Gospel singer Kim Burrell apologized to the LGBTQ+ community for past homophobic comments while accepting the 2024 Stellar Awards.
The Grammy-nominated artist spoke at the Aretha Franklin Icon Award ceremony: “We want them to be strong and we want them to know in their hearts that we all have to embrace all of God’s people and strive to show God’s love to all,” the singer said, drawing applause.
“I hope that tonight, this award and this moment will be the beginning of building bridges and listening to one another as we pursue peace with all people and develop the Godly character that requires us to see God.”
Burrell has come under fire over the past few years for making derogatory remarks about the gay community. In 2017, he preached at Houston’s Love and Liberty Fellowship Church, calling people who engage in homosexual acts “perverts” and deceived by a “gay mentality,” according to GLAAD.
Her comments caused a domino effect of backlash and got her banned from Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, with Burrell trying to clarify that she wasn’t referring to the LGBTQ+ community.
“I never said all gay people are going to hell. I never said ‘LGBT’… I said ‘sin,'” Burrell said.
The artist also once publicly speculated that the late Bishop Eddie Long had HIV/AIDS and was hiding the fact that he was gay. “Nothing has ever been more heartbreaking than watching Bishop Eddie Long lose everything,” she said. “It’s an embarrassment for the church because no one is going to say you have AIDS unless a gay man comes out and reveals what he was doing behind closed doors… they still haven’t denied it.”
As the latest video spread across social media, users didn’t seem too receptive to Burrell’s apology, with some claiming it was sarcastic, while others criticized her condescending tone. “Kim Burrell never tires of being sarcastic,” @vettetuck wrote on TikTok.
“I wasn’t asking for it, but trust is built when actions and words match,” @marcjohnson said.
On X, users expressed similar concerns about her apology. “A classic example of condescending behavior,” @studio_stedma wrote.
The singer’s other comments drew backlash: She said that in 2022 churchgoers should avoid “poor” and “ugly” people.
During a guest appearance at Kingdom City Church, Burrell told church members not to sing along while he was performing his solo.
Related content: Gospel singer Kim Burrell receives backlash after criticizing “poor” and “ugly” members of her congregation
