The Untold Truth of Aretha Franklin’s Life: What the Movie “Respect” Didn’t Show

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, remains one of the most iconic voices in music history, celebrated for her unmatched talent and influence. However, her life was far more complex and painful than the polished story presented in the 2021 biopic *Respect*, starring Jennifer Hudson.

While the movie highlighted her rise to fame and incredible career, it glossed over the deeper traumas and struggles that shaped her life, leaving much of her true story untold.

The film begins with glimpses of Aretha’s childhood, showing her singing at her father’s parties and hinting at darker moments. One scene implies something sinister when a man enters her room and closes the door, but this is never fully addressed

. Soon after, the audience learns she is pregnant, but the film provides no real context or aftermath. In reality, Aretha gave birth to her first child just before her 13th birthday and had her second child at 14.

The identity of the father of her first child was long a mystery, with rumors of abuse and exploitation under her father’s roof. Decades later, a handwritten will revealed Edward Jordan Sr. as the father of her first two children, though Aretha emphasized in the will that he should “receive nothing.” The film’s omission of these details avoids confronting the harsh reality of her early life.

Aretha’s struggles didn’t end with her childhood. Her first marriage to Ted White was marked by abuse and control. White, who also managed her career, isolated her and created a toxic environment.

Friends and family described their relationship as volatile and damaging, yet Aretha stayed longer than she should have, wanting to maintain the image of a perfect marriage. After their divorce, the scars of the relationship lingered, contributing to her struggles with anxiety, depression, and trust issues.

The movie also fails to explore how the music industry exploited her. While Aretha was celebrated for her talent, she often had to give up creative control to producers and executives. Even her collaboration with Clive Davis, who helped revive her career in the 1980s, came at a cost. Davis shaped her sound, chose her producers, and controlled much of her image.

While their partnership brought her hits like *Freeway of Love* and *Who’s Zoomin’ Who*, it also highlighted the limited independence she had as a Black woman in the music industry.

Perhaps the most glaring omission in *Respect* is how Aretha’s trauma affected her throughout her life. Behind the powerful voice was a woman struggling with deep insecurities, panic attacks, and emotional pain.

She insisted on being paid in cash before performances, canceled shows last minute, and avoided flying due to anxiety. The media labeled her a “diva,” but few understood the emotional toll she carried from years of exploitation and personal loss.

Aretha Franklin’s life was far more than the triumphant story portrayed in *Respect*. It was a story of survival, resilience, and pain. By omitting the darker truths, the movie missed an opportunity to fully honor the complexity of the woman behind the music.

Aretha wasn’t just a voice—she was a survivor, and her real story deserves to be told.