In a recent YouTube video looking back at some of his most viral moments of 2024, Kirk Franklin humbly opened up about his choices that struck a nerve with his fans.
In the video he address his dances moves, attire choices and how his mix of hip-hop and gospel rubbed some the wrong way.
Dancing with Bishop Marvin Sapp
“Let’s discuss the dancing,” he started off. “There was no bigger move that had everybody talking than this move right here with Bishop Marvin Sapp. Now before ya’ll get mad at Bishop Marvin, I want y’all to know that that was my fault.” He added, “I pushed him to do it and he easily obliged.”
He also argued that gospel music can still have a high level of entertainment just as any other concert.
Attire Choice and Dance Moves In Jamaica
“I am aware now that my choice of attire, which as a team we thought was going to be fine, was going to be something that would not come across as being disrespectful.” He continued, “Since I’ve spent most of my career dancing and jumping on stage, I didn’t know that I would ever do anything that would offend anyone in any community. I sincerely apologize.”
“I never want to get to a place that I can’t learn what I need to do better.” He shared that he always wants to be humble enough to hear people’s concerns about anything being bigger than the message of Jesus.
Performing with Will Smith and working with GloRilla
“There were a lot of questions and controversy about the Will Smith performance this year [2024] at the BET Awards,” Franklin said about the moment he joined the “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It” rhymer for the live performance of “You Can Make It.”
He addressed his collaboration with GloRilla where some questioned if her lyrics and if they were “conducive to the christian community.”
“I think that when we talk about working with people that do not live in the [gospel] ecosystem that we are accustomed to, it is very difficult to find their hearts and discover what their motives are from a distance. We have to be close.”
“When we’re invited into their world, it’s very important that we don’t have to compromise our messaging,” the “Revolution” hitmaker shared. “… We’ve gotta be able to do life with people so that they can get the residue of the message that we’re trying to share.”
“Whenever I’m invited like I have my entire career, I try to do my best, and I may fail at times, but my goal is to make sure that the church does not just exist within the walls but that it exists in the world,” he shared.
After shouting out his wife Tammy, Franklin concluded his reflection with a thankful spirit. “Thank you guys for being with me. Thank you for your prayers, thank you for the critique, thank you for the conversations.”