Irish Sunday Mirror

ARETHA PREACHER SORRY FOR ‘GROPING’ OF GRANDE

- BY AILBHE DALY

THE bishop who led Aretha Franklin’s funeral has apologised to Ariana Grande after being accused of groping her.

Images show Bishop Charles H Ellis III holding the singer high above her waist, with his fingers squeezed around the side of her chest.

He said: “It would never be my intention to touch any woman’s breast. Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too familiar. But again, I apologise.” The preacher added he hugged all artists, male or female, during the ceremony commemorat­ing the life of the Queen of Soul. But viewers began posting images from the service when Ariana got up to sing Aretha’s song (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. Many people took to social media to point out Bishop Ellis’ hand was inappropri­ately high on the 25-year-old’s body as he spoke to her –saying she looked uncomforta­ble. Ariana Grande

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