Maxine Waters Gives 'Wakanda Forever' Salute At Aretha's Funeral

The congresswoman gets a standing ovation after bishop tells audience to let Auntie Maxine know: "We got your back."

One of the heroes at Aretha Franklin’s funeral service Friday was Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). After Bishop Charles Ellis II introduced the congresswoman, Waters stood and gave the “Wakanda Forever” sign from the “Black Panther” film.

The crowd went wild — and so did Twitter.

Ellis had singled out Waters during the service at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple to note that she has been “attacked like never before,” apparently referring to insults from President Donald Trump.

“But she’s a strong black woman,” said Ellis. After Waters gave the Wakanda salute, Ellis said, “Everybody just point over there and tell her, ‘We got your back.’ Come on, say it so everybody can hear you out there: ‘We got your back!’”

The president has frequently attacked Waters, recently calling her an “extraordinarily low IQ person” after she warned Trump’s Cabinet to prepare for confrontations from the public over their decisions on controversial issues. He also warned the congresswoman, “Be careful what you wish for Max!”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party. She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018

Waters subsequently had to cancel events because of threats that she would be lynched or shot. She responded defiantly later at a Los Angeles rally in June: “If you shoot me, you’d better shoot straight. There’s nothing like a wounded animal. I am prepared to make whatever sacrifices need to be made.”

But it was all huzzahs on Twitter on Friday night:

Rep. Maxine Waters got her own introduction as someone who has been "attacked like never before. But she's a strong black woman." #ArethaFranklinFuneral #ArethaFranklinHomegoing pic.twitter.com/7kv8ekRvY8

— Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson (@MissBeaE) August 31, 2018

Mrs. Maxine. Wakanda Forever, Yes! #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/IuVKLHQDGJ

— Candice 'CP' (@DJ_CP) August 31, 2018

A standing ovation for Auntie Maxine. Also did she hit us with the Wakanda Forever!?#ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/98rHUIgMS6

— Makho Ndlovu (@makhondlovu) August 31, 2018

.@RepMaxineWaters got on this screen and reminded us #WakandaForever

A maverick. An icon. A mood #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/ntCRM9jHLH

— The Root (@TheRoot) August 31, 2018

Congresswoman Maxine Waters dropped the #WakandaForever salute at Aretha Franklin's funeral #ArethaHomegoing https://t.co/JI00qHFRAZ pic.twitter.com/ReaS783VQu

— SYFY WIRE (@SyfyWire) September 1, 2018

Auntie Maxine just did the Wakanda Forever salute at #ArethaHomegoing & gave me life pic.twitter.com/Q8WVEpN8my

— Keirsten (@KeirstenBrager) August 31, 2018

Auntie Maxine with the Black Panther salute. 😂😂😂 #riparetha #wakandaforever

— Demetria L. Lucas (@demetriallucas) August 31, 2018

Peak Blackness has been officially reached after Auntie Maxine has done the Wakanda salute during #ArethaHomegoing. pic.twitter.com/Xpjgh7xVMv

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 31, 2018

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