The fiery, old-school pastor who is under fire for saying black America is losing "its soul" at Aretha Franklin's funeral on Friday is standing by his words.
Rev. Jasper Williams Jr. said he felt his sermon was appropriate at Aretha's funeral in Detroit. He believed his timing was right, especially after other speakers spoke on the civil rights movement and President Trump.
Rev. Williams was slammed for most of what he said during the funeral including "No, black lives do not matter”, and slamming single moms adding households can become stronger with two parents rather than one.
Aretha's family said Monday that it found the Atlanta pastor’s eulogy to be offensive and distasteful.
Vaughn Franklin, who is Aretha's nephew, said of Rev. Jasper Williams Jr., “He spoke for 50 minutes and at no time did he properly eulogize her."
Vaughn said that his aunt never asked Rev. Williams to eulogize her, since she didn’t talk about plans for her own funeral. The family selected Williams because he has spoken at other family memorials in the past.
And he has not backed down from anything he said at the funeral, and said he respects the family’s opinion.
“I understand it,” he said. “I regret it. But I’m sorry they feel that way.”
Vaughn said the eulogy “caught the entire family off guard. The family had not discussed what Williams would say in advance. It has been very, very distasteful."
Sources: AP, Yahoo!