The Aretha Franklin family reacts in the shadow of Wendy Williams

More: The little-seen film 'Amazing Grace & # 39; Aretha Franklin must be launched nationwide

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During the Friday episode of "The Wendy Williams Show," Williams began to sympathize with Franklin's resistance to the film, calling it "film-based with a single camera" (Pollack used five cameras) and emphasizing the Appearance of Franklin in the decor of the church.

The family fought back in his statement.

"In 1972, the era of Black Power and Black Is Beautiful," said the estate. "Thanks to her short natural hair and simple makeup, Mrs. Franklin was in tune with her time and appropriate to the occasion.There was no" showgirl glamor ", no" pinched hair "and no "eyelashes" – the absence of which Williams was mocking his program The simplicity of the presentation gives 'Amazing Grace' its power. "

Williams also speculated that the film would be aired only because Franklin's estate was in a "financial mess".

"I imagine that bill collectors now look like" OK, rest in peace, Aretha Franklin. But we still need our money for that, we need money for that, "said Williams, causing" oh "on the part of his audience. "So, by releasing this movie, I would say that the estate will probably pay bills with that."

Franklin's estate said that the talk show host was perpetuating lies in the era of "false information".

"Although Franklin initially imposed an injunction on" Amazing Grace, "his objections have nothing to do with his quality, negotiations were incomplete at the time of his death," reads the statement.

Complete response of Aretha Franklin's estate to Wendy Williams on "Amazing Grace"

Aretha Franklin was an icon, a music genius, and an award-winning American cultural treasure. As a result, it is astonishing that on March 15, 2019, during The Wendy Williams Show, host Wendy Williams made a series of inaccurate and derogatory statements about the Aretha Franklin "Amazing Grace" concert film, which will be released in limited rooms on April 5th. , 2019 and nationally on April 19, 2019. Her comment indicates that she has neither seen the documentary nor understood its meaning or meaning.

First, "Amazing Grace" was conceived as a documentary. The images were shot by Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack in anticipation of the broadcast of a single event – a live gospel album recording – but have never been completed for technical reasons. The remains of the film were rediscovered, restored and defended for two decades by producer Alan Elliott. As such, the unfinished images capture Aretha Franklin in the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972, as the first R & B and gospel performer who had just won eight consecutive R & B successes. B Number One. Ms. Franklin had specifically sought to perform in a religious service environment reduced to nothing. By showing a brief excerpt from her background and mocking the quality of her show, Williams misrepresented Mrs. Franklin and the film to her audience.

Second, 1972 was the era of Black Power and Black Is Beautiful. In her short natural hair and simple makeup, Mrs. Franklin was in tune with her era and appropriate to the occasion. There was no "showgirl glamor", no "pinched hair" or "eyelashes" – the absence of which Williams mocked his program. The simplicity of the presentation gives its power to "Amazing Grace". Scholars, film critics, pop culture experts and Hollywood pillars extolled the film's merits, including Oscar-winning director Spike Lee, who recently came on board as a producer and confided to Variety that the film was "fascinating and transformative".

Third, Williams mentioned that Mrs. Franklin "created an album from that." She failed to note that this album was Aretha Franklin's flagship recording, "Amazing Grace," which has sold more than two million copies, won a Grammy Award . greatest live gospel album of all time. By not emphasizing this fact, Williams further reduced the documentary and the legacy of Mrs. Franklin.

Fourth, Williams' statement that "nobody goes to the movies to see a single contract, like black and white," is punitive and misinformed. Thousands, if not millions, ask to see this film in color; many have enjoyed repeat viewing at the L.A. and N.Y. Oscars at last December, when the film received rave reviews in Rolling Stone publications at The New York Times. "Amazing Grace" earned an average rating of 95 on Metacritic and 96 on a critical score of Rotten Tomatoes.

Finally, Williams suggests that real estate Franklin seeks a national distribution for "Amazing Grace" to satisfy the unpaid debts of the singer. This is not true. It was only thanks to the approval of the Estate and the efforts of the producers of the film that it was finally seen. The public launch of "Amazing Grace" – which includes screenings in African American museums and black churches this month – has received support from African American pastors and fans across the country. And while Franklin had originally imposed an injunction on "Amazing Grace," his objections had nothing to do with his quality; the negotiations were incomplete at the time of his death. His family believes this documentary is another great example of the genius of The Queen of Soul.

Williams gave additional false information in his March 15 program. Sabrina Owens, Mrs. Franklin's niece and executor of her estate, has never been responsible for the safety of the singer. Ms. Owens is a career professional with a Master's degree and is employed as Chief Negotiator at one of the best public universities in the country. In addition, she is the personal representative of her mother's estate, singer and songwriter Erma Franklin. Owens also created the master plan for Franklin's life celebration and one-week home transfer services. None of Mrs. Franklin's four sons was her manager. However, Franklin's brother, Reverend Cecil Franklin, a graduate of Morehouse College, was his director for more than 30 years, until his death in December 1989. Contrary to Williams' derisory reference, he did not go to school. there is no "cousin Junebug" making decisions for the Property.

Wendy Williams is the host of the most-watched gossip show of the day on subscribed television. However, this does not give him permission to offer misleading comments about a legacy performer, based on unverified information. In this case, the research team of the show dropped Williams. At a time when the media are fighting to fight "false information," Williams continues to perpetuate false facts, and his comment was irresponsible.

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