Aretha Franklin’s memorial service took place last Friday. Aretha planned it out so that it would be a big celebration, full of music and hymns and remembrances. Ariana Grande was one of the singers who was asked to perform, and she did a version of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” After her performance, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III brought her over to the podium, and that’s where he groped her in full view of everyone. You can see part of it at the top of this video:
It’s gross. And he was doing it on purpose. This wasn’t someone who accidentally grazed someone. He intentionally pulled her close, he intentionally kept a vice grip on her body and then he felt her up in front of an audience. I feel so sorry for Ariana Grande, and for all women. Turns out we can’t even avoid being harassed and assaulted at g–damn funerals either. And his apology is trash too.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN/NBC.
I watched this on twitter over the weekend and I felt such rage. And now I feel it again. I want him to pay for this.
He must. And as if the public groping weren’t bad enough, the Taco Bell comment on top of it – bleeegh.
This! He’s rightfully getting smack for the groping, but the first thing he did was make a bigoted joke! Then he groped her. I can’t believe people have actually been defending this jerk. (not here – elsewhere)
The Taco Bell comment was part of the whole thrill for him…he’s degrading her personhood while he violates her body. Reprehensible in the extreme.
He needs to be defrocked.
And charged.
Ugh, I can empathize with Ariana; we’ve all been there so many times. The shock of it, freezing up, heart racing, but laughing because you don’t know what else to do, trying to act normal so the situation doesn’t become worse… Your instincts are suddenly screaming but you have to choke them down and pretend everything is great. I can’t even count how many times things like this have happened to me and to others (including some of my male friends as well). It needs to stop 🤬
@stumpycorgi (great name) you said it perfectly.
@Jadeone Thank you! And thanks for the comment on my name. I grew up with two precious corgs. I love all dogs (and cats, and non-human animals in general). But I’ll always have an extra soft spot in my heart for corgis, with their cheerfulness, winning smiles, and loaf-like, stumpy, totally adorable little shapes!
Exactly this. I watched it and I thought to myself ‘is he actually trying to grope her or doesn’t he realise and does she feel it because she’s not reacting’. Then I remembered the occasions that something similar has happened to me and how the same thoughts have run through my mind. You just pretend it isn’t happening. Freeze and try to look normal. It made me feel sick watching it. I hope she’s ok.
So true. It’s sad that the first thing I thought (my body felt) was “Hey, I know that move!”. It seems to be a common tactic of predators.
I never had this happen, that I can remember. Not even someone grabbing my butt, except in bars, where everyone was drinking and I couldn’t tell what stranger did it. I would be irate for this to happen on a professional level.
A nice good kick to the shin would stop it. I wish she said something. I know she must have been stunned, but I do wish she said something or kicked him. Not victim blaming, just wishing that she had the beleif that she had the right to defend herself. Nothing wrong with kicking someone who is groping you. We should teach our daughters that.
I can read her mind from here: “I don’t want to make a scene at Aretha freaking Franklin funeral”.
Actually, we DON’T have to choke back our reactions any more. It is perfectly acceptable to turn to someone and say, “Get your hands off me NOW!” There is no situation in the world (funeral, place of work, party) when you should not speak up for yourself. When this becomes the truth, we’ll have come a long way. And PLEASE don’t say I’m victim blaming; I’m saying every woman needs to give herself permission to react without worrying how others will “take it”.
So f’ing nasty. Her sheer terror is so obvious. F’ing asshole.
For anyone who keeps making excuses for this man, look at the expression on Jesse Jackson’s face! (Or whoever the man is behind them — I did not watch the funeral and to me he looks like Jackson.) He knows what just went down and he is PISSED OFF.
So blatantly obvious and so disgusting. She looked horribly uncomfortable. Women shouldn’t need to worry about this BS but it happens everywhere, as evidenced by the fact she was groped during a widely publicized funeral. Gross.
