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  1. #1

    Diana Ross Fan Encounters - Reach Out And Touch? Or Don't Touch!!!

    We all know that Diana Ross is a more private and less accessible person than the likes of Mary Wilson or Martha Reeves, just to name some, who enjoy[[ed) meeting their fans, so this makes me curious - how easy was it as a fan back in the 1970s/80s to actually have a quick meet-and-greet with Miss Ross? Would fans waiting by the backdoor of a concert venue manage to get a glimpse of her, would she spend 5 minutes chatting before rushing away in a limo? Has she allowed fans to meet her backstage? I am not passing judgement on her for having a different approach that the Mary's and Martha's of showbusiness, just genuinely curious how many fan encounters there are as it is rare to read about.

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    Great question, I'd be interested to hear about this as well! The Motown stars I've met in recent years have all been very nice accommodating people, but I'm sure I'll never have the opportunity of an interaction with Miss Ross, although it's been a dream for years.
    Darin

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    Great question! I bet fan access was like night and day between how much access fans had to her in the 70s vs the 80s. I believe I read somewhere that John Lennon's murder was a wake up call for a lot of celebrities. This may have been the turning point for a lot of the biggest stars.

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    That makes a lot of sense Ran, I'm sure after John's murder by the obsessed fan it left a lasting impression on his celebrity contemporaries which they've likely never forgotten. And we know today most celebs are pretty much untouchable with their private security details.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RanRan79 View Post
    Great question! I bet fan access was like night and day between how much access fans had to her in the 70s vs the 80s. I believe I read somewhere that John Lennon's murder was a wake up call for a lot of celebrities. This may have been the turning point for a lot of the biggest stars.
    You nailed this. According to Taraborrelli, Lennon's murder was a major turning point for Diana; after it happened, her "avert the eyes" edict for her staff started, allegedly.

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    True about the Lennon murders, but Diana Ross going as far back as the Supremes always limited her personal access to fans. This was encouraged by BG who told her by being mysterious she would become an enigma. Ross always used Barbra Streisand as a role model and Streisand was known to be difficult and unapproachable by fans. Also, having five kids, Ross wanted to do her show and then be whisked away ASAP to her family. She is known to sign an autograph here and there at airports and such if she is in the right mood but by and far ignores the fan and just keeps walking. You have to realize as well, Ross is a much bigger star than Wilson and Reeves. Have dozens of people wanting to meet and touch you after a show is vastly different than having throngs of such.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BayouMotownMan View Post
    True about the Lennon murders, but Diana Ross going as far back as the Supremes always limited her personal access to fans. This was encouraged by BG who told her by being mysterious she would become an enigma. Ross always used Barbra Streisand as a role model and Streisand was known to be difficult and unapproachable by fans. Also, having five kids, Ross wanted to do her show and then be whisked away ASAP to her family. She is known to sign an autograph here and there at airports and such if she is in the right mood but by and far ignores the fan and just keeps walking. You have to realize as well, Ross is a much bigger star than Wilson and Reeves. Have dozens of people wanting to meet and touch you after a show is vastly different than having throngs of such.
    Streisand has never been difficult and unapproachable to her fans. I know that from someone who worked with her for years.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ollie9 View Post
    Streisand has never been difficult and unapproachable to her fans. I know that from someone who worked with her for years.
    Never????? [[Sorry so many question marks. I got an error message saying the post had to be 10 characters) lol.

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    Quote Originally Posted by khansperac View Post
    Never????? [[Sorry so many question marks. I got an error message saying the post had to be 10 characters) lol.
    That’s what i was told, unless of course you know something i don’t. I met her once at an end of filming party for Yentl and she was lovely. The crew had all written a letter to the press to say how easy she was to work with.
    She is a perfectionist, but never diva like or rude.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BayouMotownMan View Post
    True about the Lennon murders, but Diana Ross going as far back as the Supremes always limited her personal access to fans. This was encouraged by BG who told her by being mysterious she would become an enigma. Ross always used Barbra Streisand as a role model and Streisand was known to be difficult and unapproachable by fans. Also, having five kids, Ross wanted to do her show and then be whisked away ASAP to her family. She is known to sign an autograph here and there at airports and such if she is in the right mood but by and far ignores the fan and just keeps walking. You have to realize as well, Ross is a much bigger star than Wilson and Reeves. Have dozens of people wanting to meet and touch you after a show is vastly different than having throngs of such.
    I'm pretty sure he encouraged Mary and Florence to do the same but they obviously didn't agree. I remember reading a quote from Flo where she says Berry was always criticizing her for making time for the fans and that's not how a "star" acts. And I'm pretty sure Mary faced the same criticism from him as well.

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    A family friend worked at a venue where Diana Ross performed in 2013. A nonprofit had hired her for a fundraiser, so it was sort of a one-off show for her. According to my friend, Diana Ross didn't want to meet the people who organized the fundraiser but eventually agreed to meet a handful of people. My friend also asked if she would sign a copy of the "diana" album for me, but was told by a manager that she wouldn't be signing anything.

