Aretha Franklin funeral: Reverend Al Sharpton called out Trump and got a standing ovation

During the funeral of the legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, the Reverend Al Sharpton received a standing ovation after criticising the words of Donald Trump.

The 63-year-old Baptist minister and civil rights activist used his few moments on stage at the service to address a statement made by president Trump after Franklin's death.

On August 16, Trump said:

I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well.

She worked for me on numerous occasions. She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing.

In response, Sharpton sought to readdress Trump's statement by saying that Franklin never worked for him, only performed.

He added that Franklin worked for "us" and pointed to the huge crowd that had assembled for the service at Detroit's Greater Grace Church and received a rapturous applause.

You know, the other Sunday on my show, I misspelt 'Respect' and a lot of y'all corrected me.

Now, I want y'all to help me correct President Trump to help teach him what it means.

And I say that because when the word went out that Miss Franklin passed, Trump said 'she used to work for me.'

No, she used to perform for you. She worked for us. Aretha took orders from no one but God.

Although Sharpton's words were greeted fondly by those in attendance, which included the likes of LeBron James, Arianna Grande, Omarosa Manigault Newman, Bill and Hillary Clinton he was criticised online for making a political statement during a funeral.

Supporters of Trump and right-wing commentators were quick to pull Sharpton up on his comments, with some branding them as "classless."

Others applauded his comments.

HT Daily Mail