+1 just disgusting
She seemed torn between discomfort/shock and wondering if she was misinterpreting what was going on, or worried about overreacting. I felt bad for her- not just getting groped, but publicly for the whole world to see. How humiliating.
While trying to educate my husband’s childhood friend regarding just HOW wrong/stupid this incident was; I took the time to innumerate all the levels of wrongness I could think of.
1) he violated her personal autonomy by touching her at all sans consent
2) he was a TOTAL STRANGER to her
3) it was a FUNERAL FFS!!!
4) he’s a pastor
5) he’s at least 60 years old
6) he’s married
7) he has daughters older than AG
8) the assault was not only being recorded, but broadcast to millions
9) he made a very rude “joke” about her name WHILE molesting her
10) AG was obviously appalled/disgusted/confused/frightened by his
actions. Her facial expressions and body language could be seen
from ORBIT.
This lecherous slug saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and just went ahead and did it.
And the pathetic “men” that are saying her dress was provocatively short need a flame thrower taken to their genitals.
It made me think that he had done this same move to MANY women, so many that it was automatic for him, even though he was being watched by millions and recorded. It seemed so habitual.
I spent my life being touched on the bosom this way or touched on the hip/behind, to the point where I didn’t actually feel it. The few occasions someone put their hand on my waist I found it so sexy. The older I get the sadder that gets. The waist touching I can still count on one hand. The putting up with all the other touching? Still counting and I am fat and old. Tragic.
OMG 😮 so much was going on behind the scene in plain view at Aretha’s service. Ariana did move back and looked at the bishop in shock at the moment he squeezed her side boobs. No way could not deny. I saw her looked back at the ladies behind her as if to say, did you all saw that. Can’t trust the president, the bishop, the priest, who can we trust?
Off Topic:
Now they are holding a confirmation to confirm the next jurior to the SC that the bogus president selected to stop 🛑 his impeachment. This country is going to hell in a hand basket.
In Ireland we’ve known about not trusting bishops or priests for a long time now. 😫
AMEN
When does the #MeTooThePastorRemix movement start?
When I saw the stills of this I disconnected because I recognized the look of extreme discomfort on her face, the desire to not make a scene, and knew exactly how the unwanted hand on the ribcage beneath the breast felt. I feel really badly for Ariana, and wish that “pastor” a one-way ticket to the sun.
ETA: and the racism/xenophobia taking place at the funeral of someone who was active in the Civil Rights movement, ugh…
It was more than her rib cage, he dug into the soft side breast tissue. And gave a few squeezes. So sorry for that young lady.
This sucks. And everyone can relate to the look on Ariana’s face, her body language – it all screams I want to get out of here but don’t want to make a fuss.
Yes, I was shocked when I saw the photos … it was so blatant, so disgusting, so clearly molesting her in a public place because he knew she probably wouldn’t protest. That’s one of the worst parts of the situation: He preyed upon her own good manners at a funeral.
The look on her face made me ill. And the smug look on his face Was disgusting. He never needs to be in a position of ministry or power over ANYONE.
I don’t know that he groped her intentionally. I think it’s possible that he was speaking in front of a large audience, which kept his attention, and had a co-speaker with him (Grande). He hugged her and kept his arm around her. He adjusted his grip when they hugged again. I’m not sure the man had the secret, inescapable intent to grab her boob.
I have been hugged and have hugged, and accidentally brushed things not normally brushed. It does actually happen. Do we have to brand every person who does this as a harasser? We don’t know intent, and yet we’ve labeled this guy forever.
I have known people who are nervous to wrap their arm around someone and sort of tap their fingers on them repeatedly. Thing is, he could’ve wrapped his arm around her shoulder just as easily when he realize he 100% had his hand on her breast and he didn’t move it.
I just think he had his hand on her side. He is bigger, and she is tiny. He’s going to hit sideboob. Think about how much of each woman’s sides are taken up by “private parts”. I think this varies by woman, and by sensitivity.
