Aretha Franklin To File $10M Lawsuit Over Fake Patti Labelle Fight Story

Aretha Franklin is furious about a story posted on an internet satire site and says she will file a $10M lawsuit. Via the Detroit News:

The News Nerd story claimed that LaBelle was “arrested for assault and battery” after she attacked Franklin with “a Mayweather style right and left” at a March 20 concert in Atlanta. The fictional brawl happened because the Queen of Soul supposedly slighted LaBelle at a PBS “In Performance at the White House: Women of Soul” program taped earlier in March. “The stories were not presented as satire or humor,” Franklin said through her publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn. “It was presented as a serious news story intended to depict me in a slanderous and derogatory way — defamation of character.” The News Nerd “reported”: “While Aretha Franklin was making her way to the stage, Labelle extended her hand to greet the ‘Respect’ singer, when she threw epic shade in an effort to avoid her. The two exchanged obscenities after the event and parted ways.” Not mentioned in the News Nerd’s article is that the PBS program also showed Franklin hug LaBelle after the Queen of Soul left the stage.

The News Nerd has a disclaimer at the bottom of its page. (Tipped by JMG reader Jerry)