Quiet storm legend Anita Baker has been touring with her fellow R&B icon Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and now they're feuding — or rather, Babyface's fans are feuding with Baker. As TMZ explains, last month Babyface's opening set at the pair's show in Newark was cut short after starting nearly two hours late, and now she says his recent sets have been going too long, pressing well into the timeframe when the headliner is supposed to be onstage. According to Baker, her complaints about this trend have led to a wave of online harassment from Babyface fans who won't concede that he's booked as a special guest on her Songstress Tour, not a co-headliner.
In a series of expressive tweets over the past two days, Baker has argued that Babyface is breaching his contract and needs to make way for the headliner in a timely fashion. She also has called on Babyface to tell "Kenny's Crazies" to stand down. "Out of Kindness & Community, you Gift🎁 them $200k worth ofProduction/that YOU Pay for..." Baker wrote in the first of these tweets Sunday afternoon, which also invoked the history of American slavery. "And, Still, they Complain & hold up, the show⏰ Annnd, Slander & *Villanize, Your name to social media blogs & press." Today Baker asserted, "There is A White man, behind these Grown Black Men... harrassing Me &Gaslighting, My Fans. Because he Cant take over, this Tour... sO? He wants to Destroy it." Plus, she alleged that Babyface hates Beyoncé.
It's all a lot to take in, but you'll get the gist by perusing Baker's tweets below.
Out of Kindness & Community, you Gift? them $200k worth of Production/that YOU Pay for... And, Still, they Complain & hold up, the show⏰ Annnd, Slander & *Villanize, Your name to social media blogs & press#Massa&Plantation pic.twitter.com/yO1UXvBKte
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 11, 2023
It was 9:30pm.
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 11, 2023
*Contractually?...
It was WAAAY Past time 4 the Headline Performer, to be On Stage/Anita Baker
Support Act ❤️did Not Perform.
I have No Contract with Support Act❤️Not my Call
I Did what i was *Contracted 2 do & Love, as Headline Performer, of my Sold Out Concert pic.twitter.com/es6PJGNOmz
This Truth? Will never Reach all of the Places & People that The Slander & Intentional Fake News has been, *deliberatly Sent 2*
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 11, 2023
I dont really, do Press. It's Exhausting. I simply prefer to Sing?❤️
I'm Praying the Truth reaches My Global?? Fan Base & My Reputation is Restored pic.twitter.com/5ZLYJ9ZNNu
Support Act's❤️ Equipment was On Stage For HOURS⏰ Prior my Set amid Video wall Failure... But, With Live Musicians? We. PLAY. ANYway?
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
Why did they, Not Perform?
I/Anita did Nothing to Prevent their Live/to Track, Performance.?... Other ppl? Tech issue?#AskThem pic.twitter.com/PBkLyrI0y7
Not P.R. worthy, 2 simply say, maybe Promoter/Others? Said, Performance Slot has passed⏰ Massa, Alerts the Industry Blogs & media & Say ANITA BAKER, is responsible... Her name will Get Attention. Industry Bloggers will Intimidate & Bully her N2 fearful silence pic.twitter.com/myNK4JJ4LF
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
Dearest one. You are Not, privy to *The Contracts*. 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. He should tell you guys, the Truth https://t.co/avBuMPO60b pic.twitter.com/oOeSVfg7DZ
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
As you can see... Some of his fans, are Not accepting of the Reality, that he is Contracted, as Special Guest/Support, on My Tour Some even want to hurt me...
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
Crazyyyy. Town. pic.twitter.com/RlqpkRuGYk
Good Morning, to... Kenny's Crazies, who continue to Harrass https://t.co/pb6NdpEO0W
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
Kenny's Crazies are online Bullies. @Babyface Please call off, your fans. I have been Only Kind and Supportive, of You, as the Special Guest/Support, on My Tour
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
ABXO? https://t.co/1nxnrcqL5j
https://twitter.com/IAMANITABAKER/status/1668285541962641409
I Fought & WON? that Case tOO! 20 YEARS Ago?And NOW, i'm More Successful Than EVER??
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
it does'nt Diminish @Babyface, Mngr Conracted, as My Special Guest/Support Act, to HELP Expose, him 2 My Arena Size Fan Base... It HELPs Him... Bye, to Kenny's Creepy Crazies https://t.co/pb6NdpEO0W pic.twitter.com/Jo4Us8zjNg
There is A White man, behind these Grown Black Men... harrassing Me & Gaslighting, My Fans. Because he Cant take over, this Tour... sO? He wants to Destroy it.
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 12, 2023
Kenny's Crazy Narcissist@Babyface call off, your Boys https://t.co/z8M3JH3yUO
UPDATE: Baker has announced that Babyface will not perform on the remainder of her tour. "After Silently, Enduring Cyber Bulling/Verbal Abuse & Threats of Violence from the Fan Base, of Our Special Guest❤️/Support Act. In the Interest of Personal Safety. I will continue, The Songstress Tour, alone," she writes on Twitter. "Appropriate refunds will be made."
#AnitaBaker After Silently, Enduring Cyber Bulling/Verbal Abuse & Threats of Violence from the Fan Base, of Our Special Guest❤️/Support Act. In the Interest of Personal Safety. I will continue, The Songstress Tour, alone. Appropriate refunds will be made.
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) June 13, 2023
Blessings?
ABXO? pic.twitter.com/P7OzVdiEPm
Babyface responded to being removed in a statement: "I am saddened by the news that Anita Baker has decided to remove me from The Songstress Tour. It's unfortunate and disheartening to see how things have played out via social media," he wrote. "While I was looking forward to the rest of the dates, I have nothing but love & respect for Anita and I wish her the best for the remainder of her tour."
— Babyface (@babyface) June 13, 2023
