Author: Brian McCollum / Source: Detroit Free Press
Finally hitting theaters April 19, Aretha Franklin’s “Amazing Grace” film was shot in 1972 in conjunction with her best-selling gospel album. Detroit Free Press
Aretha Franklin’s estate is blasting Wendy Williams for “irresponsible” and “mocking” remarks after the talk-show host attacked the late singer’s upcoming, long-delayed gospel film.
In a lengthy fact-checking statement Sunday, the Queen of Soul’s family said Williams made “inaccurate and disparaging statements” during a Friday segment about “Amazing Grace.” Shot in 1972, the church performance is set to hit screens nationwide in April.
Departing from widespread critical acclaim for the film, Williams questioned its visual quality, Franklin’s natural look and the motivations behind the movie’s release.
Franklin’s estate said Williams’ commentary “indicates that she has neither seen the documentary nor understands its import or intent.”
Williams also seemed to accuse Franklin’s family of mismanaging the singer’s affairs through the years: “When you don’t have real professional people doing real professional things for you, sometimes you lose out.”
The family’s response pushed back: “Contrary to Williams’ derisive reference, there is no ‘Cousin Junebug’ making decisions for the Estate.”
“Amazing Grace” will hit theaters nationwide April 19 after events in Detroit and other cities. Shot by Sydney Pollack at an L.A. church while Franklin recorded her top-selling gospel album of the same name, the footage was abandoned for decades before being shaped into a final cut by UCLA music professor Alan Elliott.
Though Franklin told the Detroit Free Press in 2015 “I love the film itself,” she stonewalled the release, securing two court injunctions and saying she had not licensed use of her likeness.
Following her death in August, her estate cleared the way for the film’s premiere, and early screenings have earned glowing reviews from critics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAETDC37qpg
On Friday’s episode of “The Wendy Williams Show,” Williams set out to sympathize with Franklin resistance to the movie, calling it a “one-camera shot” (Pollack used five cameras) and pointing out Franklin’s unglamorous appearance in the church setting.
The family fired back in its statement.
“1972 was the era of Black Power and Black Is Beautiful,” the estate said. “In her short natural hair and simple makeup, Ms. Franklin was in step with the times and appropriate to the occasion. There was no ‘showgirl glamor,’ no ‘pressed hair’ and no ‘eyelashes’ – the lack of which Williams ridiculed on her program. The simplicity of the presentation gives ‘Amazing Grace’ its power.”
Williams also speculated that the film is being released only because Franklin’s estate is in a financial “mess.”
“I would imagine that now the bill collectors are like, ‘OK, rest in peace, Aretha Franklin. But we still need our money for this, we need money for that,’” Williams said, prompting “oohs” from her audience. “So by putting this movie out, I would say the estate is probably going to be paying bills with this.”
Franklin’s estate said the talk-show host was perpetuating falsehoods in the era of “fake news.”
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