Fox News Apologies for Mistaking Patti LaBelle for Aretha Franklin — And No One’s Having At It
Fox News pulled a blunder today on August 16th, 2018 as the news outlet had used an image of Patti LaBelle for their tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.
The original image of LaBelle featured in Fox News’ dedication to Franklin was in fact taken back in 2014 when she performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in part of the “Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House” musical event.
People were quick to notice this obvious mistake and took to forms of social media, such as Twitter, to berate and chastise Fox News on their negligence and poor news reporting skills.
Shocking no one, Fox News somehow mistook Patti LaBelle for Aretha Franklin. https://t.co/D65EqLLybK pic.twitter.com/k40ox60qeI
— Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) August 16, 2018
If you watched Fox News today you learned that the United States defeated Communist Japan and Aretha Franklin is Patti LaBelle
— Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) August 16, 2018
FOX News announces Aretha Franklin’s death with a photo composite of Aretha – except the “Aretha” to the right is actually Patti LaBelle. Because, well, you know… #BlackLivesMatter #LookAtMyAfricanAmericanOverHere https://t.co/SNTePiCjON
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) August 16, 2018
A representative from Fox News issued an official statement later in the day and apologized on behalf of all of Fox News for the mix-up:
“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.”
