Aretha Franklin (Screen shot from film)
TV talk show host Wendy Williams is on Aretha Franklin’s family's you-know-what list.
The family blasts her for “irresponsible” and “mocking” remarks after Williams on Friday attacked the late singer’s upcoming, long-delayed gospel film, reports Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press:
In a lengthy fact-checking statement Sunday, the Queen of Soul’s family said Williams made “inaccurate and disparaging statements” during a Friday segment about “Amazing Grace.” Shot in 1972, the church performance is set to hit screens nationwide in April.
Departing from widespread critical acclaim for the film, Williams questioned its visual quality, Franklin’s natural look and the motivations behind the movie’s release.
Franklin’s estate said Williams’ commentary “indicates that she has neither seen the documentary nor understands its import or intent.”
Williams said Franklin was not easy to deal with , and speculated that the film is being released only because Franklin’s estate is in a financial “mess.”
“I would imagine that now the bill collectors are like: ‘OK, rest in peace, Aretha Franklin. But we still need our money for this, we need money for that. So by putting this movie out, I would say the estate is probably going to be paying bills with this.”
