Kelly Rowland has been the butt of jokes for over twenty years for her iconic Microsoft Excel moment in the “Dilemma” video.
The singer has finally explained the hilarious debacle during a recent sit-down with Los Angeles food writer Josh Scherer for his “Mystical Kitchen’s Last Meal” YouTube series. The “Mea Culpa” actress revisited the Benny Boom-directed video, which has amassed over 1 billion views. Rowland reminisced about the video, where she was seen text-messaging collaborator Nelly using Microsoft Excel. According to Rowland, no one questioned the quirky move.
“Do you know how much flack I get from that?” Rowland laughed. “I’m so used to it now.”
Nelly also spoke on the clip in a 2016 interview on “The Project.” According to him, the Microsoft Excel text was a part of the technology of the Y2K, which is why no one saw a problem with it.
In the clip, Rowland typed out the message on the spreadsheet, though it didn’t go through. Now, Rowland jokes that she was sure the Excel message was simply a draft. Despite this blunder, fans didn’t hold it against Rowland. The track immediately became a hit single after its release in June 2002. It shot to number one on the Billboard 100, earning Nelly and Rowland a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 45th annual ceremony.