This morning, fans of the popular “Today” Show were surprised to find co-host Savannah Guthrie absent from the show. While her absence was briefly explained by co-host Hoda Kotb, it was Craig Melvin who filled in for Guthrie. But why was Guthrie not on the show?
It turns out that Guthrie was on a book tour for her latest work, titled “Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere.” Just the day before, she had a stop in Texas where she received support from former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. Quite an exciting start to a book tour!
However, fans of the “Today” Show weren’t too thrilled about Guthrie’s book tour. Their dissatisfaction stemmed from an interview that aired prior to her tour. During the interview, Guthrie asked singer and actress Kelly Rowland about her upcoming Netflix film, “Mea Cupla.” But it wasn’t just about the movie.
Guthrie brought up Rowland’s close friend, Beyoncé, and former member of the girl group Destiny’s Child. Fans felt that it was disrespectful to focus on Beyoncé during an interview about Rowland’s own work. One fan even took to social media, expressing their frustration and stating, “Very disrespectful to ask… [Rowland] about Beyoncé every freaking time she comes on your show.”
Fans were further frustrated by Guthrie’s insistence on getting more information about Beyoncé, making it feel like she was prying into Rowland’s personal life instead of focusing on her career and the film she was promoting.
While it’s still up for debate whether Guthrie’s questions were disrespectful or not, it’s clear that many fans of the “Today” Show were not happy with how the interview was conducted. This incident has sparked discussions about interview etiquette and the importance of respecting the boundaries of the interviewee.
Although Guthrie’s absence from the show may not be directly related to the interview backlash, it’s evident that her actions have had an impact on the show’s dedicated viewers. As fans eagerly await her return, they wonder how the “Today” Show will address the controversy and move forward.
To watch the full interview and decide for yourself whether Guthrie’s questions were disrespectful, you can check out the videos below: