Fantasia interview for her new VH1 show ‘Fantasia For Real’
Despite the fact there are plenty of good reality shows out there, the word “reality show” remains stigmatized. So it’s not surprising when reality show stars try to deny that this is what they do. Take 2004 “Idol” winner Fantasia.
“I don’t call it a reality show,” she told me in an interview last month. “People laugh when I say that. I think it’s more like a documentary. It’s people just being able to see me.”
I really liked Fantasia, now 25, even more after talking with her. She came across as sweet and openhearted, maybe too much so. As a result, she spoiled her family, made them dependent on her. This created pressure on her, too, to succeed even more. And she’s had a hard time adjusting to the consequences of fame.
She said she had a tough 2008. She had surgery on two tumors on her vocal cords. She missed dozens of “Color Purple” shows on Broadway. She gained weight. She had issues with lawyers and accountants over one of her homes. Rumors flew.
“It starts to get funny,” she said, “especially when it’s not true.”
Now Fantasia wants to set the record straight, so to speak. To her, this is her comeback trail after her second album didn’t do well and she’s faced a bit of bad publicity. (Then again, relatively speaking, I don’t think folks thought she had gone all M.C. Hammer. The fact she was getting rave reviews for “The Color Purple” helped.)
“My life hs always been an open book,” she said. Indeed, she laid out her rough childhood, her illiteracy, her teen pregnancy and self-esteem issues prior to “Idol” in her book and a popular Lifetime movie. Atlanta was key to her for “Idol” because she tried out at the Georgia Dome in 2003 and almost didn’t make it in, save for a nice security guard who had heard her sing and knew she was good. “I’m still touchable. I use my life as a testimony to encourage other people.”
Why did one of her houses almost end up in foreclosure early last year? She blames the lawyers, who didn’t show up to court to handle the situation. “It wasn’t that the money wasn’t there,” she said. “I didn’t owe them anything.” She ended up in legal entanglements with her accountants over payments. “They cheated me,” she said. “They weren’t handling my stuff right.”
“I’m a young lady taking care of my whole family,” she noted. “I don’t really need anyone taking anything from me.” She said she finally settled with the accountants and the situation was resolved. She also denied rumors that Simon Cowell had to bail her out.
She has new management, a new accountant and a lawyer she said she should have stayed with in the first place. “At this point in time,” she said, “you can’t trust anybody. At the same time, I have more hands on my stuff now.” She’s much more cautious about who she lets into her inner circle, “not just because someone comes to me selling me a story.”
Clearly, her income stream has leveled off. But she needs to keep bringing home the bucks to take care of up to six family members. This reality show is clearly a way to get some cash, too, and raise her prominence again.
I sampled the first episode. Fantasia starts working on a new album but the more interesting aspect is her interactions with her family. She truly loves her 8-year-old daughter Zion, no doubt about that. No signs of Zion acting the diva, fortunately.
But the star in the early going is not necessarily Fantasia. It’s her older brother Teeny, who should actually be nicknamed Slug. Or Lazy. Or Leach. The guy takes no responsibility for his inaction. He seems like a stunted 12 year old despite the fact he’s 28. He wakes up late, fiddles around. He claims to be a music producer and has a studio in Fantasia’s pool house but generates no obvious income. Fantasia enables him. She tries to rectify things by bringing in an aunt who can be like Madea and tell it like it is. But Teeny laughs her off. One day, for instance, instead of looking for a real job, he test drives a sports car.
Fantasia acknowledges Teeny’s problems. in the nicest way possible: “Teeny is Tenny. He’s that brother that stands out. He calls himself the black sheep. There’s always someone in the family who feels that way.”
She admits that “I created this monster. I made it very easy on all my family. We’ve always been real tight. I started singing at age five with me and Teeny and mother and father. We were always together. We’d travel to Alabama. We’d travel to Atlanta. We sung. Our dream was we’d take care of each other.”
After she started raking in post “Idol” cash, she bought a home in North Carolina. “I put everybody in the house,” she said. “I spoiled everybody. Teeny stopped doing his own thing. He can cook his butt off. He can go in studio and record. He can sit and write songs. But I’ve set them back. You’ll see me finally coming out of that. I don’t like to hurt anybody’s feelings. I have a soft spot in my heart for all of them. You’re going to see me speak up a bit more.”
She has been spending a lot of time in Atlanta lately recording her album, living out of a hotel. “I’ve been spending most of my nights in the studio,” she said. Her favorite restaurant? A South African place called 10 Degrees South off Roswell Road. “Me and the owners have become friends,” she said. “Whenever I get some chill time, I go in there and relax.” the episode here at vh1.com.
Otherwise, she doesn’t party much. “I’m in creative mode,” she said last month.
I wimped out a bit when asking about the married guy who supposedly moved into her pad a couple months back. She gave me a vague answer: “I’m more married to my career now,” she said. “I’m in the studio too much. When I get a boyfriend, I’ll let you know.”
On TV
“Fantasia For Real,” VH1, Monday, January 11, 10 p.m.
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37 comments Add your comment
JTesla
January 10th, 2010
3:16 pm
Great interview Rodney. Perhaps we have blurred the lines between reality and documentary. After reading this I am actually interested in her show… odd I know.
