Fans of the popular “Today” Show were stunned this morning to see co-host Savannah Guthrie missing from the show. While co-host Hoda Kotb briefly explained her absence, Craig Melvin filled in for Guthrie. But why wasn’t Guthrie on the show?
Guthrie was on a book tour for her most recent release, “Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere.” The day before, she visited Texas and received backing from former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. What a great beginning to a book tour!
However, viewers of the “Today” Show were not pleased with Guthrie’s book tour. Their dissatisfaction arose from an interview that aired before her tour. During the conversation, Guthrie asked singer and actress Kelly Rowland about her upcoming Netflix film, “Mea Culpa.” However, it wasn’t just about the movie.
Guthrie mentioned Rowland’s close friend, Beyoncé, a former member of the girl group Destiny’s Child. Fans said it was rude to focus on Beyoncé during an interview about Rowland’s own work. One fan expressed irritation on social media, saying, “Very disrespectful to ask…[Rowland] about Beyoncé every freaking time she comes on your show.”
Fans were further irritated by Guthrie’s persistence on learning more about Beyoncé, which made it appear as if she was prying into Rowland’s personal life rather than focused on her career and the film she was promoting.
While it is still debated whether Guthrie’s questions were rude, it is apparent that many “Today” Show viewers were dissatisfied with how the interview was done. This episode spurred concerns regarding interview etiquette and the need of respecting the interviewee’s boundaries.
Although Guthrie’s absence from the show is not directly related to the interview controversy, it is clear that her actions have had an impact on the show’s loyal followers. As fans eagerly await her return, many question how the “Today” show will handle the scandal and go forward.
To watch the entire interview and determine for yourself whether Guthrie’s questions were rude, see the videos below: