Seems like Diana Ross screwed the pooch, again. And this time the pooch did not leave money on the nightstand, it made a new tell-all book. And guess what, you guys? Diana Ross was a bitch to work with. Like you didn’t know that.
Diana Ross may have been a Motown goddess, but she was a devil as a boss, according to a new bio.
“Most of the time, Diana’s emotional outbursts were about things that really didn’t matter much to anyone but her,” writes J. Randy Taraborrelli in his “Diana Ross,” out in September from Citadel Press.
The one-time Supreme fired her entire staff, for instance, after unflattering stories about her found their way into the papers. Not satisfied to stop there, Taraborelli says, she bad-mouthed eight of her former assistants in a letter.
“If I let an employee go, it’s because either their work or their personal habits are not acceptable to me,” wrote Ross. “I do not recommend these people. In fact, if you hear from these people and they use my name as a reference, I wish to be contacted.”
This is not even the half of it. Apparently Joan Tracee had something to do with it also, just for the fact that her mother was a crazy chick.
But it was personal assistant Michael Browne who hefted the heaviest load of Ross’ whims, Taraborelli says.
He put up with her then-9-year-old daughter, Tracee, who was known for carrying a notebook and pencil everywhere she went. If she saw one of Ross’ functionaries doing something she thought was wrong, she would quickly jot it down and later report it to her mother, says the author.
Just before Christmas one year, Ross flipped out when Browne failed at his task of hiding $100,000 worth of wrapped presents on a private jet Ross and her daughters were taking to Vegas.
“I thought I told you I didn’t want to see a single present,” hissed Ross when she spotted one under her then-8-year-old daughter Chudney’s seat. “Not one single present. … Is it so much to ask?”
Them Rosses be trippin’. That diva shit is a real turn-off too, that’s why she BOTHERS me. If it was the 70’s, I WOULDNOT smash.
Why I hate “people like you”…get a life and more importantly, “get a job”. Do you personally know Ms.Ross? Does Mr. Taraborrelli? I read Randy’s first book and I am just starting his second. In Mr. Taraborrelli’s first book, there are so many quotes from Ms. Ross that were taken from other magazines and interviews. Randy just took all articles printed about Ms. Ross and wrote his own book. I am a Diana/Supremes fan since 1963. I also remember Randy when he first started writing for a little newspaper (Soul Magazine) in the 60’s/70’s. I have every article on Ms. Ross, same as Randy. After reading Randy’s book, I thought, I can do this. All you have to do is twist the facts and use quotes from other interviews. I get so sick of people like you and Randy reporting on things you no nothing about. Is this what true journalism is? Write about Ms. Ross’ many accomplishments. Ms. Ross changed the face of music. No one ever writes about that. Ms. Ross not only opened doors for blacks but she was a true pioneer for women in music. Write about something noteworthy or find a real job. Sears is hiring???? I love you Ms. Ross….you reign Supreme.
Did you actually read the book, or were these excerpts just sent to you?
I’m guessing you didn’t read it, for two reasons. First, all the business about Diana being a difficult employer was detailed (at greater length, in fact) in Taraborelli last book on Diana, “Call Her Miss Ross”. So this is old news- she was criticized for the SAME stuff 18 years ago when the last book came out, so you’re grasping at straws with this ‘revelation’.
Secondly, had you read the book, you would know Taraborelli, if anything, provides stories like this ALONG with instances of of Ross’ generosity, and her warm relationship with her children. Don’t get me wrong, Diana Ross will never be confused with Mother Theresa, but to have certain individuals continue trying to make her out to be a monster is not only obviously untrue, it’s actually kind of old schtick now…
Oh Please this is such a stupid article and book. Randy j is such an idiot that all he can do is write the same crap over and over again. I have 14 employees in my Company and I demand excellent work from them, yes I am called diffficult, when my employees are not up to my standards, and I have to say I am blessed to have these 14 employees, but I know Im called names behind my back when I am not getting what I want done…after all I pay my employees a good salary and expect quality work from them…I am no different from Diana Ross and any other employer out there, I am sure Randy J has had his hissy fits too with people who work for him, but that is something he wont admit to, that he and, like I said a million other employees bosses are like. Diana is one of the Worlds Greatest Performers, with a caeere that has left her comtemporaries like Gladys, Mary Wilson etc……..trailing her in every way. Here is a quote from Aretha ” I Do not Know Diana Ross, But I admire Her Ambition” Diana is The Queen Of Divas and no one can ever take her place and if all these Diana bashers look into thier own back yard. they will find that she is human…like you and I.
