We reported last week that the Lifetime biopic on American Idol contestant Fantasia Barrino shows that the producers of the hit reality show actually pushed Barrino to quit the show after news of the baby she had as a teen and her educational background came out. Now a producer of the show calls the allegation "absolutely and totally untrue."
Ken Warwick tells the NY Post that they knew all about Fantasia's background from the very first day she was on the show, and they never asked her to quit. He calls it a "complete fabrication."
It's interesting because not only is this scene in the movie, it's the opening scene, and serves as a jumping off point for the rest of the movie and is shown again at the end, to frame the pic. It's also interesting because the movie uses actual footage from the show, including her audition, her performances, and the reactions of Simon, Paula, and Randy. So Idol must have OK'd the film.
Hmmm...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-31-2006 @ 5:27PM
Tammy said...
Considering that Nikki McKibbin (season one) had a child out of wedlock, I doubt the American Idol producers had a problem with Fantasia. I suspect those scenes were added to the movie for dramatic effect, especially since I don't remember any of this being discussed as part of the autobiography itself. The movie probably will air with the typical "based on a true story" disclaimer.
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7-31-2006 @ 10:24PM
Thomas said...
Movie? What? I'm missing something here.
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8-01-2006 @ 12:48AM
Ivins said...
I didn't think it sounded plausible and Lifetime or the screenplay writer must have added this spin on her story for dramatic effect. Hmm. If I am correct that's a real cheap shot. Fantasia is too much of a success in her own right to need a false spin on her biopic.
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8-01-2006 @ 12:59AM
Ivins said...
PS Just because Idol charged an arm and a leg for this film to use five of its Fantasia clips, does not mean they previewed the script. Bet it'll be a long time before Idol execs release clips for any more movies.
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