**Spill The Tea: Deitrick Haddon Goes Off on Kirk Franklin Over BET Awards “Rituals” – Is Gospel Losing Its Soul?**

The 2025 BET Awards have ignited a firestorm in the gospel community after gospel artist and pastor Deitrick Haddon publicly called out Kirk Franklin and the show’s producers for what he claimed were “ritualistic” performances disguised as gospel praise.

The controversy has sparked a heated debate about the direction of gospel music, the blending of sacred and secular, and whether gospel’s spiritual roots are being lost in the pursuit of mainstream appeal.

It all began when Deitrick Haddon took to Instagram Live after the awards, delivering an explosive rant. He didn’t mince words: “What I saw on that stage—that wasn’t God. That was ritual. That was mockery.

That was mixing the holy with the profane, and y’all know I’m telling the truth.” Haddon specifically called out Kirk Franklin’s performance, which featured a gospel choir surrounded by dark, dramatic visuals, dancers in all-black attire, and hand gestures that many viewers found unsettling. While some praised the set as innovative and modern, Haddon and his supporters saw it as a dangerous departure from gospel tradition.

Adding fuel to the fire, rapper Glorilla, who won a gospel-themed award that night, was seen backstage mocking her win with gestures and jokes that many interpreted as disrespectful and even demonic.

Clips of her pretending to speak in tongues and making irreverent comments about the Holy Spirit quickly went viral, drawing outrage from church leaders and believers who felt that the sacred was being openly mocked on national television. The silence from the BET production team and other gospel artists only intensified the backlash.

The controversy didn’t stop with Haddon’s comments or Glorilla’s behavior. Social media exploded with debates, with hashtags like #ProtectTheAnointing and #NotMyGospel trending as fans, pastors, and gospel legends took sides.

Some, like Pastor Jamal Bryant, defended Kirk Franklin as a cultural innovator, while others, including Kim Burrell and CeCe Winans, made pointed comments about the importance of spiritual purity and the dangers of compromise.

For many, the heart of the issue is not just about one performance, but about a larger trend. Kirk Franklin has long been known for pushing the boundaries of gospel, blending it with hip-hop and R&B, and bringing it to mainstream stages.

While this has earned him millions of fans and helped make gospel music more accessible, it has also attracted criticism from traditionalists who feel that the sacred message is being diluted for entertainment value.

This year’s BET Awards became a flashpoint for these simmering tensions. Critics dissected Kirk Franklin’s performance, noting the dark lighting, occult-like imagery, and choreography that some said resembled ritualistic symbolism.

Supporters argued it was simply artistic expression and a way to reach younger audiences. But for Haddon and others, the line between ministry and performance had been crossed.

The fallout has left the gospel industry divided, with some calling for boycotts of future BET gospel segments unless there is an apology, and others urging unity and creative freedom. Kirk Franklin has yet to respond publicly to Haddon’s accusations or the broader backlash, leaving fans to wonder where he stands.

Ultimately, the debate raises difficult questions: Can gospel evolve with the times without losing its spiritual core? Or is it at risk of becoming just another form of entertainment? The BET Awards may be over, but the conversation about the soul of gospel music is just beginning.