Patti LaBelle and her team are upset with CNN over her portrayal in the documentary “Luther: Never Too Much,” which aired on New Year’s Day. LaBelle, a close friend of Luther Vandross, provided an hour-long interview for the film but was excluded after refusing to sign release forms when she was not allowed to review the final cut. Instead, the documentary used a 2017 clip from “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” where LaBelle discussed rumors about Vandross’s sexuality. This, along with comments from Vandross’s collaborator Richard Marx criticizing those who spoke about Vandross’s private life, led to LaBelle being portrayed in a negative light, which she feels is misleading.
During the “WWHL” appearance, Cohen asked LaBelle if Vandross struggled with coming out publicly, to which she replied that they discussed it, and he didn’t want to upset his mother. In the documentary, Marx expressed frustration about people discussing Vandross’s personal life. The film chronicles Vandross’s journey from his early years in Harlem to becoming a celebrated love song artist, using archival clips and interviews with figures like Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, and Roberta Flack.
Vandross himself addressed questions about his sexuality in the documentary, stating that he owed fans his music and talent, not answers about personal matters. According to insiders, there is a belief that the film’s producers set LaBelle up, using her as a villain despite her support for Vandross until the end. Some producers reportedly felt it was reasonable for LaBelle to see the final edit, but they were overruled. Insiders noted LaBelle’s close relationship with Vandross, highlighting her efforts to care for him and his family after he suffered a stroke.