Ellen DeGeneres and Pharrell Williams spread messages of love in the face of Kim Burrell's remarks
Ellen DeGeneres announced earlier this week that gospel legend Kim Burrell would not be performing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after footage of the singer preaching homophobic remarks circulated online.
Instead, Pharrell Williams, who was slated to perform a song from the film Hidden Figures with the singer, stopped by to spread a message of love and to denounce Burrell's statements.
"There's no space, there's no room for any kind of prejudice in 2017 and moving on," Williams said. "She's a fantastic singer and I love her just like I love everybody else."
"We all have to get used to everyone's differences and understand that this is a big, gigantic, beautiful, colorful world, and it only works with inclusion and empathy," Williams continued before expanding upon combatting decisiveness—alluding to President-elect Donald Trump's campaign.
"You have to choose what side you're on," he said. "I'm choosing empathy, I'm choosing inclusion, I'm choosing love for everybody and just trying to lift everyone....we can't win the other way."
Pharrell also denounced Burrell's comments on Twitter
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Similarly, Janelle Monáe and others involved with the film Hidden Figures, which features Burrell on its soundtrack, have distanced themselves from the singer's comments.
"I shouldn't even have to post this as you guys should already know where I stand but If you do not pls know I unequivocally repudiate ANY AND ALL hateful comments against the LGBTQ community," Monáe wrote on Instagram.
Even Frank Ocean's mother has asked for her son to crop out Burrell's voice from his latest project Blonde.
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While Burrell hasn't responded directly to these public denouncements, she has issued a non-apology via Facebook Live, citing the controversy as a misunderstanding of her opinions.
"I make no excuses or apologies. My love is as pure as it comes," she said.
Topics Ellen DeGeneres
