Kelly Rowland made a dramatic exit from NBC’s “Today” show on Thursday, citing dissatisfaction with her dressing room as the reason, according to exclusive sources reported by Page Six.
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Kelly Rowland
The R&B singer and actress was scheduled to be a guest on the 8 a.m. hour of “Today” and was expected to fill in for Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour as a guest host of “Today with Hoda & Jenna.” However, she withdrew at the last minute due to her dissatisfaction with the dressing room, leaving Hoda Kotb scrambling to find a replacement.
Rowland, who appeared with Savannah Guthrie on the 8 a.m. hour to promote her Netflix film “Mea Culpa,” was meant to co-host the 10 a.m. hour with Hoda Kotb. However, her sudden departure left Kotb without a guest host for the 10 a.m. slot.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed, “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.”
The abrupt exit puzzled “Today” insiders, as Rowland is well-liked at the show, and she was scheduled to have the full hour. The unexpected turn of events left Hoda Kotb without her scheduled guest host, causing confusion among the show’s staff.
Rowland’s appearance on the show was intended to promote her new Netflix movie, “Mea Culpa,” which is produced by Tyler Perry. She both stars in the film and serves as a producer.
The discontent with the dressing room prompted Rowland and her team to inquire about an alternative green room upstairs. However, the upstairs room was already occupied by Jennifer Lopez, who had arrived at the studio earlier to promote her new album, “This Is Me… Now,” and her film project, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”
“Today” show dressing rooms are known to be some of the smallest in the TV industry, often described as “glorified closets” by insiders. The incident sparked a game of “musical dressing rooms,” where Rowland’s team explored different options to find a suitable space.
The incident highlights the challenges and demands that can arise behind the scenes of live television productions, even on popular shows like “Today,” where guest appearances are meticulously planned but can still encounter unexpected issues.
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