DEFENDING TINA TURNER

McKenna’s poisonous attack on Tina Turner really makes me wonder what the role of critics is in the first place.

Is it to give a supposedly informed evaluation of artists’ work? Or is it to level bloodthirsty attacks that readers can enjoy chuckling over with their friends?

Describing Turner’s passionate, even heart-breaking vocal on “We Don’t Need Another Hero” as “biliously” whatever (I can’t stand to look again) and comparing her unfavorably with Nina Simone and Etta James because they haven’t had recent hits is despicable. I guess ugliness sells newspapers.

EVELYN BUCKLEY

Flintridge