Former Destiny’s Child member Latavia Roberson recently opened up to the UK Mirror about her experience in the pop group after being fired from the group 11yrs ago. Check out some excerpts from the story below and read the full story HERE
Mathew Knowles as a Manager:
We used to call him Joe Jackson. It’s not like he beat us or anything, but he was very strict. Beyonce was the only one brave enough to stand up to him. We worked really hard. It was rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. That’s what our days consisted of. Looking back, working that hard did cost us our childhood. But at the time were just focused on living out our dreams.
On the groups salaries:
Things seemed unfair. Beyonce and Kelly had cars. I’m not saying paychecks were any different, but Mathew used to say a lot of crazy things like: Y’all should be glad I’m giving you money.
Mathew Knowles treated Kelly Rowland:
He was very hard on her. He bawled at her after a gig in Atlanta in 1997. ‘Where were you tonight Kelly? I watched you mess up 12 steps,” he said. Kelly was the sensitive one so she would go to her room and cry.
Relationship with Kelly :
It’s amazing how well Kelly has done since then. She has really blossomed and for me it has been fantastic to watch her become this strong, independent woman. She is an inspiration to anyone, and I am glad to call her my friend.
Regrets
My one regret is that I should have spoken to Beyonce and Kelly before I sent the letter [requesting new management]. That is the one thing I would have done different. I would have gone to my sisters and discussed it with them. After that, we didn’t speak for many years.
Their Relationship now
“I saw Beyonce in 2003 and we just hugged and talked… it was so emotional,I spoke to Kelly last year and I asked her, ‘Do you understand why we did what we did?’ She said, ‘Oh gosh, yes’. And that was enough for me.I am convinced that if it was not for Matthew Knowles we would still be together as a band.We’ll always be sisters. Nothing can take that away from us.”
05.31.11
