The bishop who led Aretha Franklin's funeral has apologised to Ariana Grande after being accused of groping her on stage.
Funny moment during the #ArethaFranklinFuneral: Bishop Ellis tells @ArianaGrande when he saw her on the program he thought "it was a new something at Taco Bell." pic.twitter.com/Sxgh8Nnt9n
— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) August 31, 2018
Images show Bishop Charles H Ellis III holding Ariana high above her waist, with his fingers squeezed around the side of the singer's chest.
What was up with that pastors hand? pic.twitter.com/M8Ypgm7fQB
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) August 31, 2018
He told the Associated Press that it would never be his intention to touch any woman's breast but maybe he crossed the border and maybe he was too friendly or familiar.
The preacher said he hugged all artists, male or female, during the ceremony commemorating the Queen of Soul.
But viewers began posting images from the service when Ariana got up to sing Aretha's song (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Many people felt that Bishop Ellis's hand was inappropriately high on the 25‑year‑old's body as he spoke to her ‑ saying that she looked uncomfortable with the contact.
It came as others on social media had been criticising Ariana for what she was wearing to the church service, saying her dress was too short.
Ariana was performing at the funeral of Aretha Franklin alongside icons like Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan.
Aretha was remembered as an aunt, grandmother, friend, civil rights activist and icon of black womanhood, in a nine‑hour ceremony.
She died earlier this month of pancreatic cancer, aged 76.
[Source: BBC News]
