Anita Baker, the renowned singer, has been forced to remove Babyface, the legendary record producer, from her 15-city “Songstress Tour” due to online harassment from his fans. Baker announced on Twitter that she has been enduring cyberbullying, verbal abuse, and threats of violence, and that she will continue the tour alone in the interest of personal safety.
Anita Baker kicks Babyface off her tour after accusing his fans of ‘cyberbullying’ her
She also urged Babyface to call off his fans, whom she dubbed “Kenny’s Crazies,” from gaslighting and harassing her. The singer shared a new poster promoting the tour without Babyface, and the trek will continue in nine more cities, concluding on December 23 in Oakland, California.
Since Baker’s announcement, Babyface expressed his sadness and respect for her decision, wishing her the best for the remainder of her tour. The “Songstress Tour” will make stops in Houston, Dallas, Memphis, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Chicago, where it will continue on June 30 at the United Center.
Anita Baker was “caught up in the rapture” of Babyface’s fans.
The singer announced Tuesday that the legendary record producer will no longer be part of her 15-city “Songstress Tour” due to the online harassment she has allegedly faced from his fans.
“After Silently, Enduring Cyber Bulling/Verbal Abuse & Threats of Violence from the Fan Base, of Our Special Guest ❤️/Support Act,” she tweeted.
“In the Interest of Personal Safety. I will continue, The ‘Songstress Tour,’ alone. Appropriate refunds will be made. Blessings 🎁.”
Baker, 65, also shared a new poster promoting the tour — sans Babyface, 64. The next show is set for June 30 in Chicago at the United Center.
Following Baker’s announcement, Babyface shared a statement on Instagram, saying that he was “saddened” by her decision to remove him from the tour.
“It’s unfortunate and disheartening to see how things have played out via social media,” the hitmaker added. “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.”
TheFantasyTimes has reached out to Babyface’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.
News of the “Two Occasions” crooner’s removal comes more than a month after his opening set was unexpectedly cut from their May 10 tour stop in New Jersey due to technical issues.
“I am truly sorry to my fans who have been waiting for us to hit the stage this evening at the Prudential Center,” Babyface wrote in a statement on Instagram at the time. “I was asked not to perform in order to give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety.
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“My band and I are extremely saddened we didn’t get to perform for y’all tonight.”
Since then, Baker claimed she has been the target of relentless hate from the “Whip Appeal” singer’s fans.
On Monday, she tweeted that Babyface — whose real name is Kenneth Edmonds — needed to correct the “false narrative” that he and his band were co-headlining the tour, adding that the confusion is “creating Unrealistic Expectations & Aggression, from his fans towards me.”
“He should tell you guys, the Truth,” she wrote.
The “Same Ole Love” songstress also urged Babyface to call off his fans — whom she dubbed “Kenny’s Crazies” — from allegedly gaslighting and harassing her.
The “Songstress Tour” has to make stops in nine more cities, including Houston, Dallas, Memphis, Detroit and Los Angeles.
The trek is set to conclude on Dec. 23 in Oakland, Calif.
