Fox News Channel made sure that the woman who commanded r-e-s-p-e-c-t in life got the ultimate disrespect in death. In network tribute to Aretha Franklin, they mistakenly used a photo of Patti LaBelle.
The photo of Patti was from 2014 when both she and Aretha performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. They didn’t sing together, and the two allegedly had a relationship that can – at best – be described as contentious.
Fox issued an apology for the snafu. Jessica Santostefano, Vice President of the Media Desk said in a statement, “We sincerely apologize to Aretha Franklin’s family and friends. Our intention was to honor the icon using a secondary image of her performing with Patti LaBelle in the full screen graphic, but the image of Ms. Franklin was obscured in that process, which we deeply regret.”
- As for Patti, later said she was “deeply saddened” about the loss of the Queen of Soul and her “sister in song.” “The world has experienced a tremendous loss," Patti noted. "Aretha was a rare treasure whose unmatched musical genius helped craft the soundtrack to the lives of so many. My sympathy, love, and prayers go out to her family, loved ones, and fans across the globe.”
Source: TV Line