The reason why singer/actor Kelly Rowland abruptly left the Today Show on Friday has been revealed.
On February 16, Kelly Rowland was set to co-host Today when she unexpectedly left the show without fulfilling her hosting duties. As a result, the show scrambled for a backup enlisting fellow singer/actor Rita Ora to fill in.
Well, this happened! We had two minutes to prepare ahhh, thank you @HodaAndJenna for asking me to co-host the show… Everyone was so lovely and kind, I had SO much fun doing it!! ???????????? Love to everyone that tuned in, maybe we should do more??!!! pic.twitter.com/zbf4HGC9va
— Rita Ora (@RitaOra) February 16, 2024
Now, sources are claiming that the reason why Rowland left the show in a hurry was because she was unhappy with the accommodations she was given. Specifically, Rowland was unhappy her dressing room.
“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,” an insider alleged to People. “[The show] basically offered up as much as possible, but they weren’t happy with it, so they walked and they left.”
Rowland was set to co-host with Hoda Kotb in Jenna Bush Hager’s absence and promote her new Netflix film Mea Culpa. Instead, Rita Ora fulfilled the role.
In fact, it’s reported that Ora offered to fill in when she learned the show was in a bind. The insider went on to say that Today staffers “were impressed with how great [Ora] was.”
Kelly Rowland nor her team has responded to the allegations. Despite the reports, Kelly stunned on the red carpet for the premiere of Mea Culpa alongside the show’s creator Tyler Perry just hours after the snafu.
“Grateful,” Kelly wrote following the premiere. “Thank You to everyone who came out, showed out (cause everyone looked so fly) flew out, to support, it lit up my heart, in such a way! I wish everyone could experience watching it, the way we watched it las tnight! NYC energy was INSANE!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!!♥️♥️ ‘Mea Culpa’ out February 23rd!!”