A North Carolina couple is urging the removal of road signs that say ”Welcome to High Point, Home of Fantasia Barrino” because they don’t like the way the American Idol winner portrays the town in her new memoir, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale. In fact, they’ve launched their own website, Fantasiaslies.com, to counter Fantasia’s unflattering assertions in the book. (Hmm, I guess she made up all that stuff about growing up poor and illiterate.) Removing the road signs, which are not permanent, is not a high priority for High Point, Mayor Becky Smothers tells the Associated Press. ”There’s a lot more serious things happening right now than Fantasia’s signs,” she says.
Like, for instance, whether Fantasia will get the part of Effie in the upcoming movie version of Dreamgirls. Jamie Foxx, who does have a role in the movie, is endorsing her for the part. ”I think if Fantasia does it, it’s outta here,” the Ray star told reporters this weekend while promoting Jarhead. ”If Fantasia does the movie it’s completely in the stratosphere. It’s nuts.” My initial suggestion for the role was Fantasia’s onetime Idol competitor Jennifer Hudson, but Fantasia would be a fine choice, too.
Tell us, PopWatchers, who do you want to see and hear on the big screen, belting out ”And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going”?
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Fantasia can’t be in a movie because she can’t read the script! I am so sick of the no talent, nasal-voiced Fantasia. She is making herself out to be a victim, but the only victims are the suckers that bought her album. She has nobody but herself to blame for her lack of education. She is 6 months away from being on the surreal life and being a minor footnote in AI history.
I wouldn’t be putting her name on my town’s signs if she was disparaging the town and its resources. Even if it is true. “Hey everybody, you know that town that Fantasia says screwed her up so bad? Yeah, that’s us!”
Fantasia would be much better in the role of Lorell in “Dreamgirls”.
Yeah… pretty much sick of Fantasia. She is pretty shrieky. I would much rather see a no name in the role of Effie. First of all, much of the plot centers on the fact that Effie is significantly overweight and doesn’t fit the image of the rest of her group. I just don’t see Fantasia working. Jaime Fox is a big enough name to draw in the sales… give us a new face.
Having lived in High Point for two years (I live in Winston now), I don’t know what disparaging things Fantasia might have said about it, but I’d be amazed if anyone could find something good to say about it. High Point is run down and depressing; it’s a town that died a few decades ago but people keep prodding the corpse. I hate that place.
Fantasia deserves all the success she can get. With her mix of a little Janis, a touch of Diana Ross and a smidge of whomever she tapped into to sing her amazing version of Summertime on American Idol, she should go as far as she wants. Dreamgirls, bring it on.
How about Gabrielle Union? Or if it has to be a singer/actress, how about the fantabulous Tamyra Gray? She hasn’t burst onto the scene yet (although she’s been given alot of opportunities), but she appeals to me more than Fantasia Barrino.
I agree that I don’t like Fantasia’s voice, but there’s no need to attack her illiteracy, Jenny. Not cool.
No.. no.. no.. if they are going to bring in an AI alumni for “Dreamgirls” it HAS to be Jennifer Hudson.. she has the huge voice and personality and hips to pull off the role and make Jennifer Holliday proud… end of story..
I wanna bet Jenny The contrary! Fantasia is a raw talent. Also I think you have to be a fan of soul/R&B music to appreciate her.
jennifer hudson is a much better choice for the role. although i agrre that a new face would be nice.
Change to signs to rip on Fantasia then if they don’t like it. It’s not like shes going to read it and get upset.
I agree with the person who said Tamyra Gray should be in the film. The only thing is, she isn’t plain looking enough, but she definitely has the pipes for it, and enough of a voice to blow Beyonce out of the water. As for the person who said that Effie is supposed to be fat….I suggest that you check out this article: http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/effie_white.htm
Effie doesn’t have to be overweight, Jennifer Holliday was, and that’s how people see the role.
FRENCHIE DAVIS!!!!
I saw her on stage (AS EFFIE) in the stage version of Dreamgirls and she was amazing. She has the look, personality, and voice to pull off the role.
If not Frenchie, then definitely Jennifer Hudson.
Having seen Dreamgirls on stage, I will say that Fantasia would ruin the movie! Her voice is awful (think Macy Gray but more grating) and I really doubt she can act–the girl can’t even read! And now her hometown is putting up billboards to support her and she is saying disparaging remarks about it–yeah, real classy there girl. I’d take Jennifer Husdon over Fantasia every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Please, don’t screw up this film by casting Fantasia!!!
