But did he really say that? And if so, what was his point? Because surely he wouldn't have given her that option thinking she was really going to say "okay, I've had enough" and let her walk. Who was taking her place? And again, he was the boss. If he really wanted her gone when he supposedly made those comments, why wouldn't he instead just say "Yo Flo, you're out"? Remember, Gordy had an antagonistic relationship with Florence. He poked, she bit, rinse and repeat. It was a game with him. He played similar mental games with Diana and Mary, he just came at them in different ways, and of course he didn't want Diana or Mary out of the group either. [[And by Diana out of the group, I mean straight up fired, not the plans for the solo career.)
I am not at all disputing that Gordy had contempt for Florence. I just don't believe he was jumping at the chance to rock the boat in order to get some satisfaction in firing Florence. Why bring her back the first time? Why not just bring in Marlene until Cindy could become permanent? And again, why let Flo record with the Supremes if she was merely a stand-in for Cindy? Both Flo and Mary had been replaced by the Andantes on occasion, and no one would ever have to know that Cindy started recording with Mary before her contract situation was taken care of.
To me all the evidence points to Flo's trial period, being just that, a trial period. If it worked, great, if it didn't, heeeeerrrrrreeeeesssss Cindy!
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