Fans of the popular “Today” Show were taken aback when co-host Savannah Guthrie did not appear on the show this morning. She was on a book tour for her most recent book, “Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere,” so don’t worry, she had a very good reason for being absent.
Former First Lady Laura Bush and former President George W. Bush even supported her during her book tour stop in Texas the day before. Wouldn’t you agree that this was quite an impressive beginning to a book tour?
But not all “Today” Show viewers were ecstatic about Guthrie’s book tour. An interview that aired prior to her departure for her tour caused some fans to become upset. Singer and actress Kelly Rowland discussed her upcoming Netflix movie, “Mea Cupla,” with Guthrie during the interview. However, things didn’t work out as planned.
Guthrie brought up Rowland’s close friend, the gifted Beyoncé, who was formerly with Rowland in the girl group Destiny’s Child, during their talk. Guthrie’s focus on Beyoncé rather than giving Rowland the opportunity to talk about her own work was viewed by fans as disrespectful. “Asking Kelly about Beyoncé every time she’s on your show is very disrespectful,” one irate fan wrote on social media.
When Guthrie continued to try to find out more about Beyoncé, fans became even more irate. Many people felt that instead of concentrating on Rowland’s career and the movie she was promoting, Guthrie was intruding into her personal life during the interview.
It is still debatable whether Guthrie’s inquiries were actually offensive. However, it is evident that a large number of devoted “Today” Show viewers were dissatisfied with the manner in which the interview was conducted. Discussions concerning interview etiquette and the value of honoring an interviewee’s boundaries have been triggered by this incident.
It’s clear that Guthrie’s actions have affected loyal viewers of the “Today” Show, even though her absence from the show may not be directly related to the backlash against her interview. We’re curious about how the show will handle the controversy and proceed as fans anxiously anticipate her return.
Watch the video below to see the entire interview if you want to form your own opinion in the interim.
