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Fantasia Film Causes Furor at Idolby Sting7 -- 08/03/2006
View Printable version of this article The opening scene of American Idol winner Fantasia’s biographical film, scheduled to air August 19 on Lifetime, has Idol producers seeing red. The film depicts a scene where Fantasia was gently urged to quit the show, since she was an unwed mother – thus, an unsuitable role model. 
The opening scene in The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale has Fantasia met in a rose-laden dressing room by a producer named “Ed” and a PR person named “Barbara,” who ask her if she has heard all the internet chatter. Apparently, it was brutal, and Barbara says no one would blame her if she quit. “No shame.” Barbara smiles. Think about it, they coo. It should be noted that there are no producers named “Ed” or public relations agents named “Barbara,” past or present, associated with American Idol. "It's absolutely and totally untrue," Ken Warwick told the New York Post. Then the language softens a bit. "I'm the executive producer, Nigel [Lythgoe] is the other executive producer and nobody -- to my knowledge -- would have said anything like that to her. “ He continues, "Certainly, under no circumstances was she ever approached to be talked out of taking part in [the show]," he continued. "We knew she had a baby right from day one, and she was always strongly tipped to win the competition because she was so good. I can absolutely refute that [anything] was done, or even remotely suggested to her that she shouldn't take part in the competition." Fantasia had no direct comment about the New York Post story, but did tell the Television Critics Association during a panel promoting The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale that she was quite aware of what internet posters were saying about her during her American Idol campaign (and having covered Idol for Season 3, I know as well!), “They wouldn’t allow us to go on the Internet,” she said, “You weren’t supposed to go on the Internet because they didn’t want you to see what other people were saying about you.” “But people from home could go on the Internet, and they would call [me] and say, ‘Listen, let me tell you what they are saying. You know, they are saying that you are not good for kids, and you are not a good role model, and how could you be this, and how could you be that?’ And I could have given up then. But I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to tough it out. I’m going to fight it to the end. I’m going to take it as far as I can take it.’” Many note that if American Idol had a problem with Fantasia’s parental status, they would not have allowed Fantasia’s daughter Zion to be shown on camera the handful of times that she was. The film also examines Fantasia’s stark upbringing in High Point, NC, her battles with illiteracy, and the sexual abuse she endured as a teenager, which ultimately made her an unwed mother. Fantasia told the Television Critics Association, "At the end, I began to cry and I said, 'I went through all those things, but I know why I share my life.' I'm thankful that I was able to do it." She feels confident that sharing her story will inspire others. Meanwhile, on the business front, Fantasia has moved to “free herself” from her 19 Entertainment contract, joining other alumni like Clay Aiken, Mario Vasquez, and Kelly Clarkson who hired high-powered attorneys to take greater control of their careers. 
This news seems to fly in the face of Fantasia’s recent comments about 19 Entertainment. “Even after you win, you choose to stay or you choose to go. And I choose to stay because they take good care of me, and we’ve done a lot of things. If I don’t want to do [something], I can say ‘No.’ … After you win it, it’s your train. You take it and you ride it how you want to ride it.” Roger Friedman, Fox411.com columnist reports that Fantasia has decided to ride off into the sunset from her contract. And, she probably did not get much resistance. “Simon (Fuller, President of 19 Entertainment) doesn’t really care,” a source told Friedman. “He encourages everyone to leave as soon as they can. Because of the contract, he still makes money from them anyway.” Fuller does not seem to be hurting for cash. Besides his 19 Idol interests, he manages the careers of Annie Lennox, as well as Brit press favorites, David Beckham, and his wife, former Posh Spice, Victoria Adams Beckham. Friedman says Fantasia is fielding offers from a variety of new advisors since her split from 19. Her new album is scheduled to be released October 19, 2006 by J Records. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent articles on Foxes On Idol:
Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com. Be sure to sign up for our e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on the site! For more news about American Idol, be sure to check out SirLinksALot’s American Idol page! View Printable version of this article
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