It's no secret that Fox News has been openly disrespectful to multiculturalism in the past, and this latest gaffe will do nothing to change its reputation. Today, Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76, surrounded by friends and family in her Detroit home. Given the impact she has made, her death was openly mourned by fans, celebrities, and even Presidents Barrack Obama and Donald Trump. And while Fox News attempted to pay homage to the legendary singer, they somehow found a way to drop the ball.
During a televised segment broadcasting some of Aretha's finest performances, Patti LaBelle popped up in the upper right corner, leading many to face-palm in unison. Twitter users quickly pointed out the error, speculating that whoever designed the graphics simply could not distinguish the two. Naturally, Fox News found themselves catching the wrath of the Twittersphere.
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A spokesperson for Fox News has since issued an apology, as shared by The Wrap. "We sincerely apologize to Aretha Franklin’s family and friends,” Jessica Santostefano, Vice President, Media Desk at Fox News explained. “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.”
Rest in peace Aretha Franklin. As for Patti LaBelle, the singer paid respect to the fallen icon with a heartfelt Twitter message.
