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Post by Brandy on Mar 1, 2007 23:51:19 GMT -5
It came on Thursday..truly sad. www.insideedition.com/ourstories/inside_stories/story.aspx?storyid=644Jennifer Hudson's success in the movie "Dreamgirls" has put the spotlight on Florence Ballard, the real life singer on whose life the part was based. When Hudson accepted her Golden Globe, she made a very special dedication to Ballard, saying she will "never be forgotten."
Those who know the story of the legendary girl group the Supremes knew right away that Hudson was paying tribute to one of Motown's biggest stars.
Florence Ballard gained international fame as the founding member of the Supremes, but she was kicked out of the group in 1967. Some say it mirrors what happens to Jennifer Hudson's character Effie in "Dreamgirls."
While fellow Supremes Diana Ross and Mary Wilson went on to successful solo careers, Florence struggled with depression and alcoholism. She died in poverty at the age of 32, leaving behind 3 young daughters.
So what became of the 3 little girls who were left motherless? INSIDE EDITION found the sisters living in Detroit. All three say they, like their mother, are living on welfare.
INSIDE EDITION spoke to twins Nicole and Michelle Chapman and their younger sister Lisa, at Lisa's modest Detroit home, not far from the original headquarters of Motown.
When Florence Ballard died of a heart attack in 1976, thousands attended the funeral, including Diana Ross. But as the children got older, they found themselves on hard times.
"I don't know who to blame because, you know we've been cheated out of so much in our lives," Lisa told INSIDE EDITION.
All the sisters have left are some fading photographs and memories of their mother. Ballard's daughters say they hold no ill will towards the other members of the Supremes.
"They helped us the best they could. When mom passed Diana Ross had a trust fund set up for us. But when we got of age...it was gone," Lisa said. The sisters said the trust fund contained $10,000 for each girl.
The sisters got a thrill when INSIDE EDITION showed them a rare clip of the Supremes performing on the Mike Douglas show in 1965, and the women became emotional when they visited their mother's gravesite.
The grave has no headstone - only a simple marker covered in snow at the final resting place of the legendary singer.
About her mom, Lisa said, "I don't think she had a fair chance in life," Lisa said. "She passed away so young. I just miss her...I wish she was here."
The sisters say they have seen "Dreamgirls" and say they liked it, but they feel everyone else is benefiting from their mother's story, except them.
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Post by Queenie on Mar 2, 2007 21:19:19 GMT -5
Brandy this is not sad this is damn shame!! All three daughters are on the welfare WTF. How come the daughters did not go college. Why they are not working? The blame is on them not anyone else... And they should be profiting from DG why! Hell if you watch Maury, Jerry,and Montell all day long you not get a red naked dime... and that is my IMO!
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Common
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Post by Common on Mar 2, 2007 21:39:38 GMT -5
Very sad. That's all I could say.
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Post by Brandy on Mar 3, 2007 1:17:15 GMT -5
Brandy this is not sad this is damn shame!! All three daughters are on the welfare WTF. How come the daughters did not go college. Why they are not working? The blame is on them not anyone else... And they should be profiting from DG why! Hell if you watch Maury, Jerry,and Montell all day long you not get a red naked dime... and that is my IMO! Yes it's a shame and a disgrace that Flo was treated badly. even more sad that her daughters are struggling and it was very sad when they went to their mother's gravesite they were crying. what I don't understand is how come nobody could help them with the money to help her family get a headstone for her grave. The daughters situation is really,really sad.
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Post by Queenie on Mar 3, 2007 6:46:23 GMT -5
Flo was treated badly not the daughters. Why should any of us feel bad about three women who chose to live on welfare. I guess I am behind the times because I just don't understand what is this ha' ha'.
Whoever raised Flo's daughters did not teach them how to take birth control otherwise they will not be singing "My government check is in the mailbox or I don't know how I end up this way!
As far as the headstone, children should made sure mother received a headstone. Flo has been dead 30 plus years and the woman doesn't have a headstone sad children sad! They need to stop crying about a hand out and get off their aXXX and find work. No one is going to knock on the door and give you a chance in life. You have go out and get that chance.
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Post by ruffinlove on Mar 3, 2007 7:41:16 GMT -5
This is very sad .I also agree with Queenie in a certain aspect of things ,although i dont know the situation through and through..these women do not have to be on welfare.They feel that they have been cheated out of things in their lives,but dont sing the song and sit ,until you have to live on welfare.
