hello everybody welcome to the
impressive Channel
I wanted to do a behind the music
documentary on Destiny's Child now this
story has been told quite often however
this is the 20th anniversary since
Destiny's Child has been in the music
industry and I wanted to do a video on
them Destiny's Child is a widely known
girl group that has achieved
groundbreaking success Destiny's Child
had numerous hits on the Billboard
charts and they achieved a plethora of
awards including several Grammys they so
de arenas all over the world and sold
over 60 million records worldwide
the success of Destiny's Child was
astounding considering it was an R&B
group that thrived in a pop dominated
music era
despite the glitz and glam of it all the
members of the group had to endure a
grueling work schedule and they were
shielded from experiencing normal things
that other teenage girls experienced
also the group had internal struggles
that eventually became public when two
of the members were suddenly ejected
from the group the original members of
Destiny's Child included latavia
Roberson Letoya Luckett Kelly Rowland
and the lead singer Beyonce Knowles the
quartet started singing together at an
early age and they were first managed by
Android attunement then they were
managed by Beyonce's domineering father
Mathew Knowles before the group became a
success they faced several setbacks
including being dropped from their first
record label despite the setbacks
Destiny's Child silent Columbia Records
and from there their career skyrocketed
every hour they released went
multi-platinum however in the height of
their fame drama ensued there was a
clear separation in the group Latoya and
latavia began to grow increasingly
frustrated with the group's management
which was led by Beyonce
he knows from the beginning Latoya's
mother Pamela did not fully trust
Matthew before the group signed their
record deal contract Matthew said it was
mandatory for them to sign his
management contract
Latoya's mother found that I as she
wanted to know the stipulations of
Matthew's contract before allowing her
daughter to sign it
however Becky put pressure on the group
members to sign it and her mother
eventually came in more problems began
to surface in the group Matthew Knowles
presents and demands intimidated the
girls Beyonce was the only one who stood
up to him but the other group members
were silenced
however Latoya and latavia were tired of
not having a voice and they grew to
resent the management team Beyonce had
no issues because her father and her
cousins were part of the management team
Kelly Rowland was more timid and she
didn't dare complain
however Latoya and latavia became vocal
about their issues they felt like there
was favoritism shown to ward beyoncé and
Kelly because they were the only ones
allowed to sing lead also they felt
disposable like they weren't really
needed in the group when latakia had a
104 fever and was sent to the hospital
Mattie was completely apathetic and
suggested that one of the background
dancers temporarily take Lata his place
while she recovered Matthew got the
phone call that Latoya was very sick and
the next day we were going on our
European tour and he was like well
janella
the choreographer can take her place I
was shocked I have a 104 fever I can't
leave
in the hospital lastly there was a money
problem according to Columbia Records
Destiny's Child was supposed to get paid
four hundred and seventy five thousand
to nine hundred and fifty thousand
dollars after recording their two albums
but Mathew Knowles was getting a huge
chunk of that money
Latoya and Latonya were confused because
they weren't seeing the money they
worked hard for plus they had a poor
communication with management and the
label so they couldn't get answers where
was their money really going you look up
Sundays and you're like okay I can't pay
my cell phone bill we had questions
Latoya was like whoa you know I wanna go
get another manager there's no reason
that Beyonce driving a Jaguar right now
and my momma still is driving his old
Mazda beyoncé and Kelly on the other
hand fared well financially and they
were completely in the dark about how
latavia and Latoya were being treated
but they sensed that their sacred
friendship and sisterhood was becoming
strained for whatever reasons we grew
apart it was - over here - over here a
group can't work like that at all
Latonya and Latoya's gripe with
management became more apparent and it
bothered Beyonce because it was her
father when Destiny's Child went on tour
with the singing group jagged edge there
was a big altercation on their tour bus
Latoya and latavia were dating two of
the members in jagged edge which was a
concern to their management team and
Kelly and beyoncé beyoncé and Kelly
believed that the members from jagged
edge Brian and Brandon Casey got in -
Latoya and Mattias heads Beyonce said
they lost focus they didn't want to do
interviews rehearsed or take voice
lessons
anybody that metascan see
me and Kelly were in one group and they
were in another it was obvious also
Matthew didn't get along with Latoya's
mother Pamela Pamela was the group's
chaperone on tour and she sort of played
an advocate for both Latoya and the
Tavia Matthew didn't like this because
he felt like his authority was being
threatened when Latoya's mother tried to
go on the tour bus with them their
management team threatened to kick her
off the tour bus and banished Latoya and
latavia from the group our management
was like if Pam gets on that bus then
