Fantasia Recalls The First Time She Met Aretha Franklin In Resurfaced Video: You Can Sing, But I’m The B*tch Around Here

Fantasia Recalls The First Time She Met Aretha Franklin In Resurfaced Video: You Can Sing, But I’m The B*tch Around Here

A resurfaced clip has the internet wondering why Aretha Franklin was so rude to Fantasia the first time they met.

A clip of Fantasia sharing the story of the first time she met Aretha Franklin is making its rounds online and people are saying the late Queen of Soul shaded the Grammy-Award-winning singer during their interaction.

In a resurfaced clip from TV One’s Uncensored, the 38-year-old wife and mother of three talked about meeting the icon whom she has admired since the age of five. The meeting took place in 2007 after Fantasia sang in a tribute concert for Aretha Franklin at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. The ladies had a chance to finally speak following the show, however, according to Fantasia, Aretha Franklin wasn’t the nicest. She said,

“[Aretha Franklin] walks in the room, and I started crying. My idol now, [since I was] five years old. She walks around the room so gracefully, and she gets to me, and she says, ‘You can sing, but I’m the b*tch around here.’”

Fantasia

Fantasia continued and shared that she responded with the utmost respect.

“Yeah, she caught me off guard and I said, ‘Yes ma’am.’”

As you may already know, Aretha Franklin, unfortunately, died at her home on August 16, 2018, at the age of 76.

Aretha Franklin

Though Fantasia seemingly took Aretha Franklin’s remarks in stride, Mavis Staples, of the legendary group The Staple Singers, says she had a complicated relationship with her friend. Mavis Staples, 82, shared in a previous interview that Aretha Franklin allegedly lowered her vocals on their 1987 live duet of “Oh Happy Day.” According to Mavis Staples, she regrets allowing the song to be publicized. She said,

“I should’ve told her, ‘No, just don’t put the record out’ but you know me, goody-goody Mavis.”

Mavis Staples added,

“She was very insecure. I tried my best to be her friend. She would call me and ask me to call her back. When I called her back, the number was changed. So, you know, she was weird like that.”

What are your thoughts on Fantasia’s story? Do you think the Queen of Soul was being shady?