Despite all that money and more than ample time on her hands, why does Aretha remain in a state of morbid obesity? Everyone seems to whisper it, and people rumbled about it in the dark corners of the Marriott Hotel in Detroit where Aretha made a grand entrance Saturday night in a beautiful white dress with a ruffled train. But are any of her fans courageous enough to mention it to her?
Aretha’s weight was the first topic of discussion when a Detroit-based photographer, who hadn’t seen me in a few years, came over to greet me. She didn’t mention that gorgeous dress Aretha had on or stunning rendition of songs she belted out on stage. No, the photographer was perplexed, even dumbfounded, that Franklin could be so big in this day and age when there is so much information about what obesity does to the human body.
Despite a voice that can no longer climb to the top ladder of octaves as it once did — it was surprisingly weak in comparison to previous performances — you still sounded great and your performance inspired a prolonged standing ovation. But is anyone around you being a true friend to you by explaining the myriad health complexities that hatch from morbid obesity? Is Berry Gordy, the man you delivered that riveting 80th birthday song to, asking you to trim down? Did President Barack Obama or first lady Michelle — two people who are famously fit — pull you to the side and lovingly address your weight when you appeared at their historic Inauguration? Did anyone broach the subject when you were obviously uncomfortable sitting in the audience at last year’s BET Awards? Is anyone keeping it real with you?
The reason we bring this up, Aretha, is because we want you to live long enough to collect Social Security checks. Some of our other beloved treasures are no longer here for the same reason.
Barry White couldn’t control his weight, doubtlessly contributing to his unfortunate demise. I last saw Gerald Levert at Radio One’s 25th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C., several years ago. I was shocked to see Levert sitting at one of the V.I.P. tables sweating profusely — as if he’d just stepped out the shower — despite the fact that he was doing nothing more than just sitting there. We now know that there were many medical maladies affecting Levert but his weight had to amplify the problem exponentially. And we could go on and on.
The reason the first family invited you to Washington is because you are an American staple. We couldn’t so much erase your songs from our collective conscious no more than we could peel our own skin off. We ask you to lose the weight because we love you and we want your days to be long.
–terry shropshire