y'all are gonna lose your job
jagged-edged confronted Matthew and told
him that there was no way they were
gonna allow him to kick Latoya's mother
off of the bus you're not gonna kick
somebody mother off a bus like you don't
say like no Jay Matthew was upset about
this and he kicked jagged-edged off the
tour
that was the last straw for Latoya and
latavia they wanted to disappear their
agreement with Matthew as their manager
and hire their own business manager who
had their best interests at heart
however this decision would cause even
more chaos
Matthew was fed up with this and he
kicked them both out Matthew told
beyoncé and Kelly that their former
group members were getting replaced
meanwhile Latoya and latavia were
completely unaware of the fact that they
were being disposed of Latoya and
Latonya were supposed to film a music
video for Destiny's Child's next singles
say my name but they were never called
back to work by that time they had the
unfortunate experience of learning that
two new girls replaced Nick we're
looking at each other ye
-
Wow the drastic change in the group's
lineup caused an unbelievable amount of
controversy fans were founded and the
media was going in a frenzy Latoya and I
we never quit the group no but we never
quit never left never even said anything
about quitting we simply wanted to
disarm our personal management agreement
with our manager Columbia Records is not
going to deal with two managers but we
had to disavow Matthew's contract to
even be able to be heard and all we
wanted was to be able to bring another
manager in so we felt like someone had
our best interests as well Latoya and
latavia were livid and they ended up
balance a lawsuit against Matthew
Columbia Records and beyoncé and Kelly
which was later settled out of court
meanwhile beyoncé and Kelly had to do
some serious damage control and explain
their side of the story their issue was
with management and not with the two of
you well they slept a nice lawsuit on it
yeah so that's a lot of love that's all
that's the hard love in it both beyoncé
and Kelly wrote an open letter to
Latakia and Latoya Beyonce wrote I have
shared some of the best moments in my
life with the two of you by my side I
have also shared some of the worst she
then went on to list several
transgressions perpetrated against her
by Latoya and the Tavia I never
complained when you didn't sing one note
on numerous songs on the album I never
complained that when I was working my
butt off in the studio as I did on the
last album that the two of you were both
either sleeping or on your phones
approximately 80% of the time I never
complained when the two of you were lip
singing to my vocals on some of the
videos and onstage in fact I only helped
make our contributions appear to be
equal to the public by the end of the
letter Beyonce was clearly heated
approximately
three weeks or less there is drama
caused by one or both of you it has been
this way for at least the past two years
and I don't deserve this Kelly wrote
this I think it's so funny how every
time there's something good going on
with this new child one of you will
spring something on us Beyonce in me and
before I've tried to forgive and forget
and move on but I refuse to be run over
and received punches from y'all y'all
have taught me not to take crap from
anyone and to always watch your own back
Latoya and latavia went on various radio
stations slamming the management team
and criticizing beyoncé and Kelly for
getting all the attention
Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles was fed up
that Beyonce was receiving so much
backlash Tina Knowles backed her
daughter's claims she said in a vibe
magazine article from the time Latoya
got in the group there was always drama
always jealousy always madness she said
people don't know all the crap that
we've been through with Latoya and
latavia you give people an inch and they
take em out and that's basically what
happened beyoncé and Kelly kissed their
butts all the time
spoke to them first and went into the
studio and did all the work
now Latoya painted a different picture
and she said we weren't lazy when it was
time to write when it was time to sing
we were ready to go she says I want to
put somebody on a stand with a Bible and
have them say that we didn't work she
said that her problems with the group
stemmed from her refusal to go with the
flow this was the fourth time I've been
kicked out she says any time a contract
came up Mathew kicked me out of the
group because I wouldn't sign just
anything it was like a bad relationship
he would kick me out then call back a
few days later talking about I need you
I need you I need you
he needs prayer he needs a hug Latonya
did not open up in this vibe magazine
but in the legal document she did accuse
Matthew Knowles of greed insistence on
control self-dealing and promotion of
his daughter she said he didn't want us
to know the truth and the truth was he
wasn't right he wasn't right and a lot
of things he was doing
Latoya stood by what latakia said Latoya
said everything was like this is my
group my daughter is going to sing lead
deal with it he would say things like if
you don't like it then you need to get
another career this is my group and if
you don't know Matthew acquired the
trademark for Destiny's Child even
though the group was originally put
together by hand Rhetta Tillman as you
can see this was a complete mess and
there was constant back and forth in the
media between Latoya and latavia and
