Fox News apologizes for misidentifying Patti LaBelle as Aretha Franklin

The singer who demanded respect in an iconic 1960s song was temporarily disrespected in the eyes of some of her fans Thursday, hours after her death.

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Fox News issued an apology for mistakenly using an image of Patti LaBelle in a news package tribute for legendary singer Aretha Franklin, who died Thursday morning, People reported.

“We sincerely apologize to Aretha Franklin’s family and friends,” Fox News Vice President Jessica Santostefano said in a statement.

Franklin, 76, known as the “Queen of Soul,” died of pancreatic cancer on Thursday.

Fox News shared a news package containing highlights of Franklin's career. Fans noticed, however, that while one slide showed a shot of Franklin prominently on the left side, on the right side, above Franklin's birth and death dates, was a second image of LaBelle singing, The New York Daily News reported.

"The dis-R-E-S-P-E-C-T. That's really Patti LaBelle in the corner," one fan wrote on Twitter.

"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," Santostefano told People.

The image Fox used came from LaBelle’s performance at the White House in 2014, the magazine reported.

"I am deeply saddened about the passing of the Queen of Soul and my sister in song, Aretha Franklin," LaBelle, 74, wrote on Twitter. "Today the world has experienced a tremendous loss.

“Aretha was a rare treasure whose unmatched musical genius helped craft the soundtrack to the lives of so many. My sympathy, love and prayers go out to her family, loved ones and fans around the globe.”

Cox Media Group