Taraborelli jumped the bandwagon back in 1989 when everyone thought Whitney Houston was going to be the next Diana Ross. Where is Houston now; and where is Ross now?
Taraborelli is an obvious gay man with the appropriate temperment of any such…I, too, read his first book…nothing of any true value…except a sissy’s perception of a woman whom he would have liked to have been. Now, is is an old quean, and has mellowed …or actually, realised what an ass he was and doesn’t wish to remain…so now, he writes the book he should have written 18 years ago.
He is disliked by Ross because he betrayed her and is now sorry that she has endured regardless of what he wrote…while he lingers like a bad cold. He is the perfect example of the piss-poor Journalism of today…all melodrama criss-crossed with occassional facts intermingled with a bent perception of the truth.
Taraborelli is the perfect example of what happens when sexual orientation is allowed to usurpt intellect: he is nothing more than a Supreme fan who has never gotten over the fact that he, like Michael Jackson, wished he had been the lead singer, or at least, a member.
HEAR HEAR TO EJR – I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR TAKE ON J RANDY – I CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT HIM – HE STYLES HIMSELF AS “THE MOTOWN HISTORIAN.” PLEASE!!!!
I have to agree with everyone on their comments. I do know that Diana can be or was cold and calculating in her determination to get to where she is…but like anyone, who wants something they have to go after what it is that they want. The only difference with Diana’s situation is that she has proven that she deserves to be where she is. She has acted, sang, danced, modeled, wrote, directed, produced, runs her own companies and raised 5 children. I think J. Randy saw an opportunity, just like Ross and so many other people and went for it. Now whether people buy his book for the trash that it is only makes him more popular either in a good way or a bad way. Some may praise his work and some may not. Some may praise Diana’s work and some may not. The strength behind longevity is to be as good as you know you are, and in this instance Diana has proven she is way better than what she is. She a true talent and she has earned the title DIVA.
EJR, the next time you want to attack someone’s intellect, you should learn how to spell. For your future reference, you spell the following words like this: USURP, QUEEN & REALIZED. You could have also removed an extra is (and there was no need to capitalize the word jounalism) in one of your sentences, but I don’t want to be seen as a picky queen so I’ll let that one slide. As for your many references to Mr. Taraborrelli’s sexual orientation, I have found MANY times in life that those who crow the loudest about someone else doing a certain thing are probably guilty of same…or wish they could be. YOU sound like a closet queen probably on the DL who is making some poor woman (or women) miserable. Ever heard that saying, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”? Think about it. And to use a Diana Ross website(where you KNOW many gay men will be) to vent your obvious homophobic frustrations is suspicious all by itself. Just go out and be yourself, dude. It’s easier that way. No one cares if you want to be a Supreme. We all did (or do). That’s why books by Mr. Taraborrelli (among others) are so interesting. In the end, though, like Ross sang, “Love Is All That Matters”. Let your negative stuff (and judgments of others) go, be yourself, and you’ll be a happier person. Right now you sound angry and pitiful. I feel sorry for you. Now, go ahead, blast me away. Your angry, negative response is what I expect. It will prove my point, but will make my words no less true. Finally, any fan of Ross (or the Supremes) who slings all this mud at others is no real fan and no believer in the things she espouses. Find some joy, Toots. Life is too short!
I’ve read all of this guys books…..nothing new…all rehased stuff. I am sorry I purchased it. There was nothing new to read.
I wish he would stop trying to make a living off of this beautiful talented lady. God knows she has had ups and downs…we all have. Move on Randy, if you are going to write something about this truly beautiful woman, give us something new…
J. Randy Taraborrelli?????
Uh-uh.