Anita Baker Calls for Resolution: Urges Babyface to Address Fans Amid Controversy Over Altered Opening Slot

Anita Baker • Babyface • Twitter: Anita Baker is engaged in an online dispute regarding Babyface's shortened opening set during a performance on her "Songstress Tour" in May. Baker has taken to public platforms to ask Babyface to control his fanbase, alleging that they have been cyberbullying and threatening her.

To provide context, Babyface was initially scheduled to make a surprise appearance as a guest on Baker's tour, which started in February and consisted of 15 cities. However, he did not perform at the New Jersey concert on May 10, and he explained on social media that his set was canceled to give Baker more time due to technical difficulties causing a late start.

Since then, according to a series of tweets by Baker, she has been facing hate from Babyface's fanbase. On June 9, she posted a tweet expressing her disappointment with Babyface's silence on the matter.

In a more direct tweet on Monday, Baker addressed Babyface and his followers, whom she referred to as "Kenny's Crazies," and suggested that he intervene and control his fans. Responding to several fans, Baker clarified that Babyface was a special guest/support act on her tour, not a co-headliner, and blamed the false narrative for creating unrealistic expectations and aggression from his fans towards her.

Some spectators assumed that Babyface was a co-headliner on the tour and held Baker responsible for his absence. Some ticket holders expressed their frustrations to Ticketmaster and Baker, even though the tour is solely hers and runs through December.

The assumption of Babyface as a co-headliner is not without reason, as he has an esteemed catalogue of solo hits and has also written and produced chart-topping songs for various artists.