Oops: Obama Misspells Aretha's 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T'

Franklin performs at 'Women of Soul' White House event
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 7, 2014 10:43 AM CST
Oops: Obama Misspells Aretha's 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T'
President Barack Obama kisses Aretha Franklin after she sang during the dedication ceremony for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, on the National Mall in Washington.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Obama botched a very popular song lyric—and one that's pretty easy to remember if you know how to spell—last night at the White House's "Women of Soul" performance, the AP reports. "When Aretha [Franklin] first told us what R-S-P-E-C-T meant to her," he said at one point, before being interrupted by laughter from the crowd. He continued after a pause, according to CBS News: "...she had no idea it would become a rallying cry for African-Americans, and women, and then everyone who felt marginalized because of what they looked like or who they loved. They wanted some respect." Franklin performed at the show, as well as others including Patti LaBelle and Ariana Grande. The concert will air on PBS on April 7. (More Barack Obama stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X