Thursday, October 13, 2011

Mahalia Drama Continues: Producers Apologize To Fantasia For ‘Unauthorized’ Comments

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It was previously reported that the family of Mahalia Jackson thinks that Fantasia Barrino is not good enough to play the gospel legend in an upcoming biopic because she is expecting a child with her married lover, Antwaun Cook.

“The family thinks if Fantasia plays the role, it’s going to sully the name of Mahalia,” executive producer Adrian Taylor told the NY Post. “They think she’s got the wrong image, having a child out of wedlock.”

When Taylor spoke to Page Six about the private life of Fantasia Barrino, he couldn’t have been expecting a public reprimand --- but that’s exactly what has happened.

Fantasia, due in December and on bed-rest, stopped by the Wendy Williams Show to set the record straight on everything from lying producers to whether or not she’s still with her child’s father. She told Wendy that she had no idea that the producers felt that way, and that the family of Mahalia Jackson had not voiced any concerns. She also said that when she first heard the rumor she was so upset that she almost went into labor.

The production company has scampered into damage control, quickly releasing a statement supporting the former American Idol:

Double Dutch Productions, LLC. (DDP) extends apologies to Fantasia Barrino for the inaccurate, non-factual and disparaging statements of Ms. Barrino’s reputation, character and image, that was stated in the October 7, 2011 article of the NY Post’s Page Six column.

The comments made in the article by financing broker Adrian Taylor, were not authorized, approved or condoned by the producers of DDP. The information and comments expressed within this article regarding the project were solely those of Adrian Taylor.

Taylor is not an employee of this production company nor an active participant of any facet in the producing of this film. Taylor has been reprimanded on two previous occasions for speaking to the press about this project.  He was told that he was not a spokesperson nor a producer of the film, nor involved in the production or publicity of the film. Mr. Taylor’s credit of Executive  Producer will be valid only pending a final contract for financing. DDP and its producers disavow any statements or comments attributed to this article that were inappropriately made. Mr. Taylor does not speak for this company or the production of this film.

The Mahalia Jackson family has not made any negative comments non-what-so ever about Ms. Barrino and her participation in this film project.

We at DDP want to assure Ms. Barrino that in no way are we responsible for the information that was included in the article. ANY FUTURE COMMENTS FROM OUTSIDE PARTIES REGARDING THIS FILM THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY PROVIDED BY DDP OR ITS PUBLICIST WILL BE DEEMED AS VOID, BOGUS AND INACCURATE.

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