Photo credit: MC2 Erica R. Gardner, USN
Anita Baker is asking Babyface to ‘call’ his fans after his abridged opening set sparked online bullying and threats at a performance on her Songstress Tour.
Songbird Anita Baker has publicly called on musician Babyface to “call away” his loyal fan base, claiming she threatened and bullied them online for his cut-opening sets during a May performance of her “Songstress Tour.”
The feud stems from Babyface appearing as a surprise guest on Baker’s 15-city tour, which kicked off in February. He was scheduled to open their New Jersey concert on May 10, but didn’t show up at the Prudential Center that night. He explained in one tweet that his set was cut to allow for headliner Anita Baker to perform due to the show starting late due to technical issues.
“I’m really sorry for my fans who have been waiting for us to get on stage tonight,” Babyface tweeted in May. “I was asked not to perform to give Ms. Baker space and time to fully perform her show.”
Baker explains in a series of tweets that she has since struggled with hatred from his fans. On June 9th she tweeted about Babyface’s silence on the subject.
“When a friend is attacked by your friends for misinformation/fake news and you have an opportunity to say/correct something? That’s a beautiful thing. It’s the right thing. Reputation, peace and security are important,” Baker writes.
On June 12, Baker wrote directly to Babyface tweet and asks him to “call back” his fans who have been sending her threats. The legendary diva also tried to clarify that Babyface was an opening act on her tour, not a co-headliner – numerous fans had assumed Babyface was co-headlining the tour and that his absence was due to Baker’s decision.
“Yes, Babyface is (a) special guest/support act on my tour. This false narrative from a co-headliner creates unrealistic expectations and aggression towards me from his fans,” she writes. “He should tell you the truth.”
Baker has since announced that due to the ongoing feud and Babyface’s continued silence on the matter, she will continue her tour alone and that “appropriate refunds will be made” through Ticketmaster.