That being said, shoulder wraps are probably safer. But would we say he’s being dominant? Holding her aggressively?
To the commentor below asking is he heoldong her aggressively. ya HY IS HE HOLDING HER AT ALL?!?!?!
” He is bigger, and she is tiny. He’s going to hit sideboob. ”
NO. That is not the case. Her boobs don’t cover her entire body. He put his hand waaaaaaay closer to her armpit than her waist.
Only predators think that you are “going to hit sideboob” no matter what you do. There are so many other options.
Funny how he was able to hug the male attendees without groping their private parts.
I think it’s pretty easy to hug a dude with hitting the groin.
It’s pretty easy to avoid putting your hand near a woman’s breast, too, when she has shoulders, arms, and other parts of her body available that can be touched without that risk. Again, the problem is that assumption that women are okay being touched in ways they wouldn’t dream of touching men.
@Syl, it’s pretty easy to grope a dude’s butt when your arm literally goes around his backside during a side embrace.
She looked uncomfortable and he issue an apology.
You know how he could have easily avoided that situation? Not putting his arm around a woman he didn’t know and forcibly holding her close through an entire speech. Regardless of his intent, men are way too quick to assume women’s bodies are public property.
I like this idea. Men do not hug each other close during speeches.
This is perfect. Really. There would be nothing to question if he hadn’t been so grabby/huggy.
I go to an exercise class and occasionally the female instructor will need to address my form, sometimes the easiest way to do that is by touching me. She always asks “may I touch you?” Always. And she is a tiny, non-threatening woman teaching a bunch of women, and so far none of her corrections have even involved any particularly sensitive areas. She asks because some people do not like to be touched, period and that is the right thing to do, period. Even in her case, when there would be nothing to question in her touch.
He did not accidentally brush against her breast. He kept feeling and digging as he spoke. Can we please stop finding excuses for men touching and harassing women?! He groped Ariana in full view of an audience at a funeral!
This ^^^^^^^
👍
Yep. There’s a full VIDEO of the grabbing. It wasn’t no damn accident, stop that.
Thank you. He didn’t “accidentally brush” her breast. He actively kneaded it for the entire time he held her captive. So. Gross. 🤮
Thank you!!! I can’t understand how can anyone watch the all video and think that it was somehow “unintentional”. He is groping her continuously! Furthermore, as many already said, no need to grab a woman you’re not intimate with like that…No need and it’s really not OK! A woman’s body is not public property, just because someone else thinks is a nice display of affection.
100% Greenmonster.
Disagree. What happened was not a “hug”. It’s the display of power. We aren’t speculating that she was trying to get away – she was actually trying to get away without causing a scene on a very public stage, at the funeral of a woman that meant so much to so many.
She was looking around in obvious discomfort. He was disrespecting her space. A hug is a mutual act. She was being pinned to his side.
The guy who plays Luke Cage disagrees with you. He tweeted about it because he was proud of the pastor for groping Ariana Grande.
A lot of people disagree with you.
I just read what Mike tweeted. There’s a show I’ll have trouble ever watching again. Why are some men like this?
In case anyone’s wondering MC tweeted “Now THIS is how you shoot your shot! Zero F***!“ under a video of the bishop groping Ariana. 🙄
It was intentional. It would probably be hard to find a woman who hasn’t experienced this type of “covert” groping at some point – “Oh, I has just hugging her side!” “Oh, I just put my hand on her thigh to be comforting!” “Oh, I didn’t mean to repeatedly run my hands all over her bra back, I was just giving her a hug!” Women can tell the difference between an honest mistake and a grope – most of us have been in fight-or-flight mode since we were 12 if not younger. And older guys are worse than the younger guys I think because they’ve had a lifetime of getting away with it because people want women to second guess what they know happened to their own bodies and women don’t want to make a fuss. It’s just one more BS thing to put up with because “that’s just the way it is.” And they do it in public because women are being held hostage by politeness.
