Fox News was forced to issue an apology after the network mistakenly showed an image of Patti LaBelle during a segment that was supposed to honor the life of Aretha Franklin, who died Thursday (Aug. 16) at the age of 76.
The segment featured a composite image showing Franklin in the foreground and LaBelle in a faded, smaller image in the background.
This is a huge deal not only because it’s pretty racist for white people to confuse one famous black woman with another famous black woman, but also… Aretha wasn’t really that fond of Patti, so say the least.
Social media was quick to point out Fox News’ gaffe, which not only was posted on the internet but also aired on television:
WHY would Fox News be petty and use this pic of Aretha and add Patti LaBelle in the background?!! pic.twitter.com/vruO5Fm4vh
— Vince B. Aries (@Vince_Aries) August 16, 2018
It seems @FoxNews used an image of Patti LaBelle, thinking it was Aretha Franklin.
This is why the correct name for Fox is #FauxNews.
— ?Adapta? (aka Rhiannon) (@sextoyspolitics) August 16, 2018
Because of course Fox News mixes up Aretha Franklin & Patti LaBelle. pic.twitter.com/zIXvD2282B
— Chris Strider (@stridinstrider) 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 Alert: Legendary singer Aretha Franklin dead at 76 pic.twitter.com/ZsouDZXfXv
— Tim Donnelly (@timdonnelly) August 16, 2018
I wonder how Fox News messed up and used an image of Patti LaBelle instead of Aretha Franklin?? pic.twitter.com/QtrKJ4btxk
— Speaker Pelosi 2.0 (@EthanObama) August 16, 2018
Weird that Fox News can keep all these women straight but they manage to confuse Patti LaBelle with Aretha Franklin. There must be an explanation but I can't quite put my finger on it… pic.twitter.com/ErfAVvg64Z
— Matt Osborne (@OsborneInk) August 18, 2018
Fox News mourns the passing of Aretha Franklin. pic.twitter.com/yFRLEEQ6R9
— Walter Chaw (@mangiotto) August 16, 2018
Fox News apologizes after using the wrong photo during Aretha Franklin tribute pic.twitter.com/BEnNkPwNTj
— Stone Cold (@stonecold2050) August 17, 2018
Fox News apologizes for using the wrong graphic of Aretha Franklin and releases an update… pic.twitter.com/jfQ6ofqOI6
— Allen Marshall (@AllenCMarshall) August 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/YourMomResists/status/1030212414099390465
While social media immediately noticed the error, it took Fox News several hours to own up to their mistake.
“We sincerely apologize to Aretha Franklin’s family and friends,” Jessica Santostefano, Fox News’ vice president, media desk, said in a statement. “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.”
But wayment. Aretha Franklin was NEVER in that photo, to begin with. So what’s the real issue here?!
Fox News blamed a cropping error for showing Patti LaBelle in its Aretha Franklin coverage. The original unedited AP photo shows that’s not the case. https://t.co/mdG7nfztZY pic.twitter.com/JzCc4H7RsJ
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) August 16, 2018
It gets better.
Fox said, “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."
Do you see Aretha in this photo?
No?
Because she wasn't there. pic.twitter.com/zEFXtPtEb8— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) August 16, 2018
DO BETTER, FAUX NEWS.
