My life is over.
You know the expression: be careful what you wish for.
You just might get it.
Well, the members of Destiny's
Child wish for fame, and they
got it.
Perhaps more than they expected.
Everything they do or say is
reported twisted than reported
again.
Something I experienced
firsthand when part of my
interview was released to the
news media, and one particular
item got more than slightly
misconstrued.
But more on that later.
I want to thank the girls for getting up at five in the
morning, for what turned into a very revealing and inside look
at Destiny's Child phenomenon.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning.
I'm so excited because this is really for me.
Good morning.
I'm so excited because this is really for me.
Because I'm a fan.
Thank you.
Because I'm a fan.
Thank you.
What is the last year been like for you guys?
The last year has truly been a blessing for Destiny's Child.
Um, the process from The
Writing's on the wall, the end
of The Writing's on the wall and
Two Independent Women, which is
a phenomenal success for
Destiny's Child and now into
survivor.
It's really been a beautiful thing, seeing how Destiny's
Child is progressing and just the success is building and our
popularity is building.
Our fan base has grown.
We have dolls out now.
It's just absolutely a blessing.
It's been an amazing year.
No kidding.
Two thousand and one was a record breaker for Destiny's
Child, more than making up for the year before.
That was when the group lost three members, fought off
lawsuits, and was pegged in the press as manufactured.
But Destiny's Child literally regrouped and roared back.
In two thousand and one, the girls headlined a world tour.
They signed lucrative
endorsement deals Their faces
graced dozens of magazine
covers.
They took home a couple Grammys.
Released a Christmas album and, well, you get the idea.
Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland
and Michelle Williams were
everywhere.
Do you guys ever get tired?
Yeah, we get tired.
You know, sometimes people are
like, oh, what's wrong with her
hair?
Well, why is she looking like that?
Why is she asking the question like that?
Um, maybe because we got two hours of sleep and we had twenty
minutes to get ready for thirty.
Wake up call.
Not finished until about twelve o'clock at night.
We get tired, but I think, um, we're one of the best groups at
being professional and knowing that, you know, we got to work
and it's just a part of the job.
And we we do a lot of things
that most people at our level
would be like, no, I ain't doing
it.
That's why you always see us on so many things, because we know
that the harder you work, the more successful you'll be.
And the more press you will get.
At times, it seems like every
appearance by Destiny's Child
turns into a battle to get to
the truth.
The two members that aren't with
us tonight, these are the three
members.
What do you mean?
Next question please.
People do have judgments of you before they meet you, before
they know you.
Even us being female, a female group.
People expect us to be arguing.
People expect us to be fighting over who sits in the middle, who
sings the lead.
They want that drama.
That's not what goes on in this group.
It's so much love in this group.
It's really unfortunate.
They want to keep concentrating and talk about why, you know,
one person does this and why.
You know, they just want to get in the middle and make it
something that is not.
That's because unfortunately
people will thrive off of
negativity.
They want to see that.
That's entertaining.
Unfortunately, you know, people don't find it as amusing to see
three people getting along as they do drama.
So they'll make the drama.
They'll create the drama if
there's no drama in front of
him.
I saw firsthand how drama seems to find Destiny's Child.
him.
I saw firsthand how drama seems to find Destiny's Child.
Here's what happened.
I asked what was up next.
It seemed like an innocent enough question, but what the
girls revealed made headlines.
Well, Destiny's Child has put out four albums in four years,
which is unbelievable.
That doesn't happen a lot.
And we've been working Kelly and I since we were nine, nonstop.
I think Destiny's Child, we're going to take a little break.
Take a little break.
I think Destiny's Child, we're going to take a little break.
Take a little break.
Who knew those four words would cause such, well, drama?
I'll have the rest of that story later on.
But first, when we come back revealing home video of D.C.
boot camp and how turmoil surrounding the group nearly
ripped apart Beyoncé's family, and later, the inside story of
the missing members.
Is impossible to fake in front, in front of the camera.
the missing members.
Is impossible to fake in front, in front of the camera.
You can only do that for so long.
Welcome back to revealed I'm Jules Asner.
