With the current pandemic and tons of time on their hands, it seems like many celebrities have been doing a lot of reflecting and sharing stories from their past, we often do not get to hear. Former Destiny’s Child member Farrah Franklin is seemingly ready to tell her story.
Back in February of 2000, fans were shocked to see a different lineup than the original members of Destiny’s Child when Franklin, a then aspiring singer and actress, and Michelle Williams replaced Letoya Luckett and Latavia Robertson. Luckett and Robertson reportedly learned of the replacement along with the rest of the world with the premiere of the group’s third single off the “Writings on the Wall” album, “Say My Name”.
Franklin would go on to appear in one more video for the hit single “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” with the group and began a few dates opening for Christina Aguilera before it was announced that five months after joining the group, Franklin would be leaving. It was reported that Franklin was dismissed from the multi-platinum selling group due to “missed promotional appearances and concerts”. Matthew Knowles, father to Beyonce and then manager of the group, said of the decision, “Destiny’s Child is going to be fine. We’ve done three or four shows already without Farrah and they’ve been phenomenal.”
Franklin’s story was a bit different, however, claiming negative vibes were the reason that she left. In a 2015 interview with VladTV, the singer further explained why she was ousted. “Ultimately, it was management,” says Farrah. “He did get kind of loud… It’s not a way you would want somebody treating your 18-year-old daughter, fresh out of the hospital from stomach flu and dehydration.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself and holding my family down, so, I kinda felt like I was a little bit like ‘ok, you need to be happy to be here,’ so just take it,” she continued. “And I did, you know until I was tired of taking it, and not from management.” She then went on to explain that she was really sick and how Michelle was the only bandmate to show concern.
“I came back from being very, very, very sick and nobody, anyone was showing concern at all except for Michelle,” she explained. “I was just getting kicked and punched around and I was already dehydrated and when I went into the room for us to have a group conversation, it was like everyone started ganging up on me, everyone has something to say. I’m like ‘Ok, I’m not about to do this.'”
Fast forward to 2020 and a clip has surfaced from a proposed reality tv show that never aired where Franklin along with other “ex-girl group” members were to co-star. She was shown in a confessional scene where she alludes to Matthew Knowles being inappropriate in dealing with her. The interviewer asks the singer in the clip whether Knowles tried to come on to her, after a moment of hesitation, she breaks her pregnant silence to say, “I haven’t met too many people in my life who haven’t liked me. I’ll say it like that,” insinuating that it may have happened during her stint in the group.