The legendary gossip columnist, known as the "Grand Dame of Dish", had delivered quite the backhanded compliment to Franklin about a Bill Blass gown she wore in a Fox TV special, saying she "must know she's too bosomy to wear such clothing, but she just doesn't care what we think, and that attitude is what separates mere stars from true divas."
Aretha was certainly fond of showing off her curves well into her 70s — here's a photo of her from the year Smith's column was written, 1993 (note: This isn't the outfit Smith was criticising her for):
Franklin wasn't going to take public snark about her fashion choices lying down — and in a letter sent direct to Smith, she put the gossip columnist in her place:
"How dare you be so presumptuous as to presume you know my attitudes with respect to anything other than music. Obviously I have enough of what it takes to wear a bustier and I haven't had any complaints, I'm sure if you could you would. When you get to be a noted and respected fashion editor please let us all know.
Aretha Franklin
P.S. You are hardly in any position to determine what separates stars from divas since you are neither one nor an authority on either."
In 1993 NY Post columnist Liz Smith wrote: "[Aretha Franklin] must know she’s too bosomy to wear such clothing, but she just doesn't care what we think, and that attitude is what separates mere stars from true divas.”
