Fox News Uses Photo Of Patti LaBelle In Aretha Franklin Tribute

“We sincerely apologize to Aretha Franklin’s family and friends,” Jessica Santostefano, a Fox News vice president, said in a statement according to the Los Angeles Times. “Our intention was to honor the icon using a secondary image of her performing with Patti LaBelle in the full-screen graphic, but the image of Ms. Franklin was obscured in that process, which we deeply regret.”

However, it turns out that Franklin was never onstage with LaBelle during this performance, which took place at the “Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House” special hosted by President Obama in 2014. Although both LaBelle and Franklin were present for the special occasion, they performed separately.

The mistake on Fox’s part was ironic considering Franklin and LaBelle’s contentious relationship, which was documented in numerous interviews they’ve done throughout the years.

Nevertheless, LaBelle released a statement on Twitter following Franklin’s death.

“Aretha was a rare treasure whose unmatched musical genius helped craft the soundtrack to the lives of so many,” LaBelle wrote. Other celebrities and entertainers also expressed their condolences including Questlove and Lauryn Hill.