    Nothing about her behavior seems particularly out of line, but my friend said she was one of the least accessible celebrities he had met in his 30 years working at the venue. That includes the likes of Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, etc.

    FWIW, I was fortunate enough to attend the show and thought Ms. Ross did an amazing job and fulfilled every obligation she'd been hired for.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ollie9 View Post
    Streisand has never been difficult and unapproachable to her fans. I know that from someone who worked with her for years.
    Correct. She does not appreciate her privacy being invaded, but she is usually civil and polite if approached in a respectful manner.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bluebrock View Post
    Correct. She does not appreciate her privacy being invaded, but she is usually civil and polite if approached in a respectful manner.
    I know you have worked with her Bluebrock, and i personally know others who have that all say the same.

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    I seem to recall one of the books quoting someone who knew Diana in the Brewster Projects day and the person saying in defense of Diana Ross that she was always rude, snooty and stuck up so stardom didn't change her in that regard as she was always like that.

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    If by chance I ever did come across Diana Ross in person I'd be disappointed and let down if she wasn't rude and haughty to me. She has a legendary reputation to maintain and I feel I'd hit paydirt if she came up to me, slapped me and roared "Avert your fucking eyes when you're in my presence!"

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    The one and only time I saw Diana in concert something happened that I thought was odd, but most likely staged. As she was taking her final bows [[and this was in an intimate 1,000 seat theater where everyone had a good view), a fan down front handed her a donut or pastry of some kind, and she took a bite out of it.

    i remember thinking at the time how dangerous that was, because how could she have known it was safe to eat? But I think it had something to do with a bakery that was helping to sponsor the show and that made me think it was likely something planned in advance.

    I have no personal knowledge of Diana and her approachability but Martha was delightful the time I met her. She stayed around and greeted fans for at least an hour after the show, and she and the Vandellas were only the "warm up act" for the Spinners. I got the idea that she would have talked for hours as long as there were people interested in talking to her.

    I also had a face to face with Dionne Warwick about 40 years ago, and even though I caught her off guard at a private event [[a graduation) she was accommodating at least in terms of giving an autograph. I was scared to even approach her because I had heard she could be difficult, but it was a businesslike interaction of no more than 15 seconds, not a friendly chat. Besides as nervous as I was, all I wanted to do was get my autograph and run!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spreadinglove21 View Post
    If by chance I ever did come across Diana Ross in person I'd be disappointed and let down if she wasn't rude and haughty to me. She has a legendary reputation to maintain and I feel I'd hit paydirt if she came up to me, slapped me and roared "Avert your fucking eyes when you're in my presence!"
    She’s a grand old lady now, so best prepare for a letdown.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Thornton View Post
    A family friend worked at a venue where Diana Ross performed in 2013. A nonprofit had hired her for a fundraiser, so it was sort of a one-off show for her. According to my friend, Diana Ross didn't want to meet the people who organized the fundraiser but eventually agreed to meet a handful of people. My friend also asked if she would sign a copy of the "diana" album for me, but was told by a manager that she wouldn't be signing anything.

    Nothing about her behavior seems particularly out of line, but my friend said she was one of the least accessible celebrities he had met in his 30 years working at the venue. That includes the likes of Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, etc.

    FWIW, I was fortunate enough to attend the show and thought Ms. Ross did an amazing job and fulfilled every obligation she'd been hired for.
    See that's the kind of stuff that puts me off someone. Why wouldn't you want to meet the event organizers? The hell is she afraid of? That one of them might ask her what she thought of Flo's "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It"?

    Love the lady, but she does need to get over herself sometimes. That goes for the other legends in the game who act like that as well. We the fans have so much reverence for them and what they've meant to our lives, but some of these folks don't seem to have the same level of respect for the fact that without us [[a) Nobody knows their names, and [[b) they don't have all that money and stuff if not for the money we spent on their crap.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spreadinglove21 View Post
    If by chance I ever did come across Diana Ross in person I'd be disappointed and let down if she wasn't rude and haughty to me. She has a legendary reputation to maintain and I feel I'd hit paydirt if she came up to me, slapped me and roared "Avert your fucking eyes when you're in my presence!"
    I'm not sure I could approach her, because if it did go left, I'd be so heartbroken. I could see me now, tears in my eyes, trying to figure out how to handle being disrespected by someone I have loved so much.

    "Florence Ballard died for your sins!" I scream in retaliation, tears rolling down my cheeks, as I run away from my heartbreaker, throwing in her face the only thing sure to hurt her as much as she hurt me.

    And scene.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RanRan79 View Post
    I'm not sure I could approach her, because if it did go left, I'd be so heartbroken. I could see me now, tears in my eyes, trying to figure out how to handle being disrespected by someone I have loved so much.

