After Anti-Gay Comments, Fans Want Gospel Singer Banned from 'Ellen'

Fans of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" are urging the daytime talkshow's producers to ban gospel singer Kim Burrell from an upcoming performance with Pharrell Williams after she refused to apologize for delivering a sermon at a Houston church where she said gay people are perverted.

A recording of Burrell preaching at the Love & Liberty Fellowship Church made its way online last week, where the singer can be heard saying "the perverted homosexual spirit, and the spirit of delusion and confusion, it has deceived many men and women." She also referred to specific homosexual acts as perverted, the Associated Press reported.

After the recording made headlines, Burrell took to Facebook Live and accused her "enemies" of spreading only part of her speech. She said she has never discriminated against LGBT people, adding, "I love you and God loves you. But God hates the sin."

Burrell is scheduled to appear on the "Ellen" show Thursday with Pharrell to perform their song "I See Victory" from the "Hidden Figures" soundtrack. But some "Ellen" fans are demanding Burrell be barred from the show, according to Vulture. There's also a Change.org petition gaining traction, earning nearly 5,000 signatures as of this writing.

Pharrell reacted to Burrell's comments with an Instagram post that read in part: "I condemn hate speech of any kind." He did not specifically address the singer, however.

In addition, Janelle Monae, one of the stars of "Hidden Figures," also took to Instagram, reposting Pharrell's statement and adding much more:

I shouldn't even have to post this as you guys should already know where I stand but If you do not pls know I unequivocally repudiate ANY AND ALL hateful comments against the LGBTQ community.

Actually I'm tired of that label. We all belong to the same community, a shared community called humanity. And today and tomorrow and the next day I will continue to stand with other like minded people who condemn any and all statements and actions that would seek to deny the basic humanity of our fellow brothers and sisters. We cannot sit Idly by nor will we speak silently when we are confronted with such violence against members of our community. I am personally beyond exhausted by the ignorance and bigotry living in some people.

DeGeneres has yet to respond to the controversy.