Ashanti shared the most perplexing Aretha Franklin tribute we could have imagined

Amanda Luz Henning Santiago
Updated

Aretha Franklin passed away on Thursday, and fans and celebrities alike have been flocking to social media to praise the singer and her contributions to music.

From the Obamas to Ariana Grande, nearly everyone's tributes to the queen of soul have been lovely. Ashanti's tribute to Franklin, however, is a head scratcher.

SEE ALSO: Barack Obama shares touching statement on the death of Aretha Franklin

The singer posted a photograph of herself and Franklin on Instagram on Thursday, and shared what she describes as a "special moment" speaking on the phone with Franklin in 2003 when Ashanti was in Canada for a concert. 

According to the post, Franklin called the singer's mother and asked to speak with Ashanti about "germs."

"I get on the phone and I’m like oh my gosh I can’t believe this is this really Ms. Aretha Franklin," she wrote. "She says 'Yes it is baby I’m just calling to tell you to be careful out there you know they got that SARS stuff going on...don’t touch any of the door knobs and hurry up and get out of there! I don’t want you to get sick!'"

I had a special moment with the Queen Miss Aretha that is truly dear to my heart... I will never forget I was in Canada for a concert back in 2003... and my mom got a phone call on her cell...it was Miss Aretha Franklin and at first my mom didn’t believe it until she really listened to her voice she said to my mom “Hi let me speak to your baby I wanna tell her about these germs” My mom is looking like huh?? And says ok sure of course Ms Aretha... I get on the phone and I’m like oh my gosh I can’t believe this is this really Ms. Aretha Franklin? She says “Yes it is baby I’m just calling to tell you to be careful out there you know they got that SARS stuff going on...don’t touch any of the door knobs and hurry up and get out of there! I don’t want you to get sick!” I said oh my God thank you so much I can’t believe you actually called me this means the world to me thank you so much & I promise to get out of here 1st thing in the morning! It honestly felt like a phone call I would get from my grandma! ❤️ Rest In Peace Queen.

A post shared by Ashanti (@ashanti) on Aug 16, 2018 at 6:32pm PDT

Ashanti, this is maybe not what we need right now. The story doesn't do much to honor Franklin's legacy. It's just kind of an odd story.

But I get it — if Franklin ever spoke to me about pretty much anything, I would have been over the moon, too.

[H/T: BuzzFeed]

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