President Barack Obama lost a little respect — or, “rspect” — from the Internet community, when he misspelled the title/chorus of classic Aretha Franklin song during a White House “Women of Soul” event on Thursday.
“When Aretha first told us what ‘R-S-P-E-C-T’ meant to her, she had no idea it would become a rallying cry for African-Americans and women,” Obama read, stumbling over the spelling and omitting vowel No. 1.
See video: Michelle Obama Grilled About Jimmy Fallon Skit on NBC’s ‘Today’
The crowd erupted in laughter at the mistake; Obama did not react at all. The President continued his remarks before introducing Patti LaBelle.
Also performing in the East Room on Thursday night: Ariana Grande, Melissa Etheridge, Janelle Monae and Jill Scott.
Watch the flub, which happens around the 3-minute, 25-second mark:
