August 25th, 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of Aaliyah’s tragic plane crash. The singer’s mother, Diane Haughton said that she was “forced to make a drastic change at Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum.”
“Dear Special Ones, First and foremost I want to thank my dear “Special Ones”(The Fans) that have been with us for years and supported every endeavor that came our way without hesitation. However, due to the behavior of an individual that has been to Aaliyah’s resting place in order to promote a book, I have been forced to make a drastic change at Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum,” she wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram.
Ms. Haughton added, “This person interrupted all my thoughts and ideas to make August 25, 2021, a day of remembrance and love for my daughter. Please accept my sincere apologies for this and know I love you and always will. With Aaliyah and Her Comrades in out hearts.”
Kathy Iandoli released Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah, which explores her alleged abusive relationship with R. Kelly and her life leading up to her final moments.
Kathy responded, “I did not promote my book outside of Aaliyah’s gravesite. That is offensive to even suggest. I have been told that fans have had my book there with them. Please no longer bring my book to Ferncliff. Apologies that fans can not visit Aaliyah’s resting place.”
Aaliyah’s estate also slammed the release of her sophomore album, One In a Million on streaming platforms without their involvement. “We have always been confused as to why there is such a tenacity in causing more pain alongside what we already have to cope with for the rest of our lives,” the lengthy Instagram caption read.
The statement continued, “This unscrupulous endeavor to release Aaliyah’s music without any transparency or full accounting to the estate compels our hearts to express a word – forgiveness. Although we will continue to defend ourselves and her legacy lawfully and justly, we want to preempt the inevitable attacks on our character by all the individuals who have emerged from the shadows to leech off of Aaliyah’s life’s work.”