I wish she had body slammed him like that Savannah pizza waitress did to that dude who grabbed her ass.
Sorry, what? “Sensitivity” to being groped?
Perhaps “desensitized” is the alternate? Too many women have been desensitized to the bro/rape culture and are too quick to buy into the “accident” excuse.
I have large breasts for my small frame which has always brought unwanted attention from males and females alike. When I was in college about 10 years ago I was taking a picture with a male ‘friend’. Right before the photo was snapped he moved behind me, reached his arms around me and put both hands on my breasts and squeezed. In the photo I look surprised but I’m laughing, so I look like I was ok with it. He then bragged to all of our guy friends about how he got to grab my boobs and how great it was, and he even put the picture on Facebook. I was laughing out of nervousness and surprise which is what I see from Ariana here. She doesn’t really know what to do but she’s uncomfortable and trying not to cause a scene. This culture has got to stop – that it’s ok to touch someone without asking first, that it’s funny or cute, and that women feel like they have to be ‘nice’ about it and not cause a scene.
When I first saw a still photo of it, I thought maybe because she’s tiny his hand landed at a bad place, but if you watch the video, it is really clear that it was intentional – and inappropriate and disgusting. And he did it repeatedly, despite her clearly being uncomfortable and trying to move.
He didn’t need to touch her to begin with, but he could have put his hand on her back or her shoulder instead, as he likely would have done for a male standing there. Can you picture him putting his hand on that place on a guy? No.
He had no reason to hug her. They likely had not met before this event. This sneaky s**t happens all the time and the guys keep their eyes somewhere else and keep talking, to pretend they are not doing what they’re doing.
STOP. IT.
Look at the video. You can see his fingers squeezing her breast. More than once. She looks down at what his hand is doing and looks around, seemingly for help. She leans away from him all while he’s smirking at her and continues to touch her breast.
Maria S. — exactly. Those who think it was an accidental brush need to look at that video snippet and pause it. You can visibly see Ariana trying to lean away – her upper body at a weird angle because she’s trying to separate and he’s gripping her boob so hard she can’t actually step further away. Her expression breaks my heart as a mother.
Recently I was visiting with my husbands family in Europe and wanted to get a picture of my MIL with her mother. In every pic she would put her hand on my MILs breast…and when she was in pics with my husband she put her hand on his chest in the same position. It’s weird, but my MIL and husband laughed and pointed out she does this in literally every picture, like it’s her go-to body position. So yes, it is possibly some people might genuinely not “get” they are doing something strange or inappropriate. However, I don’t think this is that situation. You can see she was moving her body away and he was pulling her in. At the very least, even if it was an accidental brush of her breast, there is no scenario where it would be ok to pull someone into you when they are clearly trying to back away.
I think we have all accidentally brushed against someone – but when it happens, you IMMEDIATELY let go or jump back.
He’s SQUEEZING her breast like a lemon!!!! How do you do that accidentally????!!!
Why touch her at all? Why put his arm around her in the first place, and LEAVE it there for more than a moment? Totally inappropriate, uncalled for and out of place. So WRONG.
I would have frozen too…But I wish she could have taken his hand and just moved it the F off her body. I am going to try to do that, if anyone ever touches me again in a way I don’t like. Because too many men suck, and we women are so much more powerful than we know. It’s not easy, though. All the training to be Nice, and this was so public, on TV, everything. I feel SO ANGRY at this pas*tor. At Aretha’s funeral… How dare he?!
I haven’t been intentionally groped, but have had someone touch my breast accidentally. They generally pull their hand away so fast, you would think it’s a hot stove!! They have embarrassment written all over their faces and body language. Men who are honorable are mortified if they accidentally touch a woman inappropriately. Even without the side boob touch, who the hell was he to have a death grip hug on this young woman??
Predator.
