Donald Trump sparked fury by claiming the late soul legend Aretha Franklin “used to work for me”.
And friends at the singer’s memorial on Friday refused to let the controversial comments go unchallenged, insisting the President needs to learn some respect.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at a Detroit church on Friday to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul, after she died of pancreatic cancer this month, aged 76.
Franklin was hailed as a civil rights hero by guests, who included Former US president Bill Clinton and Stevie Wonder – but other attendees had some choice words for Trump , following his controversial comments in the wake of her death.
Aretha Franklin died on Aug 16, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. (Image: Archive Photos)
On Aug 16th – the day of Franklin’s Death – Trump said: “I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well. She worked for me on numerous occasions. She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing,” during a cabinet meeting.
Labelled an “orange aberration” and a “leech” by Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at George Town University, the president was again blasted by Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist.
The reverend received a standing ovation for demanding Mr Trump show respect – a reference to Franklin’s song of the same name – before adding “She used to perform for you. She worked for us.”
Stevie Wonder also took a moment out of his speech to make a jibe at Trump, urging the US to “make love great again” because “all lives do matter.”
Earlier in the day Franklin was also honoured at Buckingham Palace, where the Welsh Guards Band performed a rendition of her song, Respect, during the changing of the guard ceremony.
First published in Mirror (UK)