Destiny's child is the best
selling female group in the
world.
That success is a family affair that was in the works before
Beyoncé Knowles was even born.
The story of Destiny's Child
begins in Houston in the
seventies.
Beyoncé's father, Mathew, was a salesman at Xerox and her
mother, Tina, was styling hair.
Their first daughter, Beyoncé, was born in nineteen eighty one.
Now Beyoncé, how old were you when you first knew you wanted
to be a performer?
We all loved music in my mother's womb.
to be a performer?
We all loved music in my mother's womb.
My father played music with the
earphones on, on the stomach and
sang to me every night when I
was one.
I couldn't stand up around one.
Whatever.
Whatever that age is, I'm holding on to whatever I can and
just looking like I'm gonna k*ll myself dancing so hard.
Beyoncé's younger sister, Solange.
She was always a quiet kid.
I mean.
She was always a quiet kid.
I mean.
I was always the loud one, and she was always the quiet one.
I don't remember her being crazy, but she definitely wanted
to be a singer.
First time I found out that she
to be a singer.
First time I found out that she
had a gift was on a talent show
that she did, and she competed
against kids that were up to
fifteen.
And of course, we didn't really know what to expect.
She was really a shy and quiet kid, but when she got on the
And of course, we didn't really know what to expect.
She was really a shy and quiet kid, but when she got on the
stage, she just bubbled.
And this personality that Tina and I hadn't seen came out.
She was really good.
And this personality that Tina and I hadn't seen came out.
She was really good.
She got a standing ovation and
she came back to her seat and
told me that she was ready to
get her trophy and her money and
go home.
And that was very funny because
I was like, you don't know if
you won, so be quiet and sit
here.
Beyoncé did win that day.
here.
Beyoncé did win that day.
Eventually, she took first place
in more than thirty talent
shows.
Beyoncé joined several song and dance groups.
No.
Beyoncé joined several song and dance groups.
No.
Ha ha ha ha!
Baby, you.
Here.
Tina helped create costumes and style hair for the kids.
In nineteen ninety one, ten year
old Colandrea Kelly Rowland
joined one of the groups and the
family.
Her mom worked in homes keeping kids and was having difficulties
getting Kelly back and forth to rehearsal and asked if Kelly
could live with us for a short period, and that short period
became about twelve years.
Although Kelly was never
formally adopted, she and
Beyoncé became more than best
friends.
They became family.
What do you guys think when you see that old footage of you
dancing in the living.
Room, embarrassed.
dancing in the living.
Room, embarrassed.
Oh so cringe.
Room, embarrassed.
Oh so cringe.
Very embarrassed.
My hair was terrible.
My hair was wrong.
Oh, they don't have.
I love seeing them tapes.
Oh no. No.
Terrible.
We did well, I didn't know how to dress.
It was we were wrong.
Bad phase.
So they weren't all that stylish.
The girls did work hard and it paid off.
In nineteen ninety two, the
group then known as Girls Time
nailed an audition for a TV
talent show.
One of your very first things you ever did was Star Search.
Tell me about that.
We were all so excited.
Tell me about that.
We were all so excited.
We actually met Ed McMahon before the show.
He came in and wished us good luck.
Hi, ladies.
Speaker 9: Welcome, fiance. Latvia, Nina, Nicky, Kelly and Ashley.
Speaker 9: The hip hop rapping girls time.
He's the reason why I've got a smile on my face.
Speaker 9: Girls time receives three stars.
We end up losing.
And I remember the pain that we felt backstage.
It was so.
It was sad.
It wasn't even 30s before we started crying.
So we're thinking nobody's ever
gonna sign us now cause we lost
on TV.
Matthew saw the girls
disappointment, but he also
recognized opportunity.
I talked to the producers on the
show and they said, Matthew, you
know, what most acts do is they
go back, make changes,
rededicate themselves.
And that's exactly what we did.
Matthew Knowles was a believer.
And that's exactly what we did.
Matthew Knowles was a believer.
He quit his job as one of Xerox's top salespeople to
manage girls time.
We really believed in them from the very beginning.
manage girls time.
