Aretha Franklin Suing Parody Website Over Fake Patti LaBelle Story

You need to R-E-S-P-E-C-T Aretha Franklin, yo! Do not mess with a diva and print fake ass stories, Internet!

The soul diva is suing the powers-that-be at a parody website over their fake story about a physical altercation between herself and fellow diva Patti LaBelle.

TheNewsNerd.com published the fake story on April 11. Four days later, Franklin responded that it was a fake story, and then filed a $10 million lawsuit.

"The stories were not presented as satire or humor. It was presented as a serious news story intended to depict me in a slanderous and derogatory way," Franklin's publicist said.

To the site's credit, the post was accompanied by a disclaimer which warned that it was satirical.

The fake story claimed that LaBelle was arrested for assault and battery after attacking Franklin at a concert in March.

Like who would believe that anyway?!

Fake news sites – what's the point? Now with this kind of lawsuit coming into play, it might make these sites think twice about their joke stories.

Plus, fake stories, even ones with disclaimers, muck up the news cycle and create headaches for the media that's left separating the wheat from the chaff.

Aretha Franklin - How I Got Over

What do you think of Aretha Frankin's lawsuit?

—Maggie Pannacione
04.18.14