Etta James said comments about Beyonce were a joke

Etta James said she was only joking when she dissed Beyonce during a concert in Seattle.

James told the New York Daily News, “I didn’t really mean anything. Even as a little child, I’ve always had that comedian kind of attitude. That’s probably what went into it.  Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle.  They were all laughing, and it was funny.”

During the concert, James told the audience “That women he had singing for him, singing my song, she gon get her (explicative) whipped.  I can’t stand Beyonce.  She had no business up there singing my song that I been singing forever.”

She was referring to how Beyonce sang a remake of Etta’s song  ”At Last” during Barack Obama’s inauguration ball.

I don’t believe Etta was joking whatsoever. I think she meant what she said.  In case you haven’t heard the audiotape, click here to listen and decide for yourself if you think she was joking.

Tim Henley