We really believed in them from the very beginning.
And anything your kids want to pursue and is positive, you will
do everything necessary to make that happen for them.
Coming up.
Wait a minute.
Destiny nearly becomes disaster.
Wait a minute.
Destiny nearly becomes disaster.
All of a sudden, all the pressure was on me to, um, to
pay the bills.
Welcome back to Destiny's Child revealed I'm Jules Asner.
In nineteen ninety two, Mathew Knowles watched his daughter's
singing group, Girls Time, Lose, on Star Search.
Gambling on Beyoncé's talent
Matthew quit his sales job and
enrolled in music, business and
public speaking classes at a
community college.
Well, to show y'all that we're not doing no Milli Vanilli,
we're going to kick a little something like this.
Hit it girl.
So Matthew took over as manager of his daughter's group.
Hit it girl.
So Matthew took over as manager of his daughter's group.
Knowles was determined to do right by the girls.
People always talk about your dad's influence, and they try to
insinuate somehow that, like, he really pushed you for this.
He saw the hunger that was there, and he was like, I see
insinuate somehow that, like, he really pushed you for this.
He saw the hunger that was there, and he was like, I see
these girls want to work, so I'm going to help them, you know?
That's why he gave up his job.
He risked the communication with his family and everything.
I mean, you don't run into a lot of people like that at all.
We were very blessed that God sent Matthew into the whole
Destiny's Child history.
Matthew took his cue from Berry
Gordy, the legendary founder of
Motown Records.
Knowles modeled the girls on classic groups like the Supremes
and Martha and the Vandellas.
Over a three year period,
Matthew auditioned dozens of
girls.
He was determined to build a better girl group.
I called it my summer camp.
He was determined to build a better girl group.
I called it my summer camp.
Three summers the ladies came
lived at our home the whole
entire summer.
Early in the morning, we, um, we went jogging.
entire summer.
Early in the morning, we, um, we went jogging.
They would sing while they were jogging.
Early in the morning, we, um, we went jogging.
They would sing while they were jogging.
All the girls working outside in the heat.
They would sing while they were jogging.
All the girls working outside in the heat.
All the girls running the tracks on the bayou.
They would come back, take choreography classes.
All the girls running the tracks on the bayou.
They would come back, take choreography classes.
All the girls keep doing the
They would come back, take choreography classes.
All the girls keep doing the
same routine over and over and
over.
And we had a deck that my father
built outside, which was like a
stage.
And we had mikes, and we were
rehearsing over and over and
over.
And then we'd do the media
over.
And then we'd do the media
training that I took classes
for, and we would then look at
tapes and we would look at
Whitney Houston.
Mariah, question, what are we singing about?
Whitney Houston.
Mariah, question, what are we singing about?
What is this song about?
They go back, do dance rehearsal again.
Over and over and over again.
They go back, do dance rehearsal again.
Over and over and over again.
And that was the day.
Over and over and over again.
And that was the day.
We had a lot of fun.
And that was the day.
We had a lot of fun.
We were some crazy little kids.
Workaholic kids.
Well.
And we had fun.
There was a hidden prize for their lofty ambitions.
And we had fun.
There was a hidden prize for their lofty ambitions.
All the time and money Matthew devoted to girls.
Time strained his marriage to Tina.
I was used to my husband making six figures.
And all of a sudden, all the pressure was on me to, uh, to
pay the bills.
And it seems as though he didn't realize that all of a sudden our
income was cut in half.
So we actually sold our home because we're about to lose our
income was cut in half.
So we actually sold our home because we're about to lose our
home, quite frankly.
Tina moved into an apartment,
and I moved into an apartment
for a short period, two
different apartments, and we
struggled to to renew our
marriage.
But what tore them apart also helped reunite the family.
marriage.
But what tore them apart also helped reunite the family.
I mean, the focus of our kids brought us back together and the
But what tore them apart also helped reunite the family.
I mean, the focus of our kids brought us back together and the
fact that we loved each other.
We have been together by then, fifteen years or so.
So you don't just let that go.
By nineteen ninety five, Matthew selected what he