Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was no stranger to having her name listed atop music charts over the last six decades, but – thanks to her inimitable talent – controversy was rarely the catalyst to get her there.
That changed this week, however, thanks to a parodic post that’s galvanized everything but laughs in its wake.
Look inside to see how reignited support for her timeless classic ‘Natural Woman’ came from the most unlikely places.
As reported here, a satirical Twitter account – owned by a Norwegian “LGBT activism organization” called Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance (TCMA) – called for Franklin’s 1967 classic ‘Natural Woman’ to be removed from streaming services for containing ‘harmful’ lyrics that incite violence against women of the transgender experience.
“Aretha Franklin’s 1968 song ‘Natural Woman’ perpetuates multiple harmful anti-trans stereotypes,” the tweet posted on January 20 read. “There is no such thing as a ‘natural’ woman.”
By Monday (January 23), several news outlets reported about the Twitter post as if it was an actual complaint – sending mention of the iconic tune to trending status on social media as users took sides in a fiery debate about inclusivity and trans representation in music.
And while the TCMA doubled down on the fact that the initial controversial post was done in jest, the clarification did little to quell the firestorm of controversy it awakened.
In defense of the late musical monarch, staunch supporters flocked to the very digital music platforms the divisive tweet called for the song to be removed from.
Their united efforts hoisted the Carole King-penned hit to #1 on iTunes R&B sales tally – a feat that sees it leapfrog over modern hits like SZA‘s ‘Kill Bill,’ Chris Brown‘s ‘Under the Influence,’ and more.
Real-Time R&B iTunes
–source
The reignited performance on digital sales lists, when coupled with the week’s associated streaming figures, could see ‘Natural’ – which soared to #8 at the height of its popularity – re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 next week.
Keep it locked to That Grape Juice for more on this story as it develops.
This just goes to show that people are TIRED of these mentally ill deviants and their delusions. Satire or not, don’t come for the FOREVER QUEEN OF SOUL.
FOREVER!!! Yaaasss Chaka!
Chile be whoever u wanna b. Just quit calling natural genders cis
We need a remake version! You make me feel like a natural t/ra/nny. I will never cut off my p/enis and I’m so proud of it. We are so gonna cancel this Black old h**
#CancelAretha transphobia will not exist here
Baby Ms. Franklin could never be cancelled. Not by you perverts anyway.
You stupid fàgs and trañnies can burn in hell. Mentally ill pieces of shít.
Let me add to her steams because they’ve gotten ridiculous with this trans stuff
Tired of these +rannïes
That song was my dead granny’s favorite song… Diva misses you, thank you for married a White man not a n I g g a 💅🏾
Stfu you’re a filthy t r a n n y your opinion on women issues are null and void
👆💯
GOOD I’m finna listen now and telling all my family and friends to do the same. Those trannÿs won’t win. They’re outnumbered. Losers but I guess MEN will be MEN!
Forget these T/r/a/n/s freaks.
Natural is natural.
Y’all are mutilated freaks
Dirty b****! Everyone knows all us trans woman are the real woman your men want and cheat on you with. Trust diva I’ve slept with so many married men for day yummy cummy 😍💅🏿💋
Disgusting trash. You’re actually proud of that too 🤮
Your proud of being a c*** dump who’s only interaction with “straight” men is in the dark or seedy motels of which you might no even come out alive???? 😐Imagine that!
Real women WHERE… lol straight men are ashamed of you and most of y’all are uneducated with severe mental health issues or prostitutes on the h** stroll. Biological women will always win in the end. You know why? Because being a woman is more than some heels and makeup. You’re a caricature 😂
🙏 Amen 🤝
You see, I KNEW you were not a real woman. I told you many times because I could see right through you from the start and honestly, it wasn’t hard. You finally exposed your true self and it’s great because now everybody can see who you really are, we must thank you. You’re officialy classified as a nasty drag queen troll, you can haunt TGJ or just leave and rest in peace.
LOL
It’s really worrisome seeing trans woman take every space that are or once we’re exclusive to woman smh even a damn classic record woman can’t have anymore. Wow
Thissss! They so busy coming for biological women and just being menaces in general while the straight men they yearn for are ashamed and embarrassed of them and KILLING THEM. But they have all the smoke for women🤣
When you come for the Queen Of Soul…
She goes straight to the top.
PERIOD
Crazy times we are living in!
For fu<k’s sake it was a joke.
This is a parodic twitter account. Nobody talked sh!t when they tweeted about Lady Marmalade and other songs.
American stupid wokism needs to take a seat. Another stupidity from America.
Stupidity at it’s finest. Don’t f*** with Auntie Ree the national treasure