Anita Baker drops Babyface from Songstress tour after claims of cyberbullying from fans

Babyface has been dumped.

After a week of answering criticism on social media following the singer-songwriter-super producer’s absence from the stage during a May tour stop, Anita Baker has dropped him from the remainder of her The Songstress tour.

In a series of comma- and emoji-laden posts on Twitter, Baker blamed cyberbullying from Babyface’s fans for the decision shared Tuesday; and said she feared for her safety. On Monday she’d dubbed those fans Kenny's Crazies, said they had been threatening her and called for Babyface – born Kenneth Edmonds – to speak up on her behalf.

Fans react to Babyface, Baker 'beef': 'I had my heart set on seeing the both of them'

“After silently enduring cyber bullying, verbal abuse and threats of violence from the fan base of our special guest/support act…in the interest of personal safety, I will continue The Songstress Tour alone,” she said. “Appropriate refunds will be made.”

Babyface on Tuesday said he was saddened about being removed from the tour.

“It’s unfortunate and disheartening to see how things have played out via social media,” he posted to his social media accounts. “While I was looking forward to the rest of the dates, I have nothing but love and respect for Anita and I wish her the best for the remainder of her tour.”

Baker, 65, had called on Indy native Babyface to discourage his supporters from dragging her and to clarify the cause of the delay of a May 10 concert in Newark, New Jersey, that left Babyface out of the show – a malfunctioning video wall that was part of his stage production.

Baker alluded to providing $200,000 for Babyface's production "and, still, they complain and hold up the show."

The 15-date tour that started in February had already completed six shows, including the Newark show that began more than two hours after its scheduled 7 p.m. start.

'Kenny's Crazies': Anita Baker says Babyface fans are bullying her over cut performance

When Babyface told followers on his social media platforms that night that he was asked to not perform so that Baker could perform her full set, many fans and celebs concluded that Baker had cut his set and derided the quiet storm format queen.

Posts brought up reported conflicts with other entertainers, spanning from a 1988 co-headlining tour with Luther Vandross to a 2018 encounter with Disney Channel child star China Anne McClain’s mom.

Folks were leaving negative reviews of the May 10 show on the Ticketmaster site into June.

On May 11, Babyface explained to media that production crews were unable to get a video screen running in time for his performance.

"I am incredibly sorry to the fans and have nothing but love and respect for Anita," he said at the time.

Outside of that statement and a post thanking her at a subsequent concert stop, Babyface had not commented on the canceled set, weighed in on Baker’s social media activity or responded to those who have been critical of her regarding the incident before Tuesday.

It's not the first tiff between the two over working together.

Babyface in 2006 filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Baker, claiming she owed him for producing her 2004 song “Like You Used to Do,” which he co-wrote as well performed on;  and that she broke an agreement to play four concerts with him, canceling two of those dates.

Baker last week said on Twitter that she prevailed in the lawsuit and there were no hard feelings between the two performers.

Many mistakenly thought that Babyface, among R&B’s most decorated artists, was a co-headliner on the tour, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the release Baker’s first solo album, “The Songstress.”

Baker has eight Grammy Awards and multi-platinum albums.

And Babyface, 64, isn’t exactly a slouch at entertainment.

This year marks a milestone anniversary for him, as well, marking 40 years since his arrival on music charts with the 1983 debut album of his group The Deele (“Body Talk”) and the release of Midnight Star’s “Slow Jam,” which he co-wrote.

Babyface cut from show: Fans respond to Anita Baker's diva behavior.

The North Central High School grad has 12 Grammys and 50 nominations, including wins for Producer of the Year each year from 1996 through 1998; and has produced or written hits for the likes of Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Fall Out Boy, Whitney Houston and Madonna. His LaFace Records label (co-founded with L.A. Reid) launched the recording careers of Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, Pink and Outkast.

The internet is still sending accolades to him for the NRP Tiny Desk concert dropped on Friday.

The next date on Baker's The Songstress tour is June 30 with a stop in Chicago and then July 2 with a Detroit show.  Seven other shows, none in Indianapolis, are slated for November and December.

Contact the reporter at 317-444-6264.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Anita Baker drops Babyface from tour after Twitter dispute with fans