The Power cast, including Naturi Naughton and 50 Cent, appeared on ABC’s Strahan & Sara, where they discussed the controversy around co-star Omari Hardwick kissing Beyoncé.
In April, the series’ lead actor faced backlash from the Beyhive, a group of dedicated Beyonce fans, after he gave the “Hold Up” singer two kisses on the cheek and a hug at the 2019 NAACP Awards.
On the ABC talk show earlier this week, co-host Michael Strahan asked Hardwick about the awkward moment. Before the actor could answer, Naughton came to his defense.
“They tried to come for my TV husband, [but] he was just being a friend,” the singer-turned-actress said. “Why can’t friends hug and kiss anymore?”
50 Cent jokingly added that Hardwick “just got excited.” Naughton added, “They made that way bigger; I was there and it was so not a situation.”
Harwick, the July/August 2018 EBONY cover star, remained quiet as his castmates continued the conversation. Power is returning to Starz for its sixth and final season on Aug. 25.
Watch the full segment below.
.@OmariHardwick talks @Beyonce #KissGate after the #Beyhive ripped into him. #StrahanAndSara pic.twitter.com/U64ctlZUPy
— GMA3: What You Need To Know (@ABCGMA3) May 9, 2019
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Christina Santi is a news and culture writer for EBONY.com. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, she considers herself a well-read, not so traditional feminist with a heavy interest in music, fashion and pop culture. Christina currently lives in New York City, where she refers to her Cuban & Jamaican descent often while writing about her experiences as a first-generation Afro-Latinx in America. She also devotes time writing personalized reading material for her tutees and turning ideas into words for streetwear brand, PUER By Noel Bronson.