Legendary R&B singers Anita Baker and Babyface are not on friendly terms after Babyface was unexpectedly cut from Baker’s tour at the last minute.
The legendary R&B singers have had fans elated for months after they announced their scheduled performance in New Jersey on May 10, but Babyface was forced to issue an apology after him and his band were asked not to perform.
The famous songwriter and producer took to his Instagram to explain what happened to his fans.
“I am truly sorry to my fans who have been waiting for us to hit the stage this evening at the Prudential Center. I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety. My band and I are extremely saddened that we didn’t get to perform for yall tonight.”
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Following Babyface’s post, many other celebrities took to his comment section to share their Anita Baker horror stories, including comedian Loni Love and singer Stephanie Mills.
But, despite the outcry of support from his celeb friends, fans and concertgoers called Bullshit and blasted Babyface and the concert venue for not being on time and for leaving the senior citizens on walkers and canes waiting for hours standing in line.
I was at the Anita Baker, Babyface show. Over 2-hr wait & a Babyface cancellation. I dont know who is at fault but @Ticketmaster needs to offer partial refunds. People using canes/wheelchairs were waiting in the lobby for 90 min cuz they wouldnt let us to our seats. Not cool.
— Clay 'Critical Thinking Theory' Cane (@claycane) May 11, 2023
One person wrote “Nah…don’t do it like that..:yall was late and the venue was from 7-11…2 artist with live bands is hard to do….people blaming Anita and nah they broke your stuff down from the stage at 8:20ish and put her stuff up which took close to an hour…why nobody was there at 6:30 to start at 7 behooves me…we gotta be to work 5 days a week on time …y’all 5-10 times a year…it’s the lack of respect for the consumer but @prucenter is not without fault because how did we pay for a suite and not get in it until 7:48pm???? don’t worry it will be in my certified letter tomorrow …. Esquire ????”
Another chimed, “Okay but this reads like it was Anita’s fault. I think you should clarify that the venue didn’t let people in until 90 min after the doors were initially supposed to open. And that everyone was doing sound check after the doors had opened…not that Anita stopped you from going on but I understand y’all running out of time ????”
Anita Baker is not being nasty to Babyface. The set started late bc of tech issues so his part of the show had to be cut otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to give a full show. He’s not being kicked off the tour or anything. That post was worded odd and y’all are dramatic. ????
— mini ???? (@_KayRie) May 11, 2023
What’s more unsettling than the lack of accountability from either artist is the fact that this was a makeup tour for Face and Baker citing a similar situation that happened in 2006 when Face sued Baker for canceling their shows together.
It is 2006 all over again….???? Anita Baker better run Babyface his coins pic.twitter.com/ylVpML9GWT
— σρнєℓια ɖ. ¢σχ ???????? (@BigBlacknBougie) May 11, 2023
It’s unfortunate that these icons can’t seem to get it together, hopefully the misunderstanding can be resolved without lawyers.
Checkout more fan comments below.
Luther's somewhere on the Ancestral Plane, watching all of the Anita Baker and Babyface discourse like… pic.twitter.com/cu8XdTOZZJ
— Nerdy Teddy (@ChoklateHulk) May 11, 2023
Stephanie Mills doesn’t fuck with Anita Baker like that. pic.twitter.com/ewnWvDfc0N
— LookAtDustin (@LookAtDustin) May 11, 2023
I bought my mama tickets to see Anita Baker for her birthday a some years back and she said Anita was late, drunk, and barefoot lol, so this tracks. https://t.co/XW45KNH2X3
— vmwf. (@torisneaux) May 11, 2023
Anita Baker and Babyface pic.twitter.com/xmC23RTQLC
— ????Shay-Boogie???????? (@HeartBreakSeun) May 11, 2023
Anita Baker needs to stop having Co-headliners if she going to continue to act this way. She did this a while back with Maxwell.
— Anthony Tilghman (@AnthonyTilghman) May 11, 2023
Listen. Anita Baker is one of the greats, no question. But those that know, know. This isn’t the first time she’s been called out for a lack of professionalism. Far from it.
— Church Gworl ????????????????♀️ (@_JordansLyric) May 11, 2023