Patti LaBelle has heard the whispers, and she is finally putting an end to the rumors about her alleged rivalry with Aretha Franklin. For decades, speculation spiraled around the legendary singers. Now, in an interview with Andy Cohen, LaBelle finally discusses the alleged beef, which is now a viral meme on Tiktok.
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On Sunday (Sept. 14), LaBelle appeared on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” along with fellow singers and tourmates Stephanie Mills and Chaka Khan. During the episode, Cohen asked, “What were your conversations like with Aretha Franklin? What did you two bond over, talk about?”
“We bonded over food,” LaBelle responded. That comes as no surprise considering the Grammy award-winning singer is just as famous for her cooking — especially her sweet potato pies, known as “Patti Pies.” LaBelle went on to explain how she and Franklin bonded over their voices, even sharing their plans to collaborate on music before Franklin’s passing in 2018.
“We just talked about life,” LaBelle added. “A lot of people think that we didn’t get along, but we did.” Cohen then brought up LaBelle’s 1993 tribute to Franklin, when she performed “Aint No Way” at the Essence Awards. “It is unclear from Ms. Franklin’s face what she is really thinking of your performance,” Cohen pointed out.
“She loved it,” the “Lady Marmalade” singer confirmed. Chaka Khan jumped in: “She had a poke face, didn’t she?” LaBelle agreed, adding, “She was fabulous. She was her own woman…I can’t say anything bad about her. She was my hero.”
The comment section lit up with reactions. One TikTok user wrote, “She loved Patti LaBelle. Patti was the first person Aretha chose to sing at her funeral.”
Another called out Cohen for trying to stir the pot, saying, “He wanted to hear a division story so bad! These queens are classy, and there is no drama here.”
A third added, “Patti LaBelle’s words about Aretha Franklin are truly heartfelt. Their bond, both personal and professional, was legendary.”
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