Whatever
January 10th, 2010
7:17 pm
I like Tasha, I think I’ll watch the show. Much luck to her. Girl, I voted for you 100 times on Idol!! LOL! Congrats on the show.
Mercedes S.
January 10th, 2010
8:57 pm
Great inteview,Rodney, wanted to read more. Like, who are the other 4 people this woman supports?
American Idol 2010
January 11th, 2010
3:54 am
[...] further at: Fantasia interview for her new VH1 show ‘Fantasia For Real’ Tags: across-as-sweet, color-purple, consequences, family, homes, surgery-on-two [...]
Nana
January 11th, 2010
6:27 am
Good Morning Everybody.
Today’s Quote: “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school, but if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
Back at work this morning, so maybe I can make it through the rest of the week. Will go back later, as time permits, and catch up on the previous threads.
Deirdre
January 11th, 2010
7:24 am
Morning!
Fantasia is probably(no, definitely) my least favorite Idol winner(voice-wise)but she has always been interesting and talented and I trust Rodney on his rave reviews of her in The Color Purple. Thanks for the interview Rodney. I’m not sure I’ll watch her show but I will admit that it sounds pretty interesting.
Nana, I hope you’re feeling better soon. Pneumonia is not an easy recovery so take care of yourself and don’t overdo it.
I’m on the “nothing to eat or drink after midnight” orders now and parched thanks to the non-stop efforts of my furnace to keep us warm in the 15 degrees we woke up to this morning. I envy hubby his coffee!
Heather MacDonald
January 11th, 2010
7:26 am
Tasha? Really? LOL
Highlander
January 11th, 2010
7:32 am
I will admit that I never cared much for Fantasia’s singing style (too much emphasis on screaming), but I will also admit that she sounds much more interesting in the interview. Good job, RH.
I hope she’s successful in getting her finances (and her family!) in order.
Deirdre
January 11th, 2010
7:45 am
I forgot! It’s American Idol premiere week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nana
January 11th, 2010
8:27 am
Thanks D.
Hope all goes well with your surgery and you have a speedy recovery.
Rickster
January 11th, 2010
8:51 am
Anyone else disappointed that David Cook didn’t get to perform on Extreme Makeover Home Edition last night? I thought he did a great job (help-wise) and came across as a very down-to-earth, genuine guy.
But to not let him perform? Geesh!
kelly&carriefan
January 11th, 2010
9:10 am
Hey y’all,
I finally managed to thaw out in time for my commute this mornin’ after being held hostage Friday and Saturday.
Rodney, thanks for the interview. I agree, after reading it I’m almost tempted to watch her show. She was really likeable on Idol, but admit that I wasn’t terribly invested that season. I can’t even name who my fave was, but I know it wasn’t neither Fantasia nor Diana. (I know, local girl, sorry!) I do remember going to the Dome to watch the finale and getting to see Kelly’s soundcheck. She sang Beautiful Disaster sitting on a piano during the show. Funny what I remember, huh?
I didn’t catch David Cook, but I’ll be checking out the clips.
Idol tomorrow, whoooo-hoooooo!
Harriett
January 11th, 2010
9:20 am
Morning. Rick, I completely for got he was on. Rats! And, D, best to you as you approach this surgery. We will all be thinking about you. Nana, please take care of yourself. You can’t be sick on this downhill path to retirement, girl!
As for Fantasia, I wish her all the best. Like,D, she is my least favorite Idol winner, but only for style reasons and nothing personally. I liked others’ singing style better. But, my heart goes out to her in her effort to carve her niche in the world, and at the same time be loyal to loved ones. But, it sounds like she is beginning to see how love is not the answer for some.
I am dreaming of a hot July day!
Heather MacDonald
January 11th, 2010
9:42 am
D and Nana, hope you guys are feeling better soon!!
wreckedpizza
January 11th, 2010
9:43 am
It sounds like Fantasia is learning what I did years ago; you can’t help family. They are the worst at taking and then taking more. “Enabling” is exactly what you end up doing and they just expect you to continue while they make no effort themselves…
Anyhoo-good luck to Fantasia. I was in Diana’s camp that year but had no quarrel with Fantasia winning because she sang her butt off every week, no matter what the genre was…
I’m ready for tomorrow night and I am ready for my peaches to thaw!!!
Rickster
January 11th, 2010
11:00 am
“your peaches to thaw” wreck pizza? Is that a euphemism?
Rodney Ho
January 11th, 2010
11:54 am
It’s not clear who Fantasia supports besides her mom, her brother and her daughter based on that first episode.
Rodney Ho
January 11th, 2010
11:57 am
Note to the regulars: Deirdre will be covering for me next week. I will be in Tulum, Mexico on my honeymoon, luxuriating in 80 degree weather. Dunno if Mexican TV airs “Idol” or not. Even then, I will refrain from blogging from January 16-24. I will be back at the helm January 25.
