Kathy Iandoli has denied that she traveled to Aaliyah's gravesite and promoted her latest book chronicling the singer's life. When speaking to Z100's Shelley Rome, she explained that she has taken time in the past to visit the gravesite, but she wasn't there recently "waving [the book] around [and] putting it on social media."
"Over the years, I was one of those fans who would visit her gravesite," she explained.
"On the day that my book came out, there was only one person I wanted to be with when it came out and that was her. I've written books with other artists and who am I with on the day that the book comes out? Them. To suggest that I sat there with my book, waving it around [and] putting it on social media taking [while taking] selfies [wasn't try]. That's how the wording was. It wasn't true."
Allegations that Iandoli went to the gravesite to promote her book, Baby Girl: Better Known As Aaliyah, began to surface one day before the 20th anniversary of the singer's tragic death. As the allegations built up, Aaliyah's mother, Diane Haughton, felt compelled to make a public statement.
“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," Haughton write.
"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."
Given that Iandoli had published her book days before Haughton's statement, fans immediately identified Iandoli as the potential culprit. However, Iandoli quickly refuted these allegations via Twitter.
Iandoli also noted that she had told fans previously that she would not travel to Aaliyah's gravesite on the 20th anniversary of her death, calling it a day for her family and fans.
"Some of the fans had said to me, 'Are you going to come on the 25th?' And I said, 'No.' I said, 'That's disrespectful. That's the family's day and that's your day. I'm not going to come in there. That's gross.' It would be just as gross to post my book with it. It didn't make any sense. It wasn't me who was promoting my book outside of there. Again, I'm just really sorry that these fans can't show up and visit her," she added.
Given Haughton's statement and the sanctity of the area, only family members will be allowed to visit the gravesite on August 25.