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Post by Springtime on Mar 3, 2007 10:33:47 GMT -5
Flo was treated badly not the daughters. Why should any of us feel bad about three women who chose to live on welfare. I guess I am behind the times because I just don't understand what is this ha' ha'. Whatever raised Flo's daughters did not teach them how to take birth control otherwise they will not be singing "My government check is in the mailbox or I don't how I end up this way! As far as the headstone, children should made sure mother received a headstone. Flo has been dead 30 plus years and the woman doesn't have a headstone sad children sad! They need to stop crying about a hand out and get off their aXXX and find work. No one is going to knock on the door and give you a chance in life. You have go out and get that chance. I agree with you Queenie. It is not always easy but when a person is down they cant give up they have got to keep going and try harder. The three daughters need to get together and buy a headstone for their mothers grave. If they would have loved her as much as they loved them selfs she would have had one long ago.
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Post by BroMan on Mar 3, 2007 12:54:29 GMT -5
Flo was treated badly not the daughters. Why should any of us feel bad about three women who chose to live on welfare. I guess I am behind the times because I just don't understand what is this ha' ha'. Whatever raised Flo's daughters did not teach them how to take birth control otherwise they will not be singing "My government check is in the mailbox or I don't how I end up this way! As far as the headstone, children should made sure mother received a headstone. Flo has been dead 30 plus years and the woman doesn't have a headstone sad children sad! They need to stop crying about a hand out and get off their aXXX and find work. No one is going to knock on the door and give you a chance in life. You have go out and get that chance. RED LETTA DEY!!!! I happins tu agrees wit Queenie. Az mech az I hates tu admit it!
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molly
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Post by molly on Mar 3, 2007 13:44:55 GMT -5
(((Broman))) You agree with Queenie? ? This is a red letter day! ;D ;D ;D Seriously, I agree with Queenie too. It's so sad what happened to Flo,but that didn't have to be her childrens life. They may feel they were cheated out of so much,but they could have changed their circumstances. Having a celebrity for a parent,doesn't entitle you to anything. Go to school,get a education,get a job. The sisters say they have seen "Dreamgirls" and say they liked it, but they feel everyone else is benefiting from their mother's story, except them.
They are in control of their mother's legacy. If they want to benefit they need to get off their asses and do something. Write a book, set up a foundation.....Hell Do Something!!!
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Post by Brandy on Mar 3, 2007 14:55:32 GMT -5
I'm going to say this I'm sure they didn't choose to be on welfare nobody chooses to be on welfare they could very well be apart of the working poor. my aunt works for social services and she has seen people come in that work in hospitals with their hospital uniform on applying for food stamps.times are definitely hard and you do what you have to do to put food on the table so I don't knock anyone who gets food stamps or medical assistance etc . Burying a family member is expensive it's a shame just how expensive things cost just to be buried decently and headstones cost alot of money. they should recieve some financial help to add in with the money they do have to purchase one. They feel cheated out of losing their mom while they were still very young that's the worst thing in the world. I have a best friend her and siblings lost their parents when they were really young like that too. her mother was stabbed to death and their father was also killed. Diana ross kids gone on to do acting etc while Flo's kids are struggling hard..I just hope things work out for them.
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Post by Queenie on Mar 3, 2007 18:33:49 GMT -5
Flo was treated badly not the daughters. Why should any of us feel bad about three women who chose to live on welfare. I guess I am behind the times because I just don't understand what is this ha' ha'. Whatever raised Flo's daughters did not teach them how to take birth control otherwise they will not be singing "My government check is in the mailbox or I don't how I end up this way! As far as the headstone, children should made sure mother received a headstone. Flo has been dead 30 plus years and the woman doesn't have a headstone sad children sad! They need to stop crying about a hand out and get off their aXXX and find work. No one is going to knock on the door and give you a chance in life. You have go out and get that chance. RED LETTA DEY!!!! I happins tu agrees wit Queenie. Az mech az I hates tu admit it! You need to agree more often that way you will not have to ask anyone for a hand out.
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Post by Queenie on Mar 3, 2007 18:49:24 GMT -5
What is really sad is the girls made it their legacy "welfare". They heard about their mother on welfare so now they want to follow that pattern now that is sad.
