We are deeply sorry for cutting our interview with Babyface short on our YouTube livestream of the Grammys red carpet,” the AP wrote in a post to its nearly 16 million followers on X, formerly Twitter. “We have apologized to him through his representative and to our viewers on the livestream.”

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.

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 3, 2025

The apology came hours after a trio of AP journalists offered various excuses on Sunday night for why two of them felt compelled to effectively dismiss Babyface while he was mid-sentence in order to accommodate singer Chappell Roan, instead.

Leslie Ambriz, who was one of the two AP journalists interviewing Babyface, inexplicably blamed “a lot of commotion” on the red carpet for the interruption. Ambriz insisted that she was “a big Babyface fan.”

But footage from the interrupted interview with Babyface quickly went viral and suggested anything but Ambriz and fellow AP journalist Krysta Fauria being fans of the Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer.

An 18-second clip from the aborted interview was shared widely on social media and shows Babyface beginning to answer a question and in mid-sentence when Ambriz tries to get Roan’s attention.

“Chappell!” Ambriz said while gesturing as Babyface looked over his shoulder to see who she was speaking to.

“You guys want to do that” Babyface, who was the model of grace and professionalism, asked Ambriz and Fauria. “Go do that.”

Ambriz offered a quick “I’m sorry” as Fauria swiftly took the microphone from Babyface to hand to Roan while both women smiled.

They then eagerly greeted Roan, who went on to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Watch below.

pic.twitter.com/GyhMUnA9UC

— media (@ENTplus_) February 2, 2025

The collective reaction across social media to the journalists interrupting Babyface was one of disgust with calls for the journalists to lose their jobs. That was particularly true as observers noted that the AP dismissed Babyface, an African American, in favor of a white woman, all as Black History Month was getting underway.

“Imagine cutting off BABYFACE EDMONDS in the middle of an interview to shout Chappell Roan’s name,” one viral post said in response to the incident. “Insanely rude and unprofessional. I need them fired, IMMEDIATELY.”

Another post said: “The Associated Press allowed two idiots to interview artists on the red carpet. What proved they were idiots was their blatant disrespect of legendary artist, producer, writer, and director—Babyface. And this happened during Black History Month! The nerve. Fire those clowns!”

It was in that context that the AP finally apologized for the incident just about 16 hours after it first happened.

To be sure, Babyface is an icon who has been nominated for Grammy Awards a whopping 54 times, winning 12 of the coveted gramophone trophies beginning more than 30 years ago.

Conversely, Roan released her lone studio album in 2023 in a career that’s spanned less than a decade and garnered six Grammy nominations for this year’s ceremony.

This is America.

SEE ALSO:

Babyface Plans His Own Tour After Anita Baker Dropped Him From Opening Her Concerts

Babyface’s Most Glorious Trash Talk Moments Battling Teddy Riley On Instagram Live

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