Cowo
January 11th, 2010
11:59 am
a total Anti-Fan of Fantasias, but read the story anyway, and certainly do not wish her ill. Why is she supporting anyone in her family other than her own kid. At her age, her mother is probably in her 40’s or early 50’s. And the bum brother should surely be shown the curb! I’m a believer in earning your own way, and anyone who would let 6 people mooch, when they are well enough to do so, is a sign of a not too intelligent person.
Cowo
January 11th, 2010
12:02 pm
Rodney: Hope you are staying at “Dreams Tulum” – a truly fabulous resort. The food is great, the staff superb, and the property lovely. If you can, be sure to go to Xel Ha – a fab eco park, and swim with the Dolphins – so worth the $100 or so it costs.
Harriett
January 11th, 2010
12:06 pm
Rodney!! You’re making me cry, for goodness’ sake! 80 degrees!!
JTesla
January 11th, 2010
12:17 pm
Have a good time Rodney!
Mercedes S.
January 11th, 2010
12:29 pm
Have fun in Mexico, Rodney! And thanks for promoting “Southland” in the paper-paper. I’ve heard great things about the show.
Dark Vadar
January 11th, 2010
1:06 pm
GREAT! Another year of whiners and losers on the stupidest show. Limp wrists and old ladies screaming over gays and fantasia Burrito!!!!!
JTesla
January 11th, 2010
1:20 pm
Talk about a whiner. Oh the sweet irony.
Heather MacDonald
January 11th, 2010
1:35 pm
Where are troll-eating zombies when you need them?
Nana
January 11th, 2010
2:17 pm
RoHo – Have a great “Honeymoon” and enjoy the special time you and your lovely bride will spend together. But, come on man, 80 degree weather! That’s just not fair (just kidding).
You are aware that you will be leaving us in good hands, don’t ya?
We need a troll snatcher!
Harriett
January 11th, 2010
2:43 pm
Where is Big Billy Goat Gruff when we need him?
Rodney Ho
January 11th, 2010
3:19 pm
Cowo-thanks for the suggestion and yes, that’s where I’ll be. Question: will I be able to watch Idol from there next week, ahem?
Nana
January 11th, 2010
3:19 pm
Harrieth – He’s lost.
Cowo
January 11th, 2010
4:18 pm
I do believe you will be able to see it – I remember really good tv. Was there 3 years ago and adored the whole experience. As cool you can see the ruins of Tulum from the resort’s beach.
You will have a wonderful time – great resort, great people, great food, great entertainment – you really never have to leave the resort, but as I said before Xel Ha is fantastic – lots of water stuff to do.
They provide entertainment every night. One night we had rock band singing in Spanish, but doing regular rock stuff, and another night a Mex rock band singing in English – both really great. Two nights had local vendors set up table after table of both kitchy stuff and beautiful hand-crafted things. A comedian/acrobat act another night, and a night of Mayans doing a show about their history. Very interesting.
Dreams has great French, Italian & Japenese restaurants onsite, but reserve early – each only open twice a week. The main dining room is also great, with buffet style, all kinds of dishes – American and Continental on one end, trad Mex on the other, salad bar, bread table, dessert bar – just really well thought-out food.
You’ll have a fridge that is supplied with bottled water – and the only drawback of the whole trip is that you HAVE to use bottled water to brush your teeth. EVERYTHING else is great.
Hope you and your wife have as wonderful a trip as I did! Can’t wait to read about it when you get back!
Harriett
January 11th, 2010
4:54 pm
Bye all. Just a little over 24 hours now!
lenna
January 11th, 2010
10:39 pm
I like Fantasia. She needs to stop taking care of grown folks, let them take care of themselves. I can see helping her mother, because she takes
care of Zion when she is on the road. That over grown brother would be
put OUT for sure. Tasia you need to take care of YOU. Don’t let people
bring you down, because family are the #ONE PEOPLE TO BRING YOU DOWN.
Let them go and find yourself before you loose yourself. Wish you the
BEST in all your endeavors. Stay strong, and don’t give up. LOVE YOU!!!!
lenna
January 11th, 2010
10:51 pm
Fantasia’s brother has some nerve to tear up the poolhouse, something someone else’s hard earned money paid for. Would not tolerate that at all, she needs to cut him off, make him get a job and his own home, let him see how much it cost to run a household. No way would I let him continue to freeload. I’d love him, but don’t be a fool for him.
Nanook.... begat ... Fantasia!
January 14th, 2010
10:09 am
Hold on…… wait a minute! Fantasia has a documentary. So, “Nanook of the North” begat ” Fantasia For Real”. Wow !
Oh, Rodney, congrats, on your wedding. You deserve only the best.
BigBam
January 14th, 2010
11:12 am
WOW!!!!
MsShowers
January 19th, 2010
3:13 pm
I have watched the first two episodes and I am really not pleased at all. Fantasia has talent and have what it takes to be around for a long time, but can someone please help her out in the image department. The show is ghetto as hell you are presenting to the world that a black man is lazy and only cares about flossn’ instead of an education. For as Fantasia I just thought this show would help her present to the world that she is not ghetto, educated, and know how to handle her business as a woman. Can somebody please help her get her wardrobe up to classy, fierce, but sexy with taste. I honestly am embarassed about the show and she needs to learn family or not sometimes you got to let them go!!!