LaBelle delivers blistering attack on Civic Center

LaBelle added, with her voice breaking, "I'm up here looking all cute, but I'm suffering inside. You all deserve to be sitting in better seats. I can't stand this place."

To make matters worse, Camille Love — the city's director of cultural affairs and a Labelle fan — was sitting, mortified, in the audience.

On Monday, Dianne Harnell Cohen, the commissioner for the city's parks, recreation and cultural affairs office was quick to defend the venue and its staff.

"We are baffled by Ms. LaBelle's comments," said Cohen. She added that she was contacted by Civic Center staff about the incident Saturday night.

She said when the LaBelle arrived at the venue Saturday, the singer complained about an odor coming from a restroom. Cohen said a cleaning crew was immediately dispatched to clean the area. She also said the singer complained about a burn mark in the carpeting of her dressing room. Cohen said a rug was brought in to cover the area.

"The civic center is not a new building, and no public money is spent to upkeep it," she said. "All money raised for the venue's upkeep comes from revenue generated from the shows booked there."

Cohen added that the mayor's chief of staff Greg Pridgeon was in the audience Saturday night and went backstage to personally inspect things.

"He didn't see any sign of uncleanliness," Cohen said.

Later in the two-hour, sold-out show, Labelle apologized to the crowd "if I said something to offend anyone. Miss Patti went there."

The crowd cheered in support of her comments.