Peter Rosenberg seems to be taking accountability for harping on the TIRED Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé comparisons.
During an Ebro In The Morning appearance, Kelly gathered Rosenberg after he said it seemed like she loved “playing second to Beyoncé.” He led his comment by saying Angie Martinez recently gave Kelly her flowers for playing the secondary role.
“You happened to be standing next to the brightest light on Planet Earth,” Rosenberg said. He added, “You’re with Beyoncé and not only did you not like fight it, it seems like you really loved the position that you were in and took it seriously.”
The singer, without hesitation, clocked his words with her response.
“Here’s the thing, light attracts light. I am light. So, I am a beautiful, brown shining light, so I don’t think anyone’s light dims anyone else’s,” Kelly replied. “I think that when other people start to compare you, I think that that’s when it shows how dim they are of themselves. So, I don’t take somebody else trying to dim my light anymore for anybody else. I love B, I know that she’s a light, but I know that I’m a light too.”
Interview Goes Viral, Rosenberg Says He Apologized To Kelly
Rosenberg’s question went viral, and after two Twitter users called him out in a thread, he admitted fault in his line of questioning.
“Lol I did get it…I hated my question…clumsy and stupid…dropped her a line to apologize for how it came off,” he replied.
lol i did get it…i hated my question …clumsy and stupid … dropped her a line to apologize for how it came off
— Real Late 2 Soon Come (@Rosenbergradio) November 16, 2022
One of the users, @IamHarmony, responded again, saying, “it was a bad question, Rosenberg, we hated it too. The constant comparison, mentioning or asking about Beyoncé when Kelly gets interviewed, is tiring, bro.” Rosenberg responded, saying he didn’t mean it that way but “totally gets it.”
Rosenberg followed up with a tweeted apology at Kelly writing, “I messed up, sorry @kellyrowland, wasn’t remotely my intention but intentions don’t always matter, I will take the L.”
I messed up . Sorry @KELLYROWLAND …
wasn’t remotely my intention but intentions don’t always matter. I will take the L …
still playing Nelly and Kelly at my wedding https://t.co/sIbtXRvcrG
— Real Late 2 Soon Come (@Rosenbergradio) November 17, 2022
Kelly Says Her And Beyoncé Shine TOGETHER
But, Rosenberg’s tweeted replies paint a different picture than his persistence during the interview. Even after the award-winning singer, actress, author and entrepreneur boasted her light; he doubled down on his comparison questioning. When he tried to paint the question from Kelly’s point-of-view, saying, “my best friend is the biggest star in the world,” she interrupted him with another clapback.
“Yes, and her best friend slash sister is one of the biggest stars in the world, too,” Kelly said. “So, it’s like people only see things one-sided, you know what I mean. So I don’t like when they just put one person in one place like we both shine together.”
Kelly continued her statement, pointing to Marsai Martin, who was sitting next to her, as someone she was presently shining with. The singer explained that people are getting into the space of believing only one person can shine at a time.
“My sister has knocked down doors and made positions for so many women that look like her, that are a deeper shade than her…but specifically for Black women and put Black women in other places that we’re grateful for. But also somebody else did that for her, and another group has done that for us, and I do it for other brown girls,” Kelly said. “It’s just a cycle and a space for all of us to open up doors for each other instead of compare. Don’t be so limited and I feel like people who compare are so limited in their minds. And they limit themselves, so don’t limit other people.”
At this point, Ebro stepped in, and they spoke about this mindset, particularly affecting the Black community and culture. The rest of the interview also leaned into Marsai and Kelly’s roles in the upcoming film Fantasy Football.
Social Media Comes To Kelly’s Defense
Given the YEARS of Kelly tackling the same line of questioning, social media’s responses to Rosenberg weren’t too kind.
The problem is Kelly Rowland has been dealing with this disrespect for way too long. For decades! It’s not JUST about Rosenberg.
— TheeJuicer (https://linktr.ee/CandiceBunnyTree) (@TheeMusicJuicer) November 18, 2022
Peter Rosenberg: “Kelly, how does it feel to still be second to Beyoncé?…”
Kelly Rowland: pic.twitter.com/QDO0h8CFp4
— Unknown Beauty 🦄 (@2beAbeauty) November 17, 2022
I’m not trying to see Kelly Rowland act gracious while Peter Rosenberg asks her stupid questions about “playing second to Beyoncé”.
— Coolness941 (fan account) (@Coolness941) November 16, 2022
It’s y’all’s fault for even allowing Peter Rosenberg in black media. Tf he interviewing Kelly Rowland for???? Was Nessa busy ??
— Yoncé offspring✌🏾 (@THATBITCHJAY__) November 17, 2022
Aye, Rosenberg @Rosenbergradio, get in tune to Kelly Rowland being her own person and woman, outside of the group she started in… Unless she brings up that group or other members first, you really shouldn’t be mentioning any of them/that in an interview with her these days…
— Keith (@KeithJ801) November 17, 2022
After all these years and many successful SOLO projects you would think @HOT97 & Rosenberg would have some RESPECT for Kelly.
We don’t need click bait / repetitive offensive questions asking someone how it feels to live in someone else light? KELLY is a LIGHT and a vocal goddess
— Kesha Brooks (@Xclusivekesh) November 16, 2022
that was a very classy and thorough response from kelly because rosenberg tried it
— exhausted. (@thatgirlsamxo) November 17, 2022
Rosenberg interview shows how radio host are not on the pulse anymore , their skills aren’t what they used to or need to be . Still carrying this narrative in 2022 about Kelly & Beyoncé is just bad form as an interviewer .
— Fourth Sister (@TvTrashtalker) November 17, 2022
First of all Kelly is so gorgeous 😍like wow. 2nd, this was such a lazy and rude question to ask her. Like come on 🙄 the part of me that used to want to be a journalist is very annoyed with Rosenberg https://t.co/bmfmnA2aDW
— bria (@briamcdaniel) November 17, 2022
Its funny because her and Marsai Martin did a breakfast club interview right before Hot97 and Beyonce was not mentioned once, the interview was about Kelly Rowland and Marsai Martin not sure why Rosenberg brought her up when they are promoting a movie
— Lawrence Jarrett (@LawrenceJarret4) November 17, 2022
