After a teleprompter malfunction disrupted her acceptance speech at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards, Teyana Taylor walked off the stage.
On Wednesday night (4.29,) the songstress/actress showed up to accept the Visionary Award, but was left standing in silence when the teleprompter failed to display her prepared speech.
“Can I get the teleprompt?” requested the 35-year-old as she waited on stage, during which time an audience member shouted, “We love you Teyana,” prompting her to reply, “I love you too, girl!”
Though another guest suggested the recipient “ad lib” her speech, Taylor quickly dismissed the idea, stating “Ad lib? My speech is cute. They’re gonna pull up this goddamn speech. Where’s my speech?” “Y’all know I be having good speeches this year. I wanna read my little speech. I’m not ad libbing.”
Pointing out that it was the second technical issue she’d experienced that evening, the celebrity explained that her microphone had failed during her earlier performance.
After the teleprompter eventually displayed a message that read there was no script available, instructing the singer-songwriter to leave the stage, the 35-year old said “Oh, it says Teyana Taylor we have no script for you. Everyone exit stage right,” as she walked off the stage.
The native New Yorker subsequently returned alongside music icon Dionne Warwick and was able to deliver the original speech she had prepared, as she thanked Dionne for “being part of this moment” and expressed gratitude to Billboard “for this incredible honor”.
Praising Billboard for taking “accountability” for the incident, Teyana said “I want to thank Billboard for being warm. I want to thank Billboard for coming into the room right away and acknowledging what was done.”
Billboard later released a statement apologizing to the All’s Fair actress for the “uncomfortable error”.?
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: VOA Public Domain