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Kelly Rowland is said to have walked off the Today show due to ‘disrespect’ shown to her by Savannah Guthrie who ‘aggressively’ questioned her about Beyoncé – rather than ask the singer about what she was there to promote – her new film Mea Culpa.
It had been claimed over the past week that Rowland, 43, skipped out on co-hosting the rest of the Today show alongside Hoda Kotb because she was dissatisfied with her dressing room, forcing British singer Rita Ora to step in at the last minute.
The dressing room excuse was even seemingly confirmed by Kotb herself this week, when she offered Rowland to share her dressing next time she comes on the show.
However, it appears Kotb’s comments stirred the pot even further, as an insider told The Wrap on Wednesday that Rowland left after she ‘felt disrespected’ after Guthrie asked her a series of questions about her friend and former bandmate Beyoncé.
‘Kelly was offended that Savannah repeatedly and aggressively asked her about Beyoncé,’ the insider told the outlet. ‘Kelly was upset about Savannah’s aggressive questioning about Beyoncé. She and her team were not happy and felt disrespected.’
Kelly Rowland walked off Today show due to Savannah Guthrie ‘aggressively’ questioning her about Beyoncé NOT because of her dressing room, sources claim
Controversy stemmed from a segment on the February 15 segment on the NBC chat show, in which Rowland repeatedly was asked about Beyoncé
The insider said that the dressing room accommodations had nothing to do with Rowland’s exit.
‘The story was spun that Kelly didn’t like her dressing room, but she has been on the Today show numerous times, she and her team know the dressing room set up,’ the insider said. ‘That would not come as a surprise at all.’
Before Rowland left the set of the NBC chat series Thursday, she was asked by Guthrie, ‘What do you think about your friend Beyoncé?’ to which she replied, ‘I’m so proud of her.’
Guthrie then veered the discussion toward Beyoncé’s newly-announced foray into country music with her album Act II, asking Rowland, ‘Were you surprised and what do you think about it?’
Rowland replied, ‘I’m so proud of her – so happy for her.
Kelly Rowland, 43, shared a series of images to Instagram on Wednesday in which she dazzled in a blue ensemble while attending the premiere of her new movie Mea Culpa, amid an ongoing controversy surrounding a recent appearance on the Today show
The insider told the outlet that Rowland and her team will not agree to an interview that involves questions about Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child, as ‘she wants to leave that behind’ and move forward in her career.
The Wrap reported that the Today show ‘does not typically agree to interview topics being off-limits ahead of time,’ which could have led to a miscommunication.
Another source told the outlet that Rowland left because of the shoddy dressing room accommodations.
Separate sources told TMZ Wednesday that Rowland’s exit was due to the show’s dressing rooms – described as ‘dumpy, glorified closets.’
Rowland’s staffers were unsuccessful in procuring her a new dressing room, as another one upstairs was occupied by Jennifer Lopez, sources said.
Rowland, who portrays the role of Mea Harper in the Netflix motion picture, had her hair in a short bob as she was pictured in a room and a black SUV during Tuesday’s event
The Atlanta native dazzled at the event in an all-blue ensemble of a fur jacket over a jumpsuit
Rowland was pictured on the red carpet at the event, held at the AMC River East Theater
Before Rowland left the set of the NBC chat series Thursday, she was asked by Guthrie, ‘What do you think about your friend Beyoncé?’ to which she replied, ‘I’m so proud of her’
The Today show’s Hoda Kotb praised Rowland on Tuesday’s broadcast and offered her personal use of her dressing room should she appear on the program in the future.
‘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.’
Meanwhile, the Destiny’s Child alum continued with her own promotion of the film on Wednesday, captioning a set of images, ‘Mea Culpa Press Run,’ with a series of seven blue heart emojis.
Rowland, who stars opposite Trevante Rhodes in the Tyler Perry crime drama, added: ‘Mea Culpa out Feb.23rd THIS FRIDAY!!!’
The Atlanta native dazzled at the event, held at the AMC River East Theater in the Windy City, in an all-blue ensemble of a fur jacket over a jumpsuit.
Rowland, who portrays the role of Mea Harper in the Netflix motion picture, had her hair in a short bob as she was pictured in a room and a black SUV during Tuesday’s event.
