A TV presenter has reacted angrily after she was accused of mistaking a song by Aretha Franklin for Tina Turner.
Turner died yesterday in Switzerland after a long illness, having spent her long career wowing fans with her strong voice and energetic performances.
Tributes have been flowing in since news of her death was made public, with her manager Roger Davies calling her a ‘force of nature’.
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Other music stars such like Diana Ross and Gloria Gaynor also chimed in, using terms like ‘iconic legend’ and heralding Turner as someone who ‘paved the way for women in rock music’.
However, one tribute that didn’t quite land for some came from Australian TV presenter and commentator Prue MacSween.
She’s no stranger to controversy, having been in trouble for numerous troubling and strange comments during her career.
Anyway, this time she tried to pay respect – or R.E.S.P.E.C.T – to Turner, but used the lyrics of a popular Aretha Franklin song to do so.
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On Twitter, MacSween wrote: “RIP the amazing Tina Turner.
“Thank you for the joy you brought us.
“R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”
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After she shared the post, many were surprised at the reference within.
One person asked: “Have you confused Tina Turner with Aretha Franklin?”
“Aretha Franklin owned that one. Don't recall Tina covering it, but I might be wrong. Now, Simply The Best will work for you,” another suggested.
“Loves Tina so much you can't even remember who she is,” said a third.
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Now, the 71-year-old has responded to fans saying she messed up, telling Daily Mail Australia that her Twitter tribute was ‘no accident’.
Prue said: “I knew it was Aretha's anthem, but I did it intentionally.
“I have so much respect for how Tina overcame all the hardships in her life and she ranks up there with Aretha as one of the top two rock and soul singers of the 1960s,
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“How pathetic that showing someone respect on their passing becomes fodder for morons.
“It's quite amusing to see pretty small-minded trolls come out of the woodwork, but disrespectful in this case.”
“I recommend they expend their energy getting a job and doing some good in their lives and they may earn some respect.”
Turner died at her Swiss home on Wednesday (24 May), her publicist confirmed.
Her cause of death has not yet been released.
The singer shot to fame in the 1960s and 1970s, before staging a remarkable comeback in the 1980s with her album ‘Private Dancer’.
She’ll be remembered for her iconic tracks ‘Simply The Best’, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ and her cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s hit ‘Proud Mary’.
Topics: Australia, Film and TV, Music, Celebrity, Weird
Tom Wood