Anita Baker is standing up for herself in an online spat over Babyface’s slashed opening set during a May showing of her “Songstress Tour.” Baker has gone so far as publicly asking Babyface to tame his fanbase, claiming that his supporters have been bullying and threatening her online.
For some (much-needed) context, this all stems from Babyface’s feature as a surprise guest on Baker’s 15-city tour that kicked off earlier this February. He was slated to open her New Jersey concert on May 10 but took to social media after he did not appear at the Prudential Center. In a tweet, he explained that his set was tossed so that headliner Baker could perform since the show had a late start due to technical issues.
“I am truly sorry to my fans who have been waiting for us to hit the stage this evening at @PruCenter. I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety,” Babyface wrote on Twitter that night. “My band and I are extremely saddened we didn’t get to perform for y’all tonight.”
According to a long series of Baker’s tweets, she’s been dealing with hate from his fanbase ever since, and on June 9, she posted a tweet about Babyface’s silence in the matter.
“When A friend, is being attacked, by Your friends?…because, of Mis-information/fake news And, You have an Opportunity, to Say Something/Correct it? … It’s the Right thing to do,” she wrote, ending with “Reputation, Peace & Safety Matters.”
On Monday, Baker more pointedly addressed a tweet to Babyface (on Twitter this means slapping on an “@” sign before a name) and his followers — whom she’s dubbed “Kenny’s Crazies” — with the suggestion that he “call off” his boys. Responding to several fans, Baker attempted to clarify Babyface was a supporting act on her tour.
“Yes, Babyface is Special Guest/Support Act, on My Tour. This False Narrative, of A Co-headliner is creating Unrealistic Expectations & Aggression, from his fans towards me,” she wrote. “He should tell you guys, the Truth.”
Numerous spectators assumed Babyface was co-headlining the tour and figured his absence was a result of a decision that landed in the hands of the Detroit diva. Others who had secured tickets to the show aired out their grievances at Ticketmaster and Baker, though the tour which runs through December, is solely hers.
The assumption isn’t far-fetched as Babyface (real name Kenneth Brian Edmonds) has a highly-acclaimed catalog comprised of his own solo hits. He’s also written and produced chart-toppers for Usher, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Bobby Brown, TLC, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande and more.
Variety has reached out to Babyface’s reps for comment.