Kelly Rowland is said to have quit the Today show due to the “disrespect” of Savannah Guthrie, who “aggressively” questioned her about Beyoncé – instead of asking the singer what she was there to promote – her new film Mea Culpa.
Last week it was claimed that Rowland, 43, missed co-hosting the rest of the Today show with Hoda Kotb because she was unhappy with her wardrobe, forcing British singer Rita Ora to leave at the last minute to step in.
The dressing room excuse was even seemingly confirmed by Kotb herself this week when she offered to let Rowland know her outfit the next time she appeared on the show.
However, it appears Kotb's comments inflamed the temper 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 had put.
“Kelly was offended that Savannah repeatedly and aggressively asked her about Beyoncé,” the insider told the outlet. “Kelly was upset by Savannah's aggressive questioning about Beyoncé.” “She and her team were unhappy and felt disrespected.”
However, a source told TMZ shortly afterward that Kelly had not been aggressively asked about Beyoncé and strongly denied The Wrap's claims.
Kelly Rowland left the Today show because Savannah Guthrie “aggressively” questioned her about Beyoncé, NOT about her dressing room, sources claim
The controversy arose from a Feb. 15 segment of the NBC chat show in which Rowland was repeatedly asked about Beyoncé. However, a source told TMZ shortly afterward that Kelly had not been aggressively asked about Beyoncé and strongly denied The Wrap's claims
The Wrap insider said the locker room accommodation had nothing to do with Rowland's departure.
“The story was spread that Kelly didn't like her dressing room, but she's been on the Today show many times, she and her team know the locker room layout,” the insider said.
“That wouldn’t be a surprise at all.”
Before Rowland left the set of the NBC chat series on Thursday, Guthrie asked her, “What do you think of your friend Beyoncé?” to which she replied, “I'm so proud of her.”
Guthrie then turned the discussion to 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 pictures on Instagram on Wednesday in which she shined in a blue ensemble while attending the premiere of her new film Mea Culpa, amid ongoing controversy surrounding a recent appearance on the Today show
The insider told the medium that Rowland and her team would not agree to an interview with questions about Beyoncé and Destiny's Child because she wants to “put this behind her” and move forward with her career.
The Wrap reported that the Today show “typically does not agree to ban interview subjects in advance,” which could have led to a miscommunication.
Another source told the outlet that Rowland left because of poor locker room accommodations.
Various sources told TMZ on Wednesday that the matter was not about Beyoncé.
And the insider insisted Rowland's exit was due to the show's dressing rooms, which were described as “dilapidated, glorified cupboards”.
Rowland's staff was unable to get her a new dressing room because another upstairs was occupied by Jennifer Lopez, sources said.
Rowland, who plays Mea Harper in the Netflix film, sported a short bob as she was pictured in a room and in a black SUV during Tuesday's event
The Atlanta native dazzled at the event in an all-blue ensemble consisting of a fur jacket over jumpsuit
Rowland was pictured on the red carpet at the event at the AMC River East Theater
Before Rowland left the set of the NBC chat series on Thursday, Guthrie asked her, “What do you think of your friend Beyoncé?” to which she replied, “I'm so proud of her.”
The Today show's Hoda Kotb praised Rowland on Tuesday's show and offered her personal use of her dressing room should she appear on the show in the future.
“I adore her and I want her to appear on our show again and I want her to host again,” Kotb said. “She can share my dressing room, we’ll be there together.”
Meanwhile, the Destiny's Child alum continued her own promotion of the film on Wednesday, captioning a series 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 is out THIS FRIDAY February 23rd!!!”
The Atlanta native dazzled in an all-blue ensemble of a fur jacket over jumpsuits at the event, which took place at the AMC River East Theater in the Windy City.
Rowland, who plays Mea Harper in the Netflix film, sported a short bob as she was pictured in a room and in a black SUV during Tuesday's event.