Controversy Surrounds Patti LaBelle’s Portrayal in Luther Vandross Documentary
The community surrounding Patti LaBelle is filled with frustration and sadness after a recent film depicted her unfavorably. Patti LaBelle, known for her iconic track “Lady Marmalade,” had a longstanding friendship with the celebrated singer Luther Vandross, extending her support to his family and caring for him until his final days.
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However, the portrayal in the CNN documentary “Luther: Never Too Much,” which premiered on New Year’s Day, left LaBelle’s supporters shocked. They claimed that the film unfairly cast her as someone who revealed sensitive details about Vandross’s private life concerning his sexuality, an aspect he had always kept confidential.
LaBelle had welcomed the documentary team into her residence, providing an hour-long interview filled with personal anecdotes about Vandross, according to sources. Despite her cooperation, her interview was excluded from the final cut because she declined to sign the release forms after her request to preview the film was denied.
Sources suggest that the decision to include a 2017 segment from LaBelle’s interview on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” where she discussed Vandross’s sexuality, was a deliberate move to cast her in a negative light. This inclusion followed a remark by Vandross’s collaborator, Richard Marx, in the film, criticizing those who spoke about Vandross’s personal life, further framing LaBelle as a betrayer.
In the contentious clip, Cohen questioned LaBelle about Vandross’s challenges with his sexual identity, to which she responded that Vandross chose not to publicly come out to protect his mother’s feelings. The documentary also showed emotional scenes of LaBelle singing at Vandross’s 2005 funeral.
Documentary’s Controversial Choices
The documentary concluded with a personal reflection from Vandross, where he addressed rumors about his sexuality by emphasizing that he owed nothing but his music and efforts to the public, sharply telling people to mind their own business.
During a showing at the Tribeca Film Festival, the inclusion of the “WWHL” clip led to negative reactions from the audience, with sources indicating that LaBelle was unjustly used to create controversy. Even some of the documentary’s producers believed it was fair for LaBelle to view the final edit and felt uneasy about using the clip from her interview.
Insiders highlighted LaBelle’s extensive support for Vandross after his stroke, noting how she arranged care for him and his family. They also pointed out that the documentary overlooked her influential role in his career. Vandross had been a lifelong fan of LaBelle, even founding her first fan club and regularly attending her shows at the Apollo Theater.
Despite her busy schedule with tours at the age of 80, LaBelle has not yet watched the documentary.
In a separate note, CNN faced additional criticism for airing the documentary on New Year’s Day despite a concurrent terrorist attack in New Orleans. Tom Sileo, a former employee, criticized the network’s decision as highly insensitive on social media platform X, although he clarified that his comments were not a reflection on Vandross.
CNN has chosen not to respond to the controversy, and representatives for both LaBelle and the Vandross estate have yet to comment on the documentary.
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Ellis McDowell is a trend analyst with a sharp eye for spotting the next big thing in entertainment. With years of experience in digital media and trend forecasting, Nora tracks the movements of influencers, viral content, and entertainment trends. Her insights help shape the stories that captivate our audience.
