Super-producer and musician Pharrell Williams appeared on Ellen without his scheduled partner in performance, Kim Burrell. The gospel singer's had one hectic week, with backlash stemming from her homophobic comments during a church sermon. Most were surprised with her remarks, seeing as though Burrell was featured on Frank Ocean's Blonde and her music has received praise from the LGBT community for years.
Before addressing the elephant in the room, the interview started off on a lighter note with Williams announcing that he and his wife, Helen, were expecting their second child together. He also spoke of the Hidden Figures soundtrack, his involvement with the film's score and just how imperative it is for women's narratives to be broadcast.
"There’s no space, there’s no room for any kind of prejudice in 2017 or moving on," he said emphatically. "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. It only works that way. Live and let live. Love and let love."
Ellen agreed, speaking of her own personal experiences. "As someone who has received a lot of hate and prejudice and discrimination because of who I choose to love, I just don’t understand anyone who has experienced that kind of oppression or anything like that, now…it only gives me more compassion. It gives me more empathy. I don’t ever want anyone to feel hurt because they are different."
Burrell has since been removed from other media outlets in the wake of the controversy.
Watch the full video above.
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