With adulation received from the likes of Whitney Houston, Beyonce, The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, and some of the biggest names in music over the years, Kim Burrell was easily one of Gospel music’s most revered voices.
That was, until a sermon she preached in late 2016 went viral for featuring language many deemed homophobic.
Leading to an unceremonious fallout (see: dropped from radio and TV shows, slammed by celebrities, uninvited from award shows, etc.), the damage done to the legendary diva’s career has seemed irreparable – a status she waxed honest about on the ‘Tamron Hall Show’ Thursday (September 29).
While dishing with the daytime hostess, Kim not only discussed the backlash from that incident (including behind the scenes drama with her former longtime friend Yolanda Adams) but also defended herself against more recent drama from yet another controversial sermon.
More inside.
Chatting it up with Hall, Kim revisited the uproar from a shocking sermon that went viral earlier this year where she urged parishioners to “choose” their friends wisely – touting the need to probe whether they are “broke”, “living in a trailer,” or “have a light bill in their cousin’s name.”
As seen in the video above, the 50-year-old echoed the sentiment found inside her video apology about the matter released days after the incident first made headlines.
“I’m not in any way mentally, spiritually, physically challegend to the degree that I have to choose people to be mean to,” she said to Tamron – suggesting the backlash from the incident was more “bandwagoning” than people’s true feelings. “My intentions were pure. I was making an analogy. I was honoring the pastor and making an analogy about his personality; I just didn’t word it to where they could understand.”
Later in the clip, Burrell reiterated that she is not any more remorseful now than she was then. Ultimately, she believes the ad-libbed statements were “encouragement.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Kim talked about a personal fallout between herself and fellow Gospel giant Yolanda Adams, who she suggests surprisingly distanced herself when the embattled star was at the height of backlash from an anti-LGBTQ+ sermon.
“I was disappointed, because we’ve all shared the same stage, back rooms, and green rooms, and some of their public display in conversation is somewhat opposite of what it is behind stage,” Burrell continued. “I would’ve much preferred, especially dealing with gospel, Yolanda Adams, we’re both from Houston, Texas, to pick up the cell phone and say, ‘Hey, I have a career to save, and I can’t agree with your stance right now, I need to say something different to my public.’ I would’ve preferred that.”
Hall, who is also friends with Adams, quickly redirected the commentary.
At writing, Adams has not responded to Kim’s comments.
Who cares…. Kim Burrell is fat, hateful and irrelevant. Could someone name any of her hits? Didn’t think so! Yolanda is the Queen of Contemporary Gospel Music. We Stan🥰
Shame on Tamron for giving this fool a platform.
She seems mentally ill. Can’t take accountability or responsibility for her actions.
Can stand this tool
This woman is constantly trying to create an excuse or diversion instead of dealing with and facing her own comments made as a reflection of her snotty, ‘too good for others” attitude.
The fame and accolades have definitely gone to her head. I assume there was some animosity between her and some of the people in that church, which is why she made those comments. She seems like a defensive person who needs to always have the last word.