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Feb 14, 2008 9:43 pm US/Eastern
Beyonce's Dad Weighs In On 'Queen' Flap
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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Beyonce's father weighed in on Aretha Franklin's criticism of his daughter on Feb. 14, 2008.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Beyonce's father says Aretha Franklin's criticism of his daughter for referring to Tina Turner as "the Queen" at the Grammys is "ridiculous."
On Tuesday, the Queen of Soul let everyone know her royal feathers were ruffled when Beyonce called Turner "The Queen" before their joint performance Sunday at the Grammys. Franklin, who also performed at the ceremony, was sitting in the audience: Beyonce did reference her along with other top female singers before introducing Turner.
"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce," Franklin said in a statement issued by her publicist. "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."
However, in an interview with CelebTV.com posted Wednesday, Matthew Knowles, Beyonce's father and manager, said: "I am not taking something this ridiculous to Beyonce. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as a 'queen.' Not queen of gospel, queen of soul, queen of blues, Queen of England. I consider my wife a queen and sometimes call her that. Does Aretha have a problem with that?"
Beyonce's representative did not respond to a request from The Associated Press seeking comment.
An e-mail request for comment from Franklin's representative was not immediately returned. However, in her statement on Tuesday, Franklin made clear she wasn't holding a grudge toward Beyonce, ending her statement by giving the Grammys thanks and "love to Beyonce anyway."
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