Cicely Tyson’s moving tribute at Aretha Franklin’s funeral on Friday was the talk of social media… as was her distracting, ginormous hat.
The 93-year-old “Help” actress wore a cascading, black hat to the service, and people were quick to pay homage to it online. Director Ava DuVernay tweeted a photo of Tyson with the caption, “Queen doesn’t feel like a full enough word for the majesty and living legacy of #CicelyTyson. I mean, she is every goal, every dream, everything. xo”
https://twitter.com/ava/status/1035603752005369856
“Cicely Tyson, the Black Community’s Mother looks gorgeous,” user N’Kosi Oates wrote. He was quickly retweeted by publications such as “Essence” and “Ebony Magazine.”
Cicely Tyson, the Black Community's Mother looks gorgeous.#ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/KfDgOeJGk7
— N'Kosi O. (@DrNKosiOates) August 31, 2018
User Gugulethu Mhlungu quipped, “Cicely Tyson’s hat is what all the other hats want to be when they grow up.” Others seemed to agree, noting the sheer size of her head garb:
When auntie Cicely Tyson and her hat walked into the church I knew then what type of day it was going to be 🙌🏾 #ArethaFranklinHomegoing pic.twitter.com/stJsp4o9zW
— xoNecole (@xonecole) August 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/ElegantFenty/status/1035566677696622592
https://twitter.com/TheKingOfImpact/status/1035588720181817344
Cicely Tyson and the Great, Very Big, Holy, Heathen Blocker Hat.
A children's book.#ArethaHomegoing— Krys (@Kryskrossed) August 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/pjlovespj/status/1035542290180202503
She walked in to the hatter’s shop like GIVE ME ALL THE TULLE BITCH!
– Gwensday Jones (@Gwensday_Jones) August 31, 2018
I am so sorry y’all, but… pic.twitter.com/czPRlf1ckj
– Mama Say and Sa (@NostalgicNiecy) August 31, 2018
Cicely Tyson’s hat needs its own Twitter.
— stacia l. brown (@slb79) August 31, 2018
Tyson also gave a speech during the late singer’s funeral service. “[Aretha] spoke to us through her soul and everything she experienced,” Tyson said softly into the microphone. “And thats why, no matter what she was singing, she moved every single person.”
Tyson joined other Hollywood figures, such as Tyler Perry and Whoopi Goldberg, in attending the funeral.