Last evening, VH1 aired a repeat of its highly successful biopic of 1990s R&B girl group TLC. “Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story“ told the story of the meteoric rise and lows of the group. Much of the TV movie focuses on the girls’ financially woes that allegedly came at the hands of their manager Peebles – despite selling millions of albums.
Following the premiere, Pebbles was heavily criticized on social media from memes to contentious tweets. The former R&B singer and ex-wife of record executive L.A Reid posted a few tweets in response, but remained relatively quiet.
Yesterday evening, Pebbles released an official statement alluding to legal action over her portrayal in the movie.
Read it in full below:
“First I want to thank all of you for the well-wishes and prayers. I apologize for the delay in responding to the movie, but I wanted to gather my thoughts. I have always been a private person and this unprovoked attack has been extremely upsetting to me and my family. I have needed time to spend with my family and for personal reflection.
“The movie contains many false and defamatory statements and scenes about me. Please know that I have never cheated or mislead anyone. I will defend my reputation, accomplishments, and character. My attorney is in the process of demanding a retraction of the false and defamatory statements and scenes about me from VH1.
“My silence has empowered individuals looking for a payday at my expense. I have held my peace for 20 years and it’s time the truth comes out. I will be sharing my story in the appropriate venue at the appropriate time. With all my heart, I thank you for your faithful support.
“I am extremely proud of the success and massive accomplishments of TLC—the group I discovered, managed, and mentored. I helped push open doors for TLC and other women in this male-dominated industry. My sacrifices ultimately opened the door for not only a new wave of female performers in this industry, but also a new generation of female executives. That backdrop makes the movie extremely personally upsetting to me.”
Do you think the movie missed a chance to examine the responsibility of others, like record producer Clive Davis who also played a role in the group’s financial woes?
