Bishop Charles Ellis (age 60), who has been criticized for inappropriately touching American singer and actress Ariana Grande (age 25) during Aretha Franklin’s funeral, apologized to the singer and her fans.
In an interview with The Associated Press at the cemetery where Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (aged 76) was buried, Bishop Ellis said:
It would never be my intention to touch any woman’s breast. … I don’t know I guess I put my arm around her…Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize.
Bishop Ellis was denounced for what others say was an assault on Ariana Grande, as he inappropriately touched the singer after her performance of Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” during Aretha Franklin’s funeral on August 31, 2018.
It was an awkward moment in a solemn occasion, a funeral wherein artists and other luminaries paid tribute to the legendary Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.
Watch Ariana Grande at Aretha Franklin’s funeral and the controversial incident with Bishop Charles Ellis after her performance:
Ariana Grande Performs “Natural Woman” at Aretha Franklin’s Funeral
Ariana Grande performed a stirring rendition of Aretha Franklin’s ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ in tribute to the Queen of Soul at her funeral in Detroit.
A few minutes after Bishop Ellis seemingly “groped” Ariana Grande while he held her in a side hug onstage, social media was ablaze with comments condemning what happened to Ariana Grande.
The hashtag #RespectAriana zoomed to the list of top trending topics on Twitter as more people expressed their views on the issue.
Bishop Ellis said of the incident:
I hug all the female artists and the male artists. Everybody that was up, I shook their hands and hugged them. That’s what we are all about in the church. We are all about love.
He also apologized for his joke to Ariana that he thought her name was a new item on the Taco Bell menu, when he saw it on the program.
Bishop Ellis said,”I personally and sincerely apologize to Ariana and to her fans and to the whole Hispanic community.”
Ariana Grande nor her representative has not responded to media requests for a comment on the incident.
The only subtle hint that she might be hurting from the affront is one of her most recent tweets wherein she said, “Can’t wait to see, hug, sing for my UK babes. It’s just what my heart needs. See you soon.”
Ariana Grande has an upcoming concert in London, England on September 4, 2018 at the KOKO concert venue, as part of her promotional concert tour titled The Sweetener Sessions, to celebrate the release of her 2018 studio album Sweetener.
