It's been quite the week on "Today," and things have taken a dramatic turn. Savannah Guthrie, the beloved news anchor, has found herself at the center of a media storm after a recent interview with singer Kelly Rowland. A clip from their chat went viral, and it wasn't for the reasons anyone expected. Fans were quick to express their opinions, and not all of them were kind to Savannah.
What Went Down Between Savannah Guthrie and Kelly Rowland?
On February 15, 2024, Kelly Rowland graced the "Today" show to talk about her latest Netflix film, "Mea Culpa." During the conversation, a clip from her Destiny's Child days popped up on the screen, bringing back memories of the iconic group. After the clip ended, Savannah turned to Kelly and asked, "What do you think when you look at that?" Kelly's response was heartfelt as she reflected, "That was so long ago, I’m 43 now." It was a moment of nostalgia mixed with the wisdom that comes with age.
The interview was going smoothly until Savannah brought up the topic of new music. Kelly revealed she was indeed working on something new, but when pressed for more details, she politely declined to share further. It was at this point that Savannah decided to steer the conversation toward Kelly's former bandmate, Beyoncé. "What do you think about your friend Beyoncé?" Savannah asked. "She’s like your sister, you guys literally grew up together—she’s stepping into country." Kelly's response was gracious, saying, "I’m so proud of her." Yet, Savannah persisted, asking again, "Were you surprised?" Kelly simply reiterated her pride in her friend, leaving viewers wondering if the question was necessary.
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Fans React to Savannah's Beyoncé Questions
Once the interview was posted on "Today's" YouTube channel, the comments section lit up with reactions. Fans were not shy about expressing their disappointment with Savannah's line of questioning. "Kelly is tired of people asking her about Beyoncé as she should be," one viewer wrote. "Nobody asks Kelly about Michelle or asks Beyoncé about Kelly. So stop with the silliness folks." Another viewer chimed in, "I’m so annoyed. Stop asking her about Beyoncé in every interview she does." The sentiment was clear: viewers felt Savannah had shifted the focus away from Kelly's own accomplishments and onto her former bandmate.
One commenter summed it up perfectly: "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 Beyoncé, it’s unfair to Kelly who was there to promote her upcoming film. Kelly looked absolutely stunning and amazing per usual!"
Behind-the-Scenes Drama on 'Today'
But the drama didn’t stop there. Reports later surfaced that Kelly was initially set to guest cohost alongside Hoda Kotb, filling in for Jenna Bush Hager, who was absent that day. However, Kelly reportedly walked off the set due to dissatisfaction with the backstage dressing rooms, according to Page Six. Enter Rita Ora, who stepped in at the last minute to cohost.
Hoda addressed the situation on the show on February 20, 2024, with grace and humor. "I just wanna say this, I have great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland. I adore her," she said. "And I want her to come back on our show, and I want her to host again. She can share my dressing room—we’ll be in it together!"
Hoda also took a moment to commend Rita Ora for her last-minute heroics. "On another note too, we just want to give a shoutout to Rita Ora, who kind of came in at the last second and really did a phenomenal job," she added. It was a testament to the show's ability to roll with the punches and maintain its charm, even in the face of unexpected challenges.
