Franklin Calls Story On Alleged Financial Woes `Malicious And Vicious'

Jet, March 8, 1999

Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin responded to the Detroit Free Press story that reported she had been sued more than 30 times over unpaid bills during the last decade as "malicious and vicious."

In a press statement Ms. Franklin stated: "With respect to a front-page stow that ran in a local paper, it is clearly, in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, a malicious and vicious attempt to discredit me by reprinting old, warmed-over news that local people knew about 15 years ago to have a cumulative effect with the general public. There was nothing new about it."

Ms. Franklin continued, "It certainly didn't deserve front-page or national attention, but, I take responsibility for the handful of suits for a small fraction out of the 99.9% of people who are paid responsibly and in a timely way. There are many happy creditors who have my business accounts."

She noted, "As reported in the said article, no one is owed anything today and I have no knowledge nor do my representatives have any knowledge of any suits with the state of Michigan."

She also pointed out, "And liens are not suits and cannot be construed as suits. They are demands for payment with which we are all familiar. Due to my travel and performance schedule and a lack of a secretary in place during that period of time, that small fraction of people, less than .1% of the people with whom I do business, who were not paid, utilized their option to sue. This is not uncommon."

She noted that famous people are easy targets for people to sue. "Celebrities are sued every day for a number of reasons. And sometimes, some people just want their 15 minutes of fame and some people resent having to wait for payment. Others are legitimate."

She concluded her statement by saying: "I am very sorry that it had to come to the suit status, however, this was not intentional. I intended no malice, no disrespect and no lack of concern for the working people and small businesses of Detroit." She stressed, "I have never purchased any goods or services without the intention of paying my bills in a timely and responsible manner."