Although Patti LaBelle’s Wal-Mart sweet potato pies have been selling like hotcakes, some of her fans were angered by her failure to acknowledge the person who helped make them a hit. After entertainer James Wright recorded himself singing and dancing like the legendary artist after tasting her pies, the video went viral and garnered over three million views on his channel. Until now, LaBelle has said she was responsible for the pies flying off the shelves, but now she’s finally come to terms with the fact that Wright helped get the word out, and she’s even inviting him to dinner for Thanksgiving.
“This pie has been doing really well,” she told Quincy Harris of “Good Morning Philadelphia” on Tuesday, Nov. 24. “My new friend, James Wright, did this fierce video and took the pie over the top, and people are losing their minds about the pie. Thank you, James.
“We’re going to be together in Philly,” she continued. “He’s spending Thanksgiving with Miss Patti. I’m going to cook for him.”
LaBelle mentioned all the delicious dishes Wright will be treated to for the holiday: four fried turkeys, brisket, macaroni and shrimp, potato salad, kale, cabbage, salad, candied yams, peach cobbler, chocolate cake, leg of lamb, and of course, her famous sweet potato pie.
“You give love to people who give you love,” she said. “And you know, I didn’t expect a viral video.”
Perhaps LaBelle will find it in her heart to cut Wright a much-deserved check as well.
