Aretha Franklin's family blast pastor's eulogy at funeral as distasteful and offensive

Rev Williams delivered the eulogy at the packed funeral service of Ms Franklin
AP
Olivia Tobin4 September 2018

The family of Aretha Franklin have hit out at the pastor who performed a eulogy at her funeral, calling him “offensive and distasteful”.

Reverend Jasper Williams Jr, the pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, spoke at the soul singer’s star-studded funeral last week, discussing issues he said were critical to the black community.

In doing so, Rev Williams said that black mothers could not raise black boys to become men alone.

Ms Franklin’s family said he used the “platform to push his negative agenda”, which they “do not agree with”.

Members of the Franklin family embracing at the singer's funeral
AFP/Getty Images

"We found the comments to be offensive and distasteful," the family said.

"Rev. Jasper Williams spent more than 50 minutes speaking and at no time did he properly eulogize her."

Family, friends and fans of Ms Franklin offered a rousing farewell on Friday at an eight-hour service featuring tributes from former U.S. President Bill Clinton and civil rights leaders, as well as emotional performances by entertainers Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson and Gladys Knight.

Aretha Franklin Funeral - In pictures

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Rev Williams, picked because of past eulogies for family members, said in his remarks that single black mothers alone could not raise black boys to become men and that black lives would not matter "until black people start respecting black lives and stop killing ourselves."

He defended his comments at a news conference on Sunday

"Respect for each other is the key to us changing the road we are on as a race," he said.

The bishop who officiated Ms Franklin's funeral has also came under fire recently.

Ms Franklin's tributes were attended by scores of people
REUTERS

Bishop Charles H. Ellis III has apologised for the way he touched Ariana Grande on stage.

He had awkwardly greeted Miss Grande following her performance of (You Mae Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, with images showing his hand being held well above her waist, pressing on one side of her chest.

The preacher later apologised in an interview with The Associated Press at the cemetery where Franklin was interred late on Friday.

Aretha Franklin - In pictures

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Additional reporting by Reuters.

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