MEDIA
No way in hell I would be on t.v. talking to a newcaster about " I don't know why I am on Welfare". The girls know why they are Welfare. It doesn't take a rocket science to figure it hell it doesn't take Broman to come up with the answer... it takes common sense. I am pretty sure the girls were around people who preach the do and don'ts of how to survive. You don't quit school. Don't go on welfare. You do your homework. You don't open your legs. You do wear protection. You don't run to the media about a handout. You do buy your mother a headstone....
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Common
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Post by Common on Mar 3, 2007 21:20:12 GMT -5
I am very hard pressed to say what a person should or should not do in a situation such as Flo's daughters. When these girls were babies, they were exposed in a very public manner by their celebrity mother's poor circumstances. Not to mention, it did not sound like Flo & her husband had a stable life. So not only does their mother die, their father eventually passes on as well at a young age. Then they were probably passed from one family member to the next. Didn't this scenario happened to David when his mother died, being bounced from one relative to another? That can play on any child's psyche, especially once they reach adulthood. I don't know all the particulars in Flo's daughters case but it seems to me that these young ladies had it hard. I just read on SDF that one of the daughters had brain surgery several years ago and her son is disabled. It would be nice if these young ladies' lives were better, got themselves educated and got a good job. But hell, good jobs don't really exist today unless you have a ton of degrees. And even that does not guarantee a good job.
Sometimes I wonder if working and being poor is somehow different than being poor and getting welfare. Honestly, I really don't see the difference. If we really want to look hard enough, some of us are one paycheck away from being homeless. I can't knock somebody because hell, that maybe me one day and I need some help. Maybe I don't feel like working for a couple of years until I can get my mind right. I don't know. I do know there are handful of people that are lazy. But, in this case, I really don't think that applies.
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Common
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Post by Common on Mar 3, 2007 21:22:13 GMT -5
What is really sad is the girls made it their legacy "welfare". They heard about their mother on welfare so now they want to follow that pattern now that is sad. MEDIA No way in hell I would be on t.v. talking to a newcaster about " I don't know why I am on Welfare". The girls know why they are Welfare. It doesn't take a rocket science to figure it hell it doesn't take Broman to come up with the answer... it takes common sense. I am pretty sure the girls were around people who preach the do and don'ts of how to survive. You don't quit school. Don't go on welfare. You do your homework. You don't open your legs. You do wear protection. You don't run to the media about a handout. You do buy your mother a headstone.... Those girls could have been paid for their appearance. Inside Edition is just jumping on the dreamgirls hype and probably wanted to hear from Flo's children. It was the same thing with Tempts' miniseries. David's daughters were front and center when the media came calling for them.
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Post by BeesNVMe on Mar 3, 2007 21:37:48 GMT -5
I have a slightly different opinion altho I am not defending the daughters being on welfare. I can clearly see why they are where they are. Yes it's true they lost both their parents at an early age and they were probably traumatized...not only from the loss...but all the bull that happened prior to that...just look at the expressions on their faces. They all wear that beatdown expression of Flo's...so sad. They don't even realize why they are stuck in their position. It could not have been easy being passed around by family members that did not teach them anything. They were not taught to get up and get a damn job. Tho they do look a little ghetto...they don't look poor...they just look hopeless. I think as young girls they attatched themselves to Flo's sense of hopelessness and held on to it. If Diane set up a trust fund of 10,000 dollars for each girl...and when they became of age...the trust fund wasn't there...then what happened to it? Did Diane renege or did the guardians steal the money? How were those girls really treated by the family members who raised them? All of a sudden Flo's sister says that Diane quietly sent them checks throughout the years. How was the money appropriated? If she sent checks to children...some adult had to be in charge of the funds. I feel for them because it seems they don't know any better. When you know better...you do better. They probably got some kind of jobs to keep them in hair weave and jewelry cuz welfare don't pay that much nowadays. Queenie...they didn't go to the media...the media sought them out. they may have celebrity status in the welfare world...but I don't think they were the aggressors...they don't have it in them. I do have issue with someone using someone else's information for financial gain. Dreamgirls has made millions both on and off Broadway. It is supposed to be the story of The Supremes...but yet it is not the story of The Supremes. It's just another way of saying I don't owe you anything for your story. Those girls could have made millions of dollars from their mother's story themselves...but whoever raised them did not teach them to reach for anything. I'm wondering how far any of them went in school and what they did while they were in school. I feel bad for them because they don't think enough of themselves to want to do better. Their problem is all in their mind. they seem to be imprisoned...locked into that midset. Lawd!
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