Bishop Charles H. Ellis III has apologized for his actions towards Ariana Grande at Aretha Franklin’s funeral. As previously reported, the bishop appeared to grope her right breast and also made a tasteless joke, likening her name to a menu item at Taco Bell.
“I personally and sincerely apologize to Ariana and to her fans and to the whole Hispanic community,” Ellis told The Associated Press. “When you’re doing a program for nine hours you try to keep it lively, you try to insert some jokes here and there.
“It would never be my intention to touch any woman’s breast … I don’t know I guess I put my arm around her,” he added, before doubling down on the Taco Bell humor: “Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize.”
He continued, “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,” insisting “The last thing I want to do is to be a distraction to this day. This is all about Aretha Franklin.”
Grande, or her representatives, have yet to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile,
Twitter Trolls As Bill Clinton Is Captured for seemingly checking out Ariana Grande at Aretha Franklin's funeral
Reactions to Ariana Grande's performance at Aretha Franklin's funeral were mixed -- but President Bill Clinton and Rev. Al Sharpton seemingly enjoyed the show.
Now, before looking at the photos, let's cut some slack: Clinton's smile is particularly noticeable because the most of the other men onstage were so unapologetically stone-faced. Several of them appeared dismayed, perhaps because Grande's dress was just a bit short for a funeral service. (Or just church in general.)
Seated next to Clinton was Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was clearly unamused by Clinton and Al Sharpton's faces.
Reactions to Ariana Grande's performance at Aretha Franklin's funeral were mixed -- but President Bill Clinton and Rev. Al Sharpton seemingly enjoyed the show.
Now, before looking at the photos, let's cut some slack: Clinton's smile is particularly noticeable because the most of the other men onstage were so unapologetically stone-faced. Several of them appeared dismayed, perhaps because Grande's dress was just a bit short for a funeral service. (Or just church in general.)
Seated next to Clinton was Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was clearly unamused by Clinton and Al Sharpton's faces.
Twitter users were quick to comment on the performance, in part to call out Clinton and Sharpton for their gazes, but also to take aim at Grande's ensemble.
"Why is Ariana dressed for a nightclub and not a funeral?" one viewer wrote.
Others noted that Grande's ensemble -- and the resulting reactions -- were an unwanted distraction from the real focus of the service.
