Legendary songstress Patti LaBelle didn’t mince words when it came to her beef with another diva– Diana Ross.
The 78-year-old singer revealed that she and The Supremes frontwoman had a rift that spanned over four decades. A video clip from Drink Champs resurfaced last month, and Patti went in on what started the infamous beef between the two megastars.
The “On My Own” singer explained that while the two women’s groups– The Bluebells and The Supremes– were on tour, Patti accused Diana of jacking The Bluebells’ swag. The Philly-born singer was so incensed by the “Reflections” singer that she wanted to “pimp slap” her.
“People used to come to the Apollo all the time and sell hot clothes like Gucci and all of that stuff, and it was worth thousands – I brought all the clothes – so I had moments with The Supremes at the show,” the “New Attitude” singer said matter-of-factly.
The iconic performer revealed that The Boss would peek in on them to see what they were rocking for their performances.
She continued, “We would go to Walmart or Walgreens or one of those cheap stores and buy gold outfits. And so the next day, the day we wore them, the next day, The Supremes had on the same gold things. They were biting my style. No, for real, biting big. I said, ‘Girl, we ain’t got no money. It’s the only outfit we have.’ And so we both have on the same outfits, but it was after they saw ours and somebody want to buy it.”
For years, that chapped Patti’s a**. But all appeared to be forgiven when the two women were forced to play nice during Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball in 2005. Patti and Oprah discussed the incident in 2013.
Hollywood.com reported that the 78-year-old Detroit native and her rival realized that the two were legends in their own right and there was no need for beef.
“We sat at the luncheon at the same table. I said, ‘In all these years, people are stirring (drama) around us, making me think that (you don’t like me),” Patti candidly told Oprah.
“I never wanted a rift with her because I love her talent; she’s one of the best out there, and so when we exchanged phone numbers and started talking to each other after the Legends Ball. It was not cute, but I never really knew (the truth). We’re buddies now, and the thing is, it all ended well, but there was a big mess about people thinking that she didn’t like me and I didn’t like her; I love her.”
We’re glad Patti didn’t have to pimp-slap anybody.
