Photo Credit: Getty Images
The media continues its unwavering coverage of the tributes honoring the legendary Aretha Franklin since news of her passing surfaced yesterday morning (Aug. 16). As outlets across the board began to honor Franklin’s legacy and music, FOX News found itself recognizing the wrong music icon.
During the network’s 11-minute video memorial, a photo of Aretha Franklin pops up with her name and a corresponding photo in the background – except the photo in the background was Patti LaBelle, not Franklin. The mistake occurs around the three-and-a-half minute mark.
Fox News mistakes Patti LaBelle for Aretha Franklin. Seriously. https://t.co/YLG7HIwwzd pic.twitter.com/Qqv5wBZooE
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 16, 2018
A FOX News’ VP named Jessica Santostefano spoke to Entertainment Weekly to deliver the outlet’s apology.
“We sincerely apologize to Aretha Franklin’s family and friends,” Jessica Santostefano, a Fox News vice president, 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.”
While the network gets credit for releasing an apology, it was another FOX fail as EW points out incorrect information in their acknowledgement of the incident.
“Upon review of the photo in question of LaBelle, EW was unable to find any instance of her and Aretha Franklin performing or appearing together on stage at the ‘Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House’ special hosted by President Obama in 2014, which aired on PBS.”