A senior pastor of a megachurch in Detroit has apologized to singer Ariana Grande for behavior he acknowledged was perceived as inappropriate, saying he never intended to make the latter feel uncomfortable.
This came days after a video of the 25-year-old singer and songwriter being inappropriately touched by senior pastor Bishop Charles Ellis III during Aretha Franklin's funeral service made rounds online. Many expressed their outrage over the clip, causing the hashtag #RespectAriana to trend worldwide.
I don’t care what you think about Ariana Grande, her music or her dress. This is wrong. That bishop’s hand should not be on her breast: I just saw this because I’ve been working and not watching pic.twitter.com/ixVhgYBJTN — Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) September 1, 2018
Now, senior pastor Bishop Charles Ellis III has broken his silence about the sexual assault accusations. In an interview with The Associated Press, as cited by NBC News, the senior pastor apologized about what happened and added that he did not mean to hurt nor disrespect the singer.
"It would never be my intention to touch any woman's breast... I don't know I guess I put my arm around her," Bishop Charles Ellis III explained. "Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize," he added.
The senior pastor went on to say that he hugged all the performers during the eight-hour funeral service. He shook the hands and hugged every female and male artist after each performance. He, then, added, "That's what we are all about in the church. We are all about love."
The "No Tears Left To Cry" singer was one of the 15 artists who paid musical tribute to singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin following her death on Aug. 16 at the age of 76. She performed a stirring rendition of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."
In other news, a one-hour special episode featuring Ariana Grande's live-performances from her new studio album "Sweetener" is coming to BCC One this fall. The singer is also expected to talk candidly about her life, music, and career.
English television presenter Davina McCall, who will host the said one-hour special episode, expressed her excitement about the project stating that the "Victorious" star is such an incredible artist. She also looks forward hearing some of the latter's astonishing music, including "God Is a Woman," "Goodnight n Go, "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)" and "The Light Is Coming."
BC's head of commissioning, music television Jan Younghusband and the U.K.'s pubcaster's content boss, Charlotte Moore, ordered the special episode. U.K. production company Livewire Pictures will produce it. No specific release date has been set yet.
