The FBI reportedly monitored iconic soul singer Aretha Franklin for years, documents revealed.
According to CNN, Aretha’s alleged FBI file shows that the agency watched her for many years, as her possible affiliation with the civil rights movement and other organizations made her a focus. Founder of Courage News, journalist Jenn Dize reportedly acquired the alleged document after waiting on a Freedom of Information Act request she submitted in 2018.
“NEWS: Years ago, I FOIA’d @fbi files on Aretha Franklin. Today, I received the files,” Jenn tweeted on Sept. 7. “While incomplete, they show repeated and disgusting suspicion of the famed Black singer, her work, and activists around her.”
NEWS: Years ago, I FOIA'd @fbi files on Aretha Franklin. Today, I received the files. While incomplete, they show repeated and disgusting suspicion of the famed Black singer, her work, and activists around her. 🧵: pic.twitter.com/okQjywnrKq
— Jenn Dize 👩🏻💻 Follow @Courage_News! (@jennelizabethj) September 7, 2022
She continued tweeting about the declassified files, which reportedly consisted of information collected from several states, an extortion attempt on Aretha, copyright infringement lawsuits, and death threats.
“1971: Aretha Franklin’s every move is carefully documented by the FBI,” Jenn tweeted. “In this document, just now declassified, direct contact information and details of her Atlantic Records contract are discussed – presumably “just in case.”
1971: Aretha Franklin's every move is carefully documented by the FBI. In this document, just now declassified, direct contact information and details of her Atlantic Records contract are discussed – presumably "just in case." pic.twitter.com/Jfkecn2FsO
— Jenn Dize 👩🏻💻 Follow @Courage_News! (@jennelizabethj) September 7, 2022
She also claimed the FBI allegedly believed that Aretha was connected to communist and Black liberation organizations since the late ’60s and early ’70s. The musician was assumed to be associated with “Black extremists,” civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and Angela Davis, whom they famously monitored.
“1973: There were frequent attempts to connect Aretha Franklin & other notable Black figures to anything they deemed nefarious,” Jenn wrote in another tweet. However, the alleged file revealed no evidence of the singer’s affiliation with Black liberation groups.
1973: There were frequent attempts to connect Aretha Franklin & other notable Black figures to anything they deemed nefarious. This FBI doc follows up on claim that she was connected to the Black Liberation Army/any "radical" movement. The finding was that there was no evidence. pic.twitter.com/dzbLUSyCnI
— Jenn Dize 👩🏻💻 Follow @Courage_News! (@jennelizabethj) September 8, 2022
“This FBI doc follows up on the claim that she was connected to the Black Liberation Army/any “radical” movement. The finding was that there was no evidence,” Jenn said.
Despite the lengthy monitoring, agents and investigators reportedly concluded that the soul musician wasn’t a threat to national security. She was one of numerous Black entertainers that had alleged FBI files opened on them, including Muhammad Ali, Sammy Davis Jr. and Whitney Houston.
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on Mar. 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. She entered the music scene at 18 years old after signing a contract with Columbia Records in 1960. However, when the legendary artist signed to Atlantic records in 1966, she found massive success and became a household name.
Throughout her illustrious career, she released countless unforgettable hits, including “Respect” (1967), “I Say A Little Prayer” (1968), “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman” (1968), “Aint No Way” (1968), “Chain Of Fools” (1968), and many others. Naturally, she’s one of the world’s best-selling music artists with International sales of over 75 million records. In 1987, she became the first woman artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Queen Of Soul tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018. Celebritynetworth reportedly said she had a net worth of $80 million at the time.