beyoncé and Kelly and there were only
teenagers at the time so they didn't
really know how to silently deal with
the drama the media still continued to
harass beyoncé and Kelly about the drama
in Dusty's child reporters bombarded
them with questions and Beyonce was sick
of it I saw what time in the morning day
but I'm gonna bet that over that said
and I'm sorry yeah
the last thing on my mind was informing
members I didn't even think about it
that's so old and I'm so over it
I don't even think about it anymore you
still ride the Jaguar yes I do and it's
an older one and this is to clear
everything up every single one of us all
made the exact same amount of money so
we all had opportunities to go out and
buy cars and I've been having the car
for about two years of fame car it was
my choice to spend my money on my car
and it was everybody else's choices and
everybody or whatever they wanted to but
we all made the same amount of money
yeah just as soon as you think you could
never be happier you run into that crazy
journalist
it just has to say something stupid lady
pause and Shelley Kelly Latoya and
latavia yes she knows our work we know
they named you sound like you sound
really like kind of hostile about this I
mean is this minute just just hold the
rumors of suffer that's really
irritating yeah so it seems like it's
hostility between you and the two
members that were because I heard at one
point that you that you all you know
deaf days y'all saying the girls that
you all weren't allowed to perform and
doula I can you please not call as
Beyonce in the barrel to it that is
definitely an insult to Kelly mmm yeah I
like them but the attention stays on you
clear that the group is beyond saying
the girls so why don't you just go solo
no disrespect to the other girls but
yeah we see how things are shaping up
you guys are on TV the camera stays on
you you get the hottest be or they get
leftovers
my love for Kelly that's something that
I don't want to do and I wasn't ready to
do it and we still had a hit album
and we are installing that building
despite the negative press Destiny's
Child success continued to skyrocket
say my name became one of their biggest
hits and their album writing's on the
wall sold over 8 billion records
meanwhile the new group members Farrah
Franklin and Taneatua Michelle Williams
were adjusting to the group's hectic
schedule and demands they had to quickly
learn the routines and fit in with the
image of the group Michelle had to drop
her first name to Nitra because it was
considered to be too ethnic why did she
never lose in each room to get oh yeah
they did
Barrett admitted that she had to dye her
hair red lose weight and tan often to
look more like the former group member
Latonya so let's talk about Tina Knowles
because I heard while you were in the
group did she have you dye your hair or
she wanted you to dye it something other
than the stunning black that it is my
hair was red when I was in the group
actually that's how they wanted me to
look what else would they do to uh get
ugly you up well I mean I wouldn't say
it's a bad thing but I mean I did it had
to count a lot when I can a lot cuz they
want to Beyonce they do the lightest one
I mean Michelle I in Kelly's hands
Wow and Beyonce wouldn't an no that's
right of each and then that sunscreen
will be 45 also Michelle and Farrah had
to adjust to performing life in front of
large audiences Michelle had prior
singing experience but Farrah did not
they were advised to live
to pre-recorded background vocals while
Beyonce saying live Michele managed to
fit in well with the group and she
quickly became friends with beyoncé and
Kelly bear on the other hand did not
bear had a difficult time adjusting to
the group's grueling schedule and she
had personal issues with management as
well she was very unhappy in the group
because she felt like she wasn't being
treated right which was similar to how
Latoya and latavia felt I felt like I
was losing my identity and I was not
being treated as you would personally
want someone treating your daughter
it was management but it's not a way you
would want somebody treating your 18yo
daughter
Barron was criticized quite often for
not measuring up to Destiny's Child
standards Farrah had the look but she
did not have the vocal talent or the
drive that the other girls had and it
was apparent you don't know the pain
that a feel what's taking them for
granted and you just won't as easier way
about that time you steam I'm gonna tell
you what's on my mind I'm fed up with
you not hey Justin we need this shush up
equipment wait you know love is okay but
you wanna know what that's still
workable she sounded good to you thank
you
tone deaf and blind
it's not the best voice Kelly and
Beyonce and I became friends and when
push came to shove I was able to sing
and dance and God just put me in the
right place at the right time that's
right when Matthew and the group found
out that bear post on the cover of
Tariq's book the art of mackey's they
weren't too pleased Destiny's Child was
very particular about their image and
they didn't want to draw any more
criticisms and they were already
receiving more drama begin to unfold
after this when bear was sick and in the
hospital
Matthew showed no concern and he told
her to get up and make it to their show
the next day went to the hospital
yesterday of dehydration and stomach flu
I'm trying to get through these days but
still can't wait to perform what Farrah
didn't know is destiny's child had no
