Originally Posted by
BayouMotownMan
I think the saddest thing to me about all this was that going into the 1980s, and thereafter, the press pidgeon-hold Mary's stature. She had previously always entertained reporters interested in knowing about her efforts to keep the Supremes going and the press was eager to print Mary's criticism of Motown's treatment of her. Before 1973 I don't recall her saying anything bad about Motown, except that it was not the way it used to be
After being dropped from the label there was practically no interest in Mary from the press unless it was a story about Diana Ross. When Motown 25 happened and the infamous "shove," the press were once again ringing Mary's phone for comments about Diana Ross' behavior and diva lashings. None were interested that Mary was barely squeeking by, had lost her home and was pretty much ignored by the enterainment industry, the only industry Mary had ever worked in.
The shove incident gave Mary the incentive to write about The Supremes and go into detail about her relationship with Diana Ross. The book was an unexpected smash and Mary was once again booked onto the hot talk shows and news channels on tv. This resulted in Diana Ross cutting ties with her.
Mary knew how to work the press. When Diana appeared in LA on her Workin' Overtime tour Mary decided to attend opening night with her daughter [[Diana's godchild) in tow. Being turned away in front of reporters put the microphones in Mary's face again as the victim and Mary grabbed it, giving yet more negative press to Diana Ross.
In the last 35 years of Mary Wilson's life, regardless of what project Mary was trying to promote, there was rarely if ever a single interview where Mary was not asked about Diana Ross's temperament or if there would be a reunion. The RTL disaster only bolstered Mary's assertions about Diana Ross, but it didn't get Mary any record deals or better pay for her own Supremes tribute show. Finally in the last ten years or so of her life when asked about a reunion, Mary would respond with, "ask Diana." As sad as that is to me I have to admire Mary's resolve. She answered every Diana Ross question put before her no matter how tired she had gotten of giving the sames answers time and time again.
To a much lesser degree, the few times Cindy Birdsong was interviewed, even when trying to launch a ministry, she was always asked about Diana Ross's difficulties. Cindy usually took the high road, with Star Magazine in the 1990s turning an article about Cindy's planned autobiography into a smear piece. Cindy later told me she had been misquoted and did the piece so that she could have new photographs taken and try to get a publisher. Without meaning to or even being present, Diana ruined that. Her shadow looms large.
It's just sad that the media could never let Mary and Cindy just be Mary and Cindy without bringing Diana Ross into the mix every single time. How hard that must have been. Can you imagine?
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