WTF. No excuses. He shouldn’t have touched her. A man should know better in this day and age NOT to touch another person in such a way.
Watch the full interaction. This was not an accidental touch. Makes me sick and furious at the same time. Fuck this guy.
When it’s an accident, you move your hand and apologize. You don’t shift for a better grip, hold her closer, and start squeezing. Of course this was intentional! And calculated, entitled, and disgusting.
That Taco Bell “joke” alone is really bad
I mean her last name is Italian. He doesn’t even know that?
That non-apology was atrocious. Hey a**hole, you didn’t “offend” her, you ASSAULTED her. Get it right.
This makes me so angry! Her body language and the look on her face says it all.
Men like this think it’s a compliment and women should be grateful to be found attractive. It’s just disgusting and I can’t help but ask myself: when will it end?
I’ve had this crap happen to me several times in my career. Handsy men with a sense of entitlement are the worst! It’s made me not want to be touched period, even a hug, unless I know and trust the man. Otherwise, F off!
I’ll bet he’s big with the ladies at the local parish
If he did this to her on national television how many of his parishioners does he do this to every Sunday? It’s probably common knowledge, “don’t stand too close, he’ll touch you with more than the holy spirit.” Disgusting.
Yup. I bet a lot of them recognized that move all too well.
He groped her. At a televised funeral. In front of everyone.
I hope there are no women defending him. I can’t understand how any woman could see this and not instantly empathize. You feel small and helpless and you don’t want to make a scene because you are afraid it will get worse. This is universal and abusers are shameless.
Yeah, I know that look on Ariana’s face. I’ve made that face. This makes me sick to watch.
The look on her face is the most real and convincing evidence, in my opinion.
I may not think so highly of Ariana but this is not okay and she was DEFINITELY not comfortable. She handled herself as best she could and was obviously twisting to get away. Ugh.
I had to check multiple women on IG this weekend.One had the audacity to say,” She must have enjoyed because if it was her she would have punched him or cursed him out.” I said she was on live TV at a funeral do you honestly think she could or would react like that.She obviously didn’t want to make a scene and disrupt the services.But I’ve seen dozens of comments from women saying BS like that.
Also I lot of women brought up her short dress as if what she was wearing is an excuse for his behavior.
Ugh. I hate that attitude! She did what she could do in her position. I have no doubts that he took advantage of the fact there was an audience and she would be uncomfortable making a fuss. That’s exactly how these people work!
“…brought up her short dress as if what she was wearing is an excuse for his behavior.”
The women and men doing that are responding just as they’ve been brainwashed to. If there’s ever an especially inappropriate time for people to be modesty-policing a woman, it’s right after she’s had to publicly deal with being groped in front of millions of people.
On the bright side, it’s also been mostly women who have been coming to her defense. Even the woman who’s dating Robin Thicke called people out on their misogynistic BS.
That seems like a really practiced perv-move on his part which he’s used before.
like somebody said here…it was about the power. he wanted to dominate her and he did by putting her in the impossible situation where she couldn’t get out and had to stay still. the only thing to do was to push him away or to leave, but she must’ve feared she would be causing a public issue. I think he deserved to be slapped for that kind of atrocity. I hope women don’t feel trapped again by their niceness. they should absolutely react unapologetically when stuff like that happens. they have every right.
He might not have done it intentionally. If I hear that again, I’ll scream. Because if he didn’t do it intentionally it’s because he’s so used to doing it that it’s second nature. Anyone who has been a regular at church knows this type, the deacon/priest/minister who likes to hug the pretty girls a little too close for a little too long with a paternal smile saying how grown up you look, or how nice you look on Sunday. It doesn’t make it right. I’d like to think that if that had happened to me, I’d plant a nice sharp elbow in his side, but honestly, I’d just duck my head and hope it was over soon so I could go back to the car.
