Aretha Goes In On The Media...

An angry Aretha Franklin lashed out at several media outlets yesterday regarding her absence from Whitney Houston's funeral. In a statement, the Queen of Soul told the TV show Extra, The New York Post andNewsday (of New York) to "stop the B.S." Rumors led some to claim that Cissy Houston banned Aretha from the funeral after she was unhappy about comments she made on the Today show. In segment, Aretha said parents needed to talk to their children before they set out on their own, to be certain they "have all the right things," then noted how Whitney "just kind of lost her way along the way."

Citing a "50-year" friendship with Cissy Houston, Franklin said she was sent invitations and passes for the service. Having performed in New York the night before and suffering from leg spasms, she didn't feel up to attending. She added, "Extra TV, The New York Post and Newsday are more interested in sensationalism and negative speculations than the truth. People are getting their information from the wrong source. The intelligent and the thoughtful thing to do would be to respect and have some sensitivity to the moment. If you don't know how, at least try. Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I -- particularly at this time."

Franklin did fault Today for not airing her entire statement. Audiences never got to hear her follow-up: "This is no reflection on Cissy or Nippy's upbringing. Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically."