When friends informed her that people still were “hurt,” Burrell says, she decided to post the video. “I came back because I do love you,” she says. “This ain’t about dates. This ain’t about keeping my career. This is about keeping love real. I love you guys so much, and I’m really, truly sorry. I did not want to hurt you. … I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart.”
Kim Burrell Has Made Controversial Comments Before
In 2017, Burrell’s scheduled appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show was cancelled after video surfaced of the singer saying gay people have a “perverted homosexual spirit” and will die because of their sins. After this week’s controversy, some people on social media referenced that earlier incident.
“Kim Burrell has BEEN problematic,” someone tweets, adding, “People are arguing semantics about this most recent clip and trying to decipher what she actually meant, but it doesn’t matter. Her reputation precedes her.” Another person points out that gay people “called it on Kim Burrell… We remember.”
Author Shanita Hubbard tweets, “I wrote about the dynamics in the Black church that harm Black women. Sometimes Black women like Kim Burrell are the ones doing the harm in the church. From taking shots at underprivileged people to the ignorant comments about Covid, this should never be allowed.”
Burrell’s pastor, Mike Freeman, says he will offer counsel to the singer and indicates she will continue to minister. “We don’t shoot the soldier, we nurse them,” he tells TMZ.
