Bishop Apologizes for Touching Ariana Grande at Aretha Franklin's Funeral
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III also apologized to the Hispanic community for saying he thought Ariana Grande "was a new something at Taco Bell"
By Corinne Heller ••
Dale pelea con una envoltura de café.
The bishop who officiated Aretha Franklin's funeral has apologized to Ariana Grande for how he touched her onstage, which had sparked an online backlash.
The 25-year-old singer performed the Queen of Soul's hit "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the service. Bishop Charles H. Ellis III had led the funeral and greeted Grande after her performance, placing his hand against one side of her breast. Videos and images of the moment went viral and drew criticism.
"I don't care what you think about Ariana Grande, her music or her dress," tweeted feminist author, journalist and public speaker Mona Eltahawy, referring to a separate backlash over the singer's mini dress. "This is wrong. That bishop's hand should not be on her breast."
I don’t care what you think about Ariana Grande, her music or her dress. This is wrong. That bishop’s hand should not be on her breast: I just saw this because I’ve been working and not watching https://t.co/ixVhgYBJTN
"I don't know, I guess I put my arm around her," Ellis continued. "Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize...I hug all the female artists and the male artists. Everybody that was up, I shook their hands and hugged them. That's what we are all about in the church. We are all about love."
He added, "The last thing I want to do is to be a distraction to this day. This is all about Aretha Franklin."
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Singer Ariana Grande performs at the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Singer Faith Hill performs at the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Family members of Aretha Franklin embrace after sharing stories of the late singers life at her funeral service at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018 in Detroit.
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Former President Bill Clinton plays an Aretha Franklin song from his phone while he speaks at the funeral for the singer at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan.
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Singer Smokey Robinson speaks at the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan.
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The cast of the Haves and Have Nots is recognized at Aretha Franklin's funeral at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Actress Jennifer Lewis speaks with the media as she enters Greater Grace Temple for Aretha Franklin's funeral on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Pink Cadillacs line Seven Mile Road in front of Aretha Franklin's funeral at the Greater Grace Temple in on August 31, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan.
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Guests attend the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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From left: Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and former President Bill Clinton attend the funeral service for Aretha Franklin at Greater Grace Temple, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, attends the funeral for Aretha Franklin at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Former President Bill Clinton poses with Ariana Grande, center, and Pete Davidson, right, during the funeral service for Aretha Franklin at Greater Grace Temple, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Detroit.
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Detroit residents wait in line to enter the Greater Grace Temple for legendary singer Aretha Franklin's funeral in Detroit, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018.
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Aretha Franklin's casket arrive for her funeral service at the Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin, 76, died at her home in Detroit on August 16.
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Fans prepare a makeshift memorial as they gather for a final public viewing on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Members of the Nation of Islam pass out copies of The Final Call newspaper to fans of Aretha Franklin who were waiting outside of the New Bethel Baptist Church for a final public viewing of the late soul singer's remains on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Rev. Jesse Jackson greets fans of Aretha Franklin gathered outside of the New Bethel Baptist Church, the church once ministered by Franklin's father Rev. C.L. Franklin, for a final public viewing of the late soul singers remains on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Fans of Aretha Franklin attend a viewing for the soul music legend at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Fans sign posters of Aretha Franklin created by artist Mark Gaines outside of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Posters signed by fans of Aretha Franklin sit outside of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History where the Queen of Soul lies in repose on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Aretha Franklin's casket arrives at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History where she will lie in repose for a second day of public viewing on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin's funeral will be held Friday at Greater Grace Temple.
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A vintage hearse carrying the remains of Aretha Franklin leaves the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History following a day-long public viewing on August 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Fans of Aretha Franklin attend a viewing for the soul music legend at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Fans of Aretha Franklin attend a viewing for the soul music legend at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 28, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin will lie in repose at the museum on August 28 and 29 for the public to pay their respects. Her funeral will be held August 31 at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
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Fans attend a sidewalk memorial gathering for Aretha Franklin in front of the Apollo Theater August 16, 2018, in New York City.
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Fans attend a sidewalk memorial gathering for Aretha Franklin in front of the Apollo Theater August 16, 2018, in New York City. Fans danced to Franklin's songs being broadcast over speakers, laid flowers, took photos near her name engraved in the sidewalk and signed a poster-board with Franklin's likeliness on it in tribute to her.
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Flowers and mementos are left at a growing memorial at Aretha Franklin's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 16, 2018, in Los Angeles, California.
After Grande's performance, the bishop had said onstage, "I've got to apologize because I have to brush up. My 28-year-old daughter tells me, 'Dad! You are old at 60...When I saw Ariana Grande on the program, I thought that was a new something at Taco Bell." Grande had laughed at his comment and hugged him.
"I personally and sincerely apologize to Ariana and to her fans and to the whole Hispanic community," Ellis later said in his interview. "When you're doing a program for nine hours you try to keep it lively, you try to insert some jokes here and there."
Celebrities on the 2018 MTV VMA red carpet paid tribute to the late Aretha Franklin just moments before the show started.
