Aretha Franklin: Johnny Rockets Is a Food Chain of Fools; `Respect’ Singer Just Wanted a Burger and a Cherry Coke to Make Her Feel Like a Natural Woman

Aretha Franklin says Johnny Rockets didn't treat her with respect. The "Chain of Fools" singer called the friendly food chain should "Think" about what they tried to do to her.

Last week, the Queen of Soul skipped Burger King in favor of a Johnny Rockets burger after she finished performing a sold out show. Aretha Franklin ordered a hamburger but she says she was yelled at by a server who said she couldn't sit down to eat because she had ordered takeout.

According to a statement the singer sent to The News through her agent, David Brokaw, the Johnny Rockets server told her "You can't sit here because you ordered for takeout. You can only stand in the perimeter."

Aretha told the Daily News that she was told  "You can't have it here because we've already rang you up as a takeout customer" before the server ordered the legendary singer  to get up and stand outside the perimeter of the eatery, which was in a food court.

"The woman was very rude, unprofessional and nasty - certainly not the appropriate face for Johnny Rockets," the statement continued. "No one should be addressed this way, whether a celebrity or not. I told her she can eat and pay for my meal, and left."

A spokeswoman for the Johnny Rockets chain apologized for the actions of "a new and very young employee." The representative said the owner talked to the workers and clarified the chain's takeout policies.

"My nephew mentioned to her who I was," Franklin added, "and she said she didn't care who I was. Over the years I have always enjoyed a burger and cherry Coke and the choreographed dance by waiters and waitresses at Johnny Rockets," Franklin said. "This experience in Niagara Falls will not stop my enjoyment of burgers and cherry Cokes, and talking to the classy and friendly people at Johnny Rockets."

Aretha Franklin said that she will "go on liking Johnny Rockets, but not that one."

Aretha Franklin, 72, is a musical legend. She has had 43 Top 40 hits, won 18 Grammy Awards and was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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