August 26, 2021
Aaliyah’s Mother Shuts Down Cemetery Visits After Author Supposedly Promoted Unauthorized Book at Gravesite
The mother of the late singer Aaliyah used her daughter’s social media account to issue a warning against anyone attempting to visit the singer’s gravesite.
Diane Haughton took to Aaliyah’s Instagram on Tuesday to blast the author who published an unauthorized book and was accused of promoting it at the singer’s gravesite, Yahoo News reported.
“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,” Haughton wrote.
“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.”
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“This person interrupted all my thoughts and ideas to make August 25th, 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. Aaliyah’s life will still shine no matter what.”
Many people assumed Haughton was referring to writer Kathy Iandoli, who recently published Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah. The book was published without the consent of Aaliyah’s family but the journalist denies visiting the late singer’s gravesite.
“I did not promote my book outside of Aaliyah’s gravesite,” Iandoli said. “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.”
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.
— ᴋᴀᴛʜʏ ɪᴀɴᴅᴏʟɪ, ᴍ.ᴀ. (sʜᴇ/ʜᴇʀ) (@kath3000) August 24, 2021
Despite not having the family’s approval, Iandoli told Vanity Fair that she created the book in hopes of “glorifying Aaliyah.”
“I did what I had to do while still holding her up in the highest regard, and sometimes that involves having to tell certain parts of the story that have been kind of covered for so long,” Iandoli said. “I think in order to get the panoramic view of just how dynamic she was, you have to show the peaks and valleys.”