He kept his arm around her the whole time she walked up to the stage and held on, even after she was up at the podium. She didnt need any help walking up. As a woman with DDs, i am well acquainted with mens’ “friendly” hugs. he was way too handsy with her. As a young girl, had many experiences with “friendly” men twice my age. *vomit* even now, i feel self conscious about my breasts due to the attention I’ve received from them.
Whether the grope was intentional or not I cannot say for certain. What I can say, with absolute certainty, is that he treated Ariana very disrespectfully by side hugging her and making a very offensive, blatantly racist joke about her name. I was horrified and disgusted by his actions.
He’s a Pastor and greets people daily-he did it on purpose and should be censured for it.
JFC – This is the first time I’ve seen the video, and she is SO obviously uncomfortable! Poor thing! A lot of (likely most) women have been in a similar situation. But how many have been groped at a funeral? Of an icon. Which was nationally televised. That just piles on several more layers of trauma. Of COURSE she froze! Her brain couldn’t even comprehend what was happening!
Exactly – she doesn’t want to make a scene at a huge funeral for a cultural icon, what the hell was she supposed to do? I feel for her.
Taylor Swift sued and won over that horrible ass-grab, surely Ariana should be able to do the same here. I feel like this man should not get away with just this insincere apology.
That’s the thing though, Taylor only countersued that guy because he sued her first. If he hadn’t sued her she would’ve let it go. He was lucky that he only lost his job, but typical of men who feel entitled to women’s bodies he had the audacity to sue Taylor even when he was the one in the wrong.
I doubt Ariana wants to to relive this episode but if she does sue I will be in complete support of her.
The look on her face and her body language says it all. Destroy him, Ari.
Ew, ugh, awful, gross, infuriating.
Yeah, she was trying to pull away the entire time and even had a WTF look on her face as he was pulling her with him. And you do not keep your hand on a boob, you can FEEL the boob, take your hand off, pronto.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing…that was no accident, his fingers were moving the whole time….absolutely disgusting…and at the funeral of a female icon…and he is a Bishop! I bet the unfortunate young girls in his parish have been putting up with this creep for years. He shouldn’t be allowed to continue in the church.
@ Syl
No excuses if as you say his intent was ” innocent “Well at least as a ” Man of God ” he should have the spirit of discernment , her body language spoke volumes she was clearly uncomfortable and pulling away from him and looking around for help.
Further more what with all this hugging and not respecting peoples personal boundaries, she is a complete stranger to him for FFS
Everyone excusing it is saying that she’s so small so his hug accidentally touched her. Is he a moron then? Does he not see that she’s small and his arm is long in comparison? Does he not know that women have breasts that are located close to where he is touching? Does he not register that his fingertips are digging into curves that are on her body? If he can not think through ALL of those things then he doesn’t need to be among women at all.
I think his comments should be the story here. That racist taco bel crap was clearly not an accident. And him coming from a monority group himself makes it even worse. Shame on you!
As for the grope, it really does look like an accident to me. Maybe this is a teaching moment, keep your hands to yourself and this won’t even be a question
Wow! You feel that “his comments should be the story here” Not the fact he VERY CLEARLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED a young lady at a funeral service of a icon in front of the world!
Un fu*kin believable!!!
He is shameless!!!
Us women need to start behaving proactively as soon as we can – shove him off, do not care if we “insult” people by protecting ourselves.
Ariana has gone through so much in the public eye.
This is the kind of thing that happens to women all the time. And it’s awkward, and we’re in shock, and socialized not to “make it awkward”, or know that we’ll be blamed for making it up if we do say something, and the man and others will just pretend that isn’t what was happening.
You can see how forcefully she’s trying to pull away, and how uncomfortable she is.
And he thought he’d get away with it, even when it’s televised, because these types of men always get away with this garbage. What an a** this man is. And he claims to be a man of God?
It’s shocking to me how many men just don’t have any level of basic respect for women as human beings. We need a massive shift in our society. How does any man think this is ok?
