We are all aware that Beyoncé is Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland is Kelly Rowland. But since the end of the platinum-selling girl group Destiny’s Child in the 2000s, Rowland has dealt with the narrative of living in Beyonce’s shadow. Now, Rowland and her fans agree that story is getting old.

The multi-talented star is currently on a press run for her new film, Fantasy Football, which Shadow And Act gave a first look at. (The Nickelodeon film is set to stream on Paramount+ Nov. 25.) Recently, Rowland, along with co-star Marsai Martain, sat with Peter Rosenberg on Ebro In The Morning, and during the interview, Rosenberg reviewed Rowland’s extensive career. He then brought up a recent interview she had with Angie Martinez. In her interview with Martinez, the two talked about her best friend, Beyoncé.

Using the interview as context for his point, Rosenberg then attempted to give Rowland her flowers — but he completely missed the mark.

“Angie gave you flowers for your ability to play second to Beyonce which … I can only speak for me, everyone gets into the entertainment business to be ‘the man,’ right? It does take an ego check.”

He even mentioned his personal ego issues working with fellow media personality Ebro. He then attempted to have Rowland explain her feelings about the exhausting comparisons to her former bandmate.

“You happen to be standing next to the brightest light on planet Earth. You think Big Boi from Outkast has it tough being next to Andre, you’re with Beyonce. And not only did you not have to fight it, like, you really loved the position you were in and took it seriously.’ 

The 41-year-old-singer allowed Rosenberg to finish and then politely put him in his place, saying, “Here’s the thing: Light attracts light. I am light. I am a beautiful, brown, shining light.”

She continued, “So, I don’t think anybody’s light dims anyone else’s. I think that when other people start to compare you, I think that’s when it shows how dim they are of themselves.”

“I don’t take someone else trying to dim my light anymore for anybody else. I love Bey, I know that she’s a light, but I know that I’m a light too,” she said, completing her statement.

Martin cheered Rowland on as she handled the question like the class act that she is.

As he fumbled through picking up the pieces of the interview. Rosenberg seemed to praise Rowland for staying true to her own art even with her best friend “being the biggest star in the world.”

To that, Rowland responded, “Yes, and her best friend-sister is one of the biggest stars in the world, too.”

She pointed to herself.

Clearly over the insinuations of her playing second fiddle, Rowland shut down the line of questions.

“People only see things one-sided, so I don’t like when they just put one person in one place. Like, we shine together.”

She noted the negative influence could be a man thing.

“It’s always been like patriarchy to me,” the singer opined.

Rowland ended the awkward moments on a positive note, praising her best friend, who has been a trailblazer in entertainment.

“Beyonce knocked down doors and made positions for so many women that look like her, and that are a deeper shade than her, but specifically for Black women. And [she] put Black women in other places that we’re grateful for.”

Although the singer was polite about the statements, her fans were not so understanding.

Media personality @MrJeromeTrammel  needs every interviewer to start putting some respect on “Thee Kelly Rowlands” name.

“Kelly called him out to his face & he still didn’t get it. Even, Marsai Martin caught it. Outside of Destiny’s Child, Thee Kelly Rowland is an international superstar, actress, author & businesswoman! She’s been in this industry 25+ years & in 2022 you’re still comparing?”

Podcaster @ratedRIAN thinks the Beyonce comparisons have run their course.

“The whole asking Kelly Rowland about Beyoncé is absolutely old and I need journalists and hosts to reallly get a grip and start asking Kelly about Kelly!”

Even comedian Loni Love shared her feelings about the audacity of his questions.

“Y’all this is why I think about getting back into interviews.. no woman should have to deal with this type of question… who raised you?!?! Shout out to @kellyrowland .. always a class act and knows who she is!!!”

 

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Rosenberg took on the firestorm of comments calling him out on Twitter and acknowledged he was in the wrong.

Beyonce KnowlesDestiny's ChildEbro in the morningKelly Rowland