The only thing I would want to see is Fantasia not speaking or singing. She is thisclose to becoming “Fantasia who?” and her book seems like a desperate ploy to stay in the news. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw her on “The Surreal Life,” as Jenny points out in a post farther down the page.
I’ve seen Dreamgirls 6 times, twice with jennifer Holliday. No way is Fantasia right for the role! True, Effie doesn’t have to be fat, but her portrayer needs a big voice like Jennifer Hudson or Frenchie Davis. Speaking of Jennifer, she should have won that season. It was a crime that she was sent home after giving by far the best performance the night before! Fantasia is my least favorite Idol winner. I do not want to see her in that film! If by some bizarre chance she does get cast, she’d better do an ultra amazing job, anything less won’t cut it!
Dream Fan, High Point put up those signs near the end of the season Fantasia won. It’s not like it’s doing her any good (hey everyone, Fantasia was born in this sh*tty little town, so please spend some money here).
Personally I think Frenchie would be awesome in the role. But I have to admire an idiot who tears someone down then claims the person isn’t “classy”. Dream honey – you don’t even know what the word means.
I was born in the hellhole that is High Point, but I still managed to learn to read and write, and I am now a full-time Editor (i.e., someone who specializes in the English language). It’s not all High Point’s fault, even if it is a dying city.
clearly, jamie foxx has lost his mind. i guess the oscar and the buzz from his new album has gone to his head. i love fantasia, but i don’t want to see her on the big screen. do we even know if she can act? similarily, do we know if tamyra or jennifer can act? let’s be real – it’s clear to me that the actresses in this movie have to be actors first, singers second. you can fake good singing, but you can’t fake good acting. jamie and beyonce get a pass because they seem to be able to do both (although i still think beyonce should really stick to yelling…er, singing). i say give it to an african-american actress. they’re so underrepresented in movies anyway. let’s give our girls a chance to shine.
I think Fantasia would be WONDERFUL! She can relate to the part emotionally and will tear it up!! Keep your head up Fantasia! Don’t mind these haters! God’s got yo back as always!
Fantasia would better suit the role of Lorell. After hearing Ms. Hudson on a recording of “Easy To Be Hard” from a bennefit recording of the musical “Hair”, I was convinced. Trust me…you should check out her powerhouse vocals.
FANTASIA IS SO PREFECT FOR THE ROLE EFFIE. WE HOPE HERE IN HOLLYWOOD THAT FANTASIA WILL GET THE ROLE. SHE’S IS VERY GOOD. GOD BLESS FANTASIA WE LOVE YOU!!
i would love to see Tamyra Gray in the film . she has performed And I Am Telling You on american idol as well as the H&M short film she did and she sounds incredible singing it . Tamyra has proven herself as a great actress on such tv shows as “Boston Public” and the recent film The Gospel as well as several other tv shows and a role on broadway as well.
I believe Fantasia has the soulful singing style of the old r&b singers from the 60’s and 70’s in which the film is set. On that note, I hope she can bring that same soul to acting. Anyway if you want to type cast based on the play, Then Frenchie would be a great choice as well. If you want to base on the Supremes in which it’s loosely based, than size isn’t an issue.
hot off the press…Jennifer Hudson has the role!
j-Hud got the role
i hope she gets a recording contract
i feel sorry for Fantasia though, she needed this
I think that Jennifer will be amazing as Effie. She has an amazing gift that should be shared. I thought she would win American Idol-don’t know what happened that night except that maybe all the big votes were shared between Jennifer, Fantasia and Latoya. It is a good thing Jennifer didn’t win because I think she now is on her way to become a Superstar!! I don’t think Fantasia deserves being slammed about her illiteracy. Maybe some of you could learn something about compassion and tolerance. Jennifer Hudson I pray that you blow America away when you sing “I am telling you that I’m not going”. God bless you.
Fantasia is not fit for the role of Effie in Dreamgirls. Her voice is different…R&B Daffy Duck style. Jennifer Hudson has the vocal range (and the classic tone) to sing such songs as I am telling you that Im not going.
Fantasia’s “duckie” style of voice is definately not for me…she should control her vocal when she hits the high notes…