I know what it’s like to be shocked in the moment and not know how to respond, but I want for all women to shake free of that – of worrying about what others will think or what the reaction will be – and to have an instant, gut reaction of yelling “don’t touch me”.
Watching him do that to her and seeing her obvious discomfort was extremely triggering for me personally & I am sure a few others.
I know of very few women that haven’t been in this position at one time or another and were unsure how to react at the time. When I saw it, it made me immediately ragey. He could have put his arm on her shoulder or waist if he really felt the need to touch her.
He knew exactly what he was doing and knew she couldn’t or wouldn’t react. It was Disgusting, predatory behaviour and he needs to be adequately punished. Poor Ariana, what a terrible position this jerk put her in.
Pete should do a commentary on SNL in her defense. For all women’s defense against assholes like this. I
I can not even look at these pictures again. I started crying as soon as I saw the title. It is so deeply upsetting. So many times that men (yes, ALL men, even men who don’t like women) have touched me in this way and then pretended it was an accident, even though 1) It is still a violation if it is an accident and 2) IT WAS NEVER A F***ING ACCIDENT. I have decided to break fingers now. I am no longer going to smile awkwardly when I feel sick. I am not going to laugh off a violation. I am going to break fingers.
I agree with the breaking of fingers. This is something that I wish I would have thought of when I was a teenager, yes, a teenager, going to all those concerts. When the shows let out, the hallways at the venue would be packed and all those concert goers would have to slowly move through like cattle. I am sickened to think of how many times some guy would take advantage of that to grope a 15 year old girl anonymously. When I would turn angrily, I had no way of knowing who did it…they might have still been right behind me, they might have been in the current of people going in the opposite direction. Alas, had I broken some drunk guy’s finger, he may have punched me in the face, and when the police got involved, the reports would focus on my choice to wear a miniskirt. ( It was the 80s, I saw hair bands, I wore miniskirts)
But even if Ariana had thought to break that disgusting pastor’s fingers, she probably wouldn’t have wanted to at Aretha’s funeral. And had she, how many people (not here!) would have been yelling about HER disrespecting Aretha, as opposed to that gross excuse for a pastor?
All of those things are so true. I am so afraid of confronting people and being wrong about it. I should not have to think about assaulting someone back just because they assaulted me. I wish I was brave enough to do it, though, even with the consequences. I am very angry today.
What if hypothetically speaking this happened to Anne Colter instead of Ariana Grande? Would any of you care as much or at all?
Why would Anne Horrible be in a church though? The story there would have been how the holy water bubbled up and caught on fire when that fool walked in the door. What’s your point even? We ain’t sitting here wishing ill on anyone. I’m worried for you that you’re thinking g about Anne for no reason. I hope you feel better.
😂
I personally would care. I think Anne Coulter is a truly terrible person and rotten to the core. Ignorant, evil and down right nasty with no ethics or integrity. That being said, no woman – whether I like them or not deserves to be groped or harassed for any reason.
I have no problem with people saying horrible things to her and about her, she is terrible and deserves it. As a fellow woman, I would never wish for another woman to be harassed in any way.
Question everything, that is a false equivalence.
Honestly, I am not a fan of Ariana Grande at all, and this still made me so upset for her. Because it is wrong, and disgusting, and ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO FAR TOO MANY WOMEN.
Those…so called “Ministers”…their actions and their words…are PERFECT examples of why I stopped trucking with the Baptist church…YEARS AGO!!!!
Has Ariana Grande said anything about it yet?
I agree with everyone who questioned why he had to touch her at all? As a side note, I also hate the way people presume I want to give/receive a kiss the very first time I meet them (whether it’s another woman, or a man, or on the cheek, so just missing the mouth, etc.). Why do it at all? Personal space, people.
Back to the topic at hand — I also really dislike the way his “apology” was worded.
