While audiences enjoyed the recently released Luther Vandross documentary on CNN, “Luther: Never Too Much,” there is one person who isn’t too pleased with it: Patti LaBelle.
The legendary singer’s sentiments are reportedly derived from how she was portrayed in the documentary in which insiders close to her allege she was painted a “villain” for confirming certain speculations about her late friend’s sexuality. To be specific and per Page Six, they referenced a scene in the documentary that clipped a 2017 interview on “Watch What Happens Live” between the “Lady Marmalade” singer and Andy Cohen, in which Labelle was asked if Vandross struggled with coming out while he was alive.
“We talked about it. He did not want his mother to be [upset]—although she might have known. But, he wasn’t going to come out and say this to the world,” she said at the time.
That clip was preceded by comments from Vandross’ songwriting partner, Richard Marx, who expressed that he was upset by people who considered themselves friends of Vandross but decided to be loose-lipped about his personal business back in the day.
What’s more is that insiders close to Labelle also allege that she invited the documentary producers to her home for an hour-long interview about Vandross. Unfortunately, both sides reportedly began butting heads after the producers denied her request to see the final cut and she subsequently refused to sign release forms.
LaBelle also reportedly took issue with producers minimizing “her impact on his career” out of the film. For context, Vandross was the founder of the first-ever Patti LaBelle Fan Club back in the day and used to regularly watch her perform in concerts. Once he became a peer, the two became friends and collaborated with one of their most notable performances being their 1985 duet of “If Only for One Night.”