Kelly Rowland Ditches ‘Today’ Show as Guest Host Over Subpar Dressing Room Conditions
Kelly Rowland Ditches ‘Today’ Show as Guest Host Over Subpar Dressing Room Conditions
Kelly Rowland exited NBC’s Today Show on Thursday morning in a sudden departure, prompted by dissatisfaction with her dressing room, according to exclusive sources of Page Six.
The R&B artist and actress was scheduled to appear during the 8 a.m. hour of Today Show followed by a stint as a guest host for Jenna Bush Hager on the fourth hour of Today with Hoda & Jenna.
However, discontent with the condition of her dressing room led Rowland to withdraw last minute, leaving Hoda Kotb in an urgent search for a substitute, insiders reported.
“Kelly and her team were not happy. They did not like the dressing room, so they decided to pull her off the show, leaving [Kotb] without a guest host for the 10 a.m. hour,” a source familiar with the situation told Page Six.
Kelly Rowland’s appearance on the show was intended to promote her latest project, the Tyler Perry-produced Netflix movie “Mea Culpa,” in which she not only stars but also serves as a producer.
Her sudden departure left those within the Today Show bewildered, given her well-regarded status on the program. “She’s beloved at ‘Today.’ She was getting the full hour, and Hoda’s the biggest hype woman on the planet! It made no sense,” remarked a source.
Rowland and her entourage were involved in what could be described as a dramatic session of “musical dressing rooms,” according to sources.
They requested a switch to a green room upstairs, dissatisfied with the one initially assigned to her. However, this desired room was already taken by Jennifer Lopez, who had arrived earlier at the studio to promote her new album, “This Is Me… Now,” along with her film project, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”
It’s worth noting that the “Today” show’s dressing rooms are reputed to be among the smallest in the television industry, essentially amounting to what one insider dubbed “glorified closets.”
“The dressing rooms are far from luxurious. Given it’s the oldest building, there are significant space constraints, leading to a lack of glamor. You won’t find fresh flowers, candles, or gourmet food there. It’s essentially just a white box,” a television insider explained.
Despite these limitations, “Today” show producers did attempt to accommodate Rowland by presenting her with several alternative options. These included multiple talent dressing rooms and some considerably larger spaces designated for makeup and hair preparation.
Despite the show’s efforts to provide alternatives, “they weren’t satisfied with the options provided, leading to their decision to leave,” according to the insider.
Fortunately for Hoda Kotb — Rita Ora stepped in to cover for Rowland’s absence. Sources indicate that Rita Ora readily accepted a dressing room similar to the one initially assigned to the former Destiny’s Child member, demonstrating a flexible and accommodating attitude.
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