The length of Ariana Grande's dress at the #ArethaFranklinFuneral not to excuse the Pastor's actions of holding her innapropriately while making her uncomfortable, reminded me of how it was growing up in an African household.
My mum was so strict to the extent where we couldn't wear a pair of jeans to church. She always insisted that church attire on Sunday had to be different from what we wore on weekdays.
I remember many times having to change into jeans after church, if we were going somewhere else that wasn't a religious setting. That doesn't mean we were completely spared of ridicule for our choice outfits to church.
My sister and I had to endure crude jokes about the length of our skirts and dresses from young people who knew us. One even going as far as suggesting we were members of a traditional African church known for its weird uniforms.
Some things that were instilled in you from a young age tend to stick and even now as an adult, I feel odd going to church in jeans. I may throw on a trench coat if it's too cold and I need to wear jeans to keep warm in early morning service.
The trench coat makes me feel safe unlike a shorter coat with jeans to church but all this not to imply that Ariana Grande was on the wrong with her choice of attire. I would like to believe she dressed in something she felt comfortable in.
I may not know Ariana's religious background but perhaps she truly doesn't know what is appropriate or innappropriate for a church setting and instead of castigation, she needs guidance.
But with the way the pastor was holding her, totally unnacceptable on his part. I refuse to believe he did not realize he was unintentionally, touching the side of her breast if at all it was unintentional.
And the uproar it has generated should serve as a lesson to him in future. Innappropriate touching will always be defined as such and should be condemned by all means.