days off
Beyonce Michelle and Kelly were forced
to work while they was sick or injured
so in Matthews mind there was no reason
why Ferris shouldn't show up to work the
ladies had pressed tours
TV specials and performances to do no
one could afford to miss a day off
Farrah however grew tired of the demands
and she was absent during summer
Destiny's Child's important and TV
special Farrah you know earlier she was
telling y'all how she wasn't feeling
well stomach virus is kicking in right
now Farrah is not feeling well and
unfortunately she won't be able to
perform Matthew and his management team
were very upset with Farrah and they
felt like she was spoiled and ungrateful
they allegedly berated and yelled at her
behind the scenes which cost bear to
abruptly quit the group after only five
months of being a part of Destiny's
Child Farrah Franklin was gone
I just couldn't you know handle the
situation anymore I had to leave it was
like everybody just started
funny everybody has something to say I
walked out of the room I'm not too late
oh you guys just jump on me and gang up
on me this is ridiculous what was
Beyonce one of the people and Kelly for
that matter no no they weren't in the
room during that conversation but I mean
I didn't leave the group not to do
anything I could have stayed in the
group it was about money or fame
obviously I would have stayed in the
group I was not kicked out I mean I've
just always been a leader in the
individual I've never been a follower
I've never been a happy to be here type
of persons I work so hard for where I am
I was I wanted to be happy and this is
like everything I've ever dreamed for
yeah happy yes the news of quitting
didn't sink in at first according to
Farrah the management team didn't care
to reach out and convince her to stay
however Michelle and Beyonce called and
asked her to come to their Australian
show bare refused they didn't want to
believe that Farrah actually quit the
group but she did and Matthew warned
them to cut ties with Farrah that's the
last fight out of here yes ma'am you
might have to go straight to the airport
mine's better for you to go home and I
have lady not coming out there or so
like a saying your luggage look we don't
have to wait for four days before I get
on my stuff you see the debtor you won't
probably miss your flight
nobody was allowed to speak to me
Matthew told all the girls not to talk
to me hi Matthew worked and I was all he
was doing Destiny's Child lost another
member yet again the headlines were
embarrassing and it forced the group to
address Ferris departure she was distant
she wasn't really vocals she wasn't
really talking did she said she couldn't
take it anymore and she said she was
gonna go home so she left three of us
continued and did it hoping that maybe
she didn t even go home maybe she just
stayed at the hotel or whatever we came
back she did leave once again the group
was hounded by the media for the latest
changes in their lineup radio station
host joked that no one can survive in
Destiny's Child we are say being the
spokes
of the group was grilled about the drama
within the group both beyoncé and Kelly
opened up about Latoya and latavius
departure in an exclusive by magazine
article they were still very sore at the
fact that their ex troupe members suit
them and bad-mouthing them on different
radio stations Latoya was like tone-deaf
fiance says she wasn't even originally a
singer she was a rapper Kelly adds
Beyonce agrees and they continued
latavia was originally brought in the
group as a dancer but she was my friend
and I wanted her to be in the group when
we first came out we really weren't like
sisters fiance says we were all very
very close but we stopped getting along
almost two years before the breakup and
in interviews we couldn't say we were
unhappy because we didn't want to let
our fans down because they're our number
one priority so we agreed to act like
everything was okay even though it
wasn't grimacing at the bitter memory
Kelly adds it felt like one big lie
there was a point where we did not eat
kelly says we went into a huge
depression Beyonce says she was
incapacitated both emotionally and
physically for two weeks
I literally stayed in my room and did
not move I felt like I could not breathe
I had a nervous breakdown because I
couldn't believe it and it hurts so bad
beyoncé and Kelly lost more than their
group members they lost their best
friends and their sisters and it did
hurt them
they were brought up as sisters that's
years and years of friendship and loving
somebody she was very sad
I would speak to Tina it seems like she
didn't get out of bed today janela
it was like the world was caving in on
her I don't think I've ever seen her
that depressed mine was just was with
Manish man it had nothing to do with us
as a girls we got each other yes we we
would we loved each other we were
sisters I called Beyonce you could tell
that things have been miss communicated
to her our issue was strictly with
management and it had nothing to do with
beyoncé and Kelly
next time on Destiny's Child secrets
exposed and then someone can dislike me
for whatever reason just make up things
and there's no way of controlling men so
I got really really bad I'm never I've
disclosed my depression to the point of
I was suicidal knew it I was just trying
to numb so much stuff and drinking all
day every day
revealing the song dirty laundry that
you had an ex-boyfriend who is
physically abusive it was an emotional
roller coaster
[Music]