ABC landed in steaming hot waters after the producers of The Year: 2022 made an embarrassing mistake.
While honoring Takeoff’s memory, the network botched its “In Memorium” portion by mixing up the late Migos member’s picture with that of his uncle and bandmate Quavo.
As expected, fans were not thrilled by the critical mistake and took to social media to voice their thoughts.
So I’m watching #TheYear on @abc and was caught off guard by the disrespect and ignorance of the programming. All black people don’t look the same and y’all got this one wrong, the person is the picture is clearly, clearly @Quavonyrn do better @abc @Migos @NowHipHopNews_ pic.twitter.com/KIdQod1DVx
— Black (@Brylotto) December 27, 2022
and
Not surprised that ABC thought Quavo was takeoff bunch of pasty crackers that don’t know wtf is goin on in hip hop.
— vanilla gorilla (@whothe_isSalt) December 29, 2022
and
Y’all… #TheYear2022 special on ABC did this just a minute ago. Speechless. ???♀️? pic.twitter.com/rXFDUXfnRS
— Megan ‘Elle’ Mason (@MeganTheeFirst) December 27, 2022
and
Right?! I had to pause, rewind, send call my husband into the room to verify. Absolutely ridiculous.
— Megan ‘Elle’ Mason (@MeganTheeFirst) December 27, 2022
and
I know I didn’t see quavo instead of takeoff on ABC… sooo disrespectful, we don’t all look a like lol #theyear #theyear2022 #abc
— ? (@KSC______) December 27, 2022
and
This shit lame as hell. This man Quavo was the face of popular music 3-4 years straight. Ain’t no way y’all confused this man for Takeoff. https://t.co/nX2GtPvoEd
— KNUREAL (@keshawnmoe) December 28, 2022
and
Yo @ABC whoever you have reviewing the yearly tribute to all the famous people who died this year needs to get fired, had a pic of Quavo in place of Takeoff
— Giuse?️?️i Stromboli (@TomLeonard_) December 27, 2022
and
ABC, count your fucking days. These mother fuckers really put a picture of Quavo and said RIP Takeoff! ???♀️
Like whyyyyyyy.Smh. Whoever put that slide show together needs to be fired. #ABCTheYear2022 #ABC #TheYear2022
— Necia N. (@necianatae) December 27, 2022
In the hours following the heavy criticism, ABC realized its grave mistake and issued a statement of apology for the “unfortunate error.” Additionally, the network has also updated the photo to be one of Takeoff.
“We apologize for the unfortunate error in a previous version of ‘The Year: 2022.’ It has been corrected,” the tweet read.
We apologize for the unfortunate error in a previous version of ‘The Year: 2022.’ It has been corrected: https://t.co/MOwJXc40pS
— ABC News Studios (@abcnewsstudios) December 27, 2022
Takeoff, born Kirshnik Khari Ball, was fatally shot outside 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley in Houston on November 1. He was only 28 years old.
A Harris County Medical Examiner said in an autopsy report that the one-third of the Grammy-nominated rap group Migos died of “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into the arm.”
The alleged shooter, Patrick Xavier Clark, has since been arrested and charged with Takeoff’s murder. Clark remains behind bars after having his second bond reduction request denied by a judge during Tuesday’s (December 27) hearing. His bond remains set at $1 million.
