Say a little prayer for the U.S. Open commentator that mistook Dionne Warwick for Gladys Knight last night.
via: People
At Serena Williams’ US Open match against Anett Kontaveit Wednesday night, Warwick, 81, was shown on screen as sports commentators appeared to refer to her as fellow singer Knight, 78, creating a buzz online.
A camera had been scanning the stands while ESPN broadcasters Mary Carillo and Chanda Rubin named off some of the stars they could see in the audience supporting Williams.
“Gladys Knight!” Carillo said, as the camera showed Warwick, and Rubin agreed. However, it turned out Rubin was referring to whom she was seeing in the stands and not on the monitor.
“Too bad I was initially looking at the court (where Auntie Gladys was in the stands) and not our program monitor that showed Ms. Dionne…” Rubin wrote on Twitter following the match. “Mistake was immediately corrected.” She concluded her tweet with a face-palm emoji.
Too bad I was initially looking at the court (where Auntie Gladys was in the stands) and not our program monitor that showed Ms. Dionne… mistake was immediately corrected.?????
— Chanda Rubin (@Chanda_Rubin) September 1, 2022
Warwick poked fun at the misidentification on her Twitter account Thursday, sharing a cheeky message that used lyrics from both her and Knight’s most famous songs.
“Hi, I’m Gladys Knight… and instead of taking that midnight train to Georgia, I won’t walk on by but will say a little prayer for you,” the six-time Grammy Award winner joked.
Hi, I’m Gladys Knight… and instead of taking that midnight train to Georgia, I won’t walk on by but will say a little prayer for you ??
— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) September 1, 2022
“Dionne and I have been sisters for a long time and I hope she is as honored to be mistaken for me as I would be her. I’m sure it was an honest mistake,” Knight wrote in her own Tweet. “It was a blessing to be in the house to see Serena’s greatness.”
Dionne and I have been sisters for a long time and I hope she is as honored to be mistaken for me as I would be her. I’m sure it was an honest mistake. It was a blessing to be in the house to see Serena’s greatness.
— Gladys Knight (@MsGladysKnight) September 1, 2022
Warwick cosigned the sentiment, retweeting Knight’s comments and adding multiple heart emojis.
Both women were in attendance at the match to cheer Williams on, and later shared tweets about the event.
“The true Queen of Tennis showed up and out last night. She is definitely the absolute BEST! #SerenaWilliams” Warwick wrote.
The true Queen of Tennis showed up and out last night. She is definitely the absolute BEST! #SerenaWilliams
— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) August 30, 2022
Knight posted a photo of herself with actor Anthony Anderson in the stands, writing “Having a ball at the #USOpen …. Great seeing you @anthonyanderson.”
Having a ball at the #USOpen …. Great seeing you @anthonyanderson pic.twitter.com/Hi8dA4bqRg
— Gladys Knight (@MsGladysKnight) August 30, 2022
