An awkward exchange between Ariana Grande’s and a pastor during Aretha Franklin’s funeral on Friday has people raising a red flag from folks on social media who believe he fondled her.
The 25-year-old singer had just wrapped up her rendition of the Franklin classic ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, when she was greeted by Bishop Charles Ellis.
Ellis grabbed onto Grande around her rib cage as he attempted to share a ‘dad’ joke with the audience.
The 25-year-old singer had just wrapped up her rendition of the Franklin classic ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, when she was greeted by Bishop Charles Ellis
‘When I saw Ariana Grande on the program, I thought that was a new something at Taco Bell,’ he said as the crowd erupted into laughter.
Grande shared her own embarrassed laugh and appeared to be uncomfortable in the grip.
‘Girl, let me give you all your respect,’ Ellis continued, hugging Grande. ‘Did y’all enjoy this icon? She’s an icon herself.’
Ellis grabbed onto Grande around her rib cage as he attempted to share a ‘dad’ joke with the audience
Folks on social media quickly made note of the awkward joke, but focused more on the uncomfortable positioning of the pastor’s hands.
Perez Hilton said: ‘Is it just me or… was this pastor just a bit too much with Ariana Grande?’
The sentiment was shared by another user, who also spoke about the hypocritical behavior she felt was evident at the service.
Folks on social media quickly made note of the awkward joke, but focused more on the uncomfortable positioning of the pastor’s hands
‘I’ve left churches when the preacher started talking about “sexual immorality” when he meant “queer folk,'” the user said.
‘Cuz strangely, Doc grabbing Ariana Grande in such a violent way this morning wasn’t “sexual immorality.” Hmm’.
Jerome Trammel added: ‘My OPINION: When touching women, especially women you do NOT know, respect their space. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but his hand should have been around @ArianaGrande’s arm, not underneath. Maybe, only I caught that.’
‘It makes me sick how he was touching Ariana Grande sexually multiple times on live tv, you could tell she was uncomfortable like wtf I feel so bad for her,’ stated a different user. ‘The whole time all those men did was sexualize her.’
Many on Twitter had had feelinhs about that the choice of fashion Grande wore for the funeral, believing it was not traditional with the typical etiquette that accompanies African American homegoing services.
The singer wore a tiny black dress with her signature ponytail along with a pair of black stilettos.
‘#ArianaGrande don’t know the below the knee rule for the pulpit in the black church. Somebody hand her a lap hanky and a choir robe. Bless her heart,’ tweeted one, Tenisha Taylor Bell.
‘I can’t believe she came in a black church for a black funeral dressed like this,’ said comedian and writer Crissle West.