Ariana looks uncomfortable. I don’t know why he’s touching her at all. What is his problem? Does he act this way with his parishioners? This touching, plus his insulting “joke” about her name…not ok.
I loved Retha but 2/3 of that Homegoing Service were a mess. His pastor. The pastor saying black lives don’t matter. Some of the performances. The family should have had a regular Homegoing Service and could have done a memorial concert or musical tribute at another time. Half the people there weren’t dressed appropriately or displaying appropriate decorum for a house of worship. The fondling was just…..ugh.
He shoulder hugged the older less attractive women.
That right there tell you it was on purpose with Ariana.
How about expecting all males keep their hands to theirselves. Ariana was more than capable of standing there without needing anyone’s hands on her. Truly felt bad for her.
He’s gross. Even if it weren’t intentional, why not put his hand ON HER SHOULDER? Why in such a intimate place? Men need to learn to keep their hands to themselves. What happened to the days of a simple professional handshake?
What also enraged me is how people ripped her for the dress she was wearing. They are acting like she went on stage in a bikini or something.
This is one of the many things wrong with organized religion. The absolute power of men over women.
Intentional or not (totally believe it was but whatever): She is OBVIOUSLY uncomfortable and even a complete idiot can see it. Back off, Bucko.
WHAT MAKES ME BLAZING BAT SHIT MAD….is that NOTHING has been done! I guess it takes Ms. Grande to come out and say HONESTLY how she felt about all this. But if she doesn’t make a charge herself in the legal sense, then this pos got off and got away with a crime. So sad for all women who have went through crap like this. I am so glad I’m middle aged when it comes to behavior like this …. it has happened from time to time but not nearly as much when I was her age. GB her and may she finally say something about this soon.
This “man” absolutely disgusts me. I’ve been pondering how and if it were possible to do anything other than what Ariana did and not cause a rukus. Maybe use humor and move his hand to my shoulder? Hindsight is 20/20 and I know I would probably freeze like she did in this situation though. I am furious for Ariana and for every single time something like this happened to me and other women.
Been there, felt that. This guy is a pervert who is likely taking advantage of women in his parish who are in need/want of spiritual guidance. He’s a predator who is overpowering her and holding her too close (against her comfort) AT BEST. We know what he is at worst.
I watch this and she physically tries to back away, looks upset and shocked, looks around, looks down at his hand, she’s stunned and she should be! This was so horrible of him. When she tries to distance herself from him he physically pulls her in tighter and closer. Then makes a racist joke?! Ahhhh!! In what universe is this acceptable? Not mine!
I’m a woman and I literally ask people “can I give you a hug?” If it’s not my husband. Literally everyone. He didn’t have to put his hands on her at all. I’m not very popular with my in laws because I’m teaching my kids they don’t have to accept physical affection or touches if they don’t want them. 99% of the time they want hugs or little kisses on the forehead, but sometimes they don’t. I also teach them not to touch other people’s bodies and nobody should be touching their bodies. I tell them if someone is to tell mommy and daddy. They are toddlers and I’m trying to teach them to respect others and to be respected. I’m just doing the best I can because I think this is an important issue! I ask my nephews for hugs and if they say no, I say “okay! High five then?!” and that normally works.
I’m surprised nobody mentioned pervy old Jesse Jackson sitting directly behind her in the pics, clearly ogling her rear end! His creepy smug expression says it all…
This, in addition to the multitudes of other sexual abuses this woman suffered as an invited guest at a **F** funeral, just makes my heart ache for her.
Poor Ariana, I feel bad for her.. this is so wrong and disgusting. And for it to be done by a bishop, on a funeral, on video..??? Wth!! How dumb and crazy must this man be?
“Took it the wrong way” Ok sir what is the right way for the public to take the sight of a man of the cloth obviously groping at a visibly uncomfortable woman on the podium of a televised funeral. While relating how you didn’t know who she was….and calling her a Taco Bell freaking special..That’s at least 10 layers of disturbing right there.