Quavo was mistaken for the launch throughout the ABC tributes of The 12 months: 2022

With 2023 fast approaching, ABC News recently aired a year-end special that included a tribute to the stars we lost over the course of 2022. However, there was a major issue during Takeoff’s segment within the tribute: a photo of another Migos rapper Quavo was used instead.

The special, titled The Year: 2022, aired December 26 and was hosted by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts.

During the “In Memoriam” segment at the end of the program, numerous stars such as Olivia Newton John, Coolio and Stephen “tWitch” Boss received warm tributes. Part of the segment was also devoted to Takeoff, who was gunned down in Houston on November 1st.

However, viewers noticed that a photo of Quavo was used instead of Takeoff.

Hey @ABC, that’s not the rapper Takeoff who was killed in 2022. The photo you used is of another rapper… @QuavoStuntin… still alive. Same rap group, different black guy. pic.twitter.com/ZsGML5Vo9D

— Ivan Pierre Aguirre: 📷 (@i_p_a_1) December 27, 2022

Twitter labeled the mistake “disrespectful AF” and ABC News apologized

Of course, the egregious mistake was noticed by many others, and they took to social media to announce the program. They were sure to bring the receipts too!

disrespectful af @ABC for showing a photo of Quavo instead of Takeoff… 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

– resign 🥳BLOOM OUT NOW!🥀 (@rec3de) December 28, 2022

ABC had no one who knew which member of The Migos was Takeoff and which was Quavo? SMH. #TheYear pic.twitter.com/2IkcxJy17N

— 🎅🏾Fat Face Omar🎄 (@O_Shaw) December 27, 2022

@abc this is Quavo not Takeoff 😫 pic.twitter.com/RQgGE8EGch

— Caliphornia QING (@caliphorniaqing) December 27, 2022

How did ABC just manage to show a picture of Quavo in Takeoff’s memory? Am I gone or did that just happen?

– dr Nicki Washington (@dr_nickiw) December 27, 2022

The company later apologized, noting that the “unfortunate mistake” was fixed in an updated version of the special.

We apologize for the unfortunate mistake in a previous version of The Year: 2022. Corrected: https://t.co/MOwJXc40pS

— ABC News Studios (@abcnewsstudios) December 27, 2022

E! Made a similar error with offset shortly after launch aborted

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time such a mistake has been made. Following news of Takeoff’s untimely death, E! News incorrectly used a photo of Offset when reporting the matter.

While the incident was promptly resolved, fans were NOT pleased. Pictured above, much of the backlash was focused on E! allegedly trying to sweep their mistake under the rug.

E News just posted and deleted Instagram updates on Takeoff’s death and used Offset’s picture. Huh???? Why aren’t knowledgeable hip-hop reporters covering this news? pic.twitter.com/gFNhg3OKPb

— Prima Donna💅🏾 (@_chiinnaa) November 2, 2022

SOOOOO… won’t you AT LEAST apologize for this tweet??? pic.twitter.com/v9zjwIJBzY

— FEMALE RAP GAME (@femalerapgamee) November 2, 2022

E News posted offset instead of takeoff when they first reported his death, and instead of apologizing they just deleted it. Black people don’t all look the same! Incredibly cheesy AF! If you hired educated black people, this never would have happened. @enews pic.twitter.com/tq9XNANYjc

— Neci (@Confident_Pearl) November 2, 2022

One user even went so far as to say that the affair “was not an accident,” adding that “[white] Media always do this [B]missing celebs.”

e! News that posted the picture of Offset instead of the launch was no coincidence. yt media always does that with black celebs. It’s not hard to fact-check before posting. But why are you reporting on someone you don’t know enough to recognize their face? how to hire black people as soon as possible

— valarie 🎄 (@westsidemanii) November 2, 2022

What do you think of big media giants like ABC and E! Confusing Takeoff with other Migos rappers?