The beloved “Today” Show co-host Savannah Guthrie startled fans this morning by skipping the program. Don’t worry, she had a very good explanation for her absence: she was on a book tour for her most recent book, “Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere.”
To the encouragement of President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, her book tour even made a visit in Texas the day prior. You think this is a pretty good way to kick off a book tour?
However, not everyone who watched “Today” Show was thrilled about Guthrie’s book tour. An interview that aired prior to her travel infuriated a few of her supporters. Guthrie had an interview with actress and singer Kelly Rowland on her latest Netflix release, “Mea Cupla.” But things didn’t go as to plan.
During their conversation, Guthrie brought up Rowland’s gifted and close friend Beyoncé, who used to be a member of the female group Destiny’s Child with Rowland. Some people felt that Guthrie should have let Rowland speak about her own work instead of showcasing Beyoncé. “It’s very disrespectful to ask Kelly about Beyoncé every time she’s on your show,” one outraged viewer even said on social media.
Fans were even more enraged by Guthrie’s tenacity in trying to find out more information on Beyoncé. Many believed that Guthrie was prying into Rowland’s private life during the interview rather than focusing on her work and the film she was endorsing.
Whether or not Guthrie’s questions were offensive is up for debate today. But it’s clear that a lot of die-hard “Today” Show viewers weren’t happy with how the interview was conducted. This case has sparked conversations about appropriate interviewing practices and the value of respecting an interviewee’s boundaries.
It is obvious that Guthrie’s actions have had an impact on the devoted audience of “Today” Show, even though her exit from the program may not have anything to do with the unfavorable comments from the interview. Fans are eagerly awaiting her comeback, so we’re keen to see how the program will address the matter moving forward.