    "Florence Ballard died for your sins!" I scream in retaliation, tears rolling down my cheeks, as I run away from my heartbreaker, throwing in her face the only thing sure to hurt her as much as she hurt me.

    And scene.
    Now perhaps you can understand why i said nothing when witnessing her screaming at a group of children to go away in a London Park.
    It’s extremely difficult when you have idolised someone most of your life, who’s music is very much a part of you.

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    Many years ago, my uncle, who was a professional drummer at the Inn On The Park hotel in London, found himself in a lift there with Diana. He said she was smiley and gave off a positive vibe. However, his overriding memory of the event was her beauty.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RanRan79 View Post
    See that's the kind of stuff that puts me off someone. Why wouldn't you want to meet the event organizers? The hell is she afraid of? That one of them might ask her what she thought of Flo's "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It"?

    Love the lady, but she does need to get over herself sometimes. That goes for the other legends in the game who act like that as well. We the fans have so much reverence for them and what they've meant to our lives, but some of these folks don't seem to have the same level of respect for the fact that without us [[a) Nobody knows their names, and [[b) they don't have all that money and stuff if not for the money we spent on their crap.
    Yeah, hearing about her behavior definitely put me off at the time, but in hindsight, I wasn't actually there to witness all the particulars that were going on backstage. It is weird she would be reluctant to meet the people who paid her to be there, but again, I wasn't actually there.

  23. #23
    All people and performers are different, in terms of their preferences and personalities. I seem to remember reading over the years that Diana likes to have her own quiet time before a performance, so perhaps that may explain her not being willing to meet with others before a show. She has always been more standoffish and aloof. A similar thing happened to me when I volunteered at a gala that Thelma Houston was performing at. My partner's organization had put on the gala and I knew I would have the opportunity to meet her. What I didn't realize was that my opportunity would be so brief. She came into the hotel and was immediately being briefed and guided by her handler for the event. I went over to her in the lobby to say a quick hello and to let her know I am a huge fan. She was friendly, but I didn't engage with her further than that, as I could see she was busy and I thought perhaps I would have another opportunity later in the evening. That opportunity never came, despite her putting on a great show. I was told that her preference/rider stated she was to stay in her hotel room leading up to the show. I had brought an album of hers that I had intended to ask her to autograph, but I knew that it was not the appropriate time to bombard her with an autograph, when I quickly met her upon her arrival. I don't think Diana is all that different from Thelma, in terms of how she navigates the world as a performer. If it was me, I would want to meet and thank people, when appropriate, but I can understand that everyone has their reasons to not engage, whether that be their own preferred boundaries when it comes to their fans, or wanting to prepare in silence before a performance, etc.

    I also understand that everyone has a bad day from time to time. Unfortunately when I met Martha Reeves for the first time, my experience was not a positive one. She was attending Mary Wilson's show in 2012 at the Motorcity Casino. I had heard there was drama between Martha and Mary earlier in the week, and Martha was not in good spirits. She initially snapped at me when I went over to her to say hello and asked for an autograph. Seeing my surprised reaction to her behaviour and the reaction of those around her, she eventually changed her tone...

    I saw Martha the very next day giving a tour at the Motown Museum to her friends, at the same time we were having our public tour, and she was all smiles and very charming.

    I will always be a fan of hers and continue to support her, but it's hard when you look up to someone and expect a certain standard of behaviour, and they may fall short, because you may discover that they are flawed and human, like the rest of us. Like my friend used to say, "If you're going to put yourself in situations where you want to wait near that stage door, you better be prepared for whatever might come out...good or bad."

    That being said, artists should always be mindful of and gracious to their fans, but I would also imagine that no matter how hard you try to do that, after 50 years of hearing, "You're amazing!! Please, can I have your autograph?!" You may eventually take that for granted and have a bad day, and you ending up responding to that fan with a, "How dare you!!"
    Last edited by carlo; 05-08-2023 at 01:45 PM.

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    I see your point Carlo, as far as needing space. I don't believe there's ever an excuse to be rude or mean though. I love Martha, but I shudder to think what my response to her would have been had I been in your shoes. It could've gotten real "live wire"d up in there.

  25. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by Ollie9 View Post
    Now perhaps you can understand why i said nothing when witnessing her screaming at a group of children to go away in a London Park.
    It’s extremely difficult when you have idolised someone most of your life, who’s music is very much a part of you.
    I do remember reading that recollection of yours somewhere on this forum. That really must have been off-putting.

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    Quote Originally Posted by soren1974 View Post
    I do remember reading that recollection of yours somewhere on this forum. That really must have been off-putting.
    This was during the 90’s when i lived opposite a London Park. Oddly enough, i wasn’t totally horrified as i knew of her reputation,being more amazed that young kids would even know who she was at that point in time.
    I guess like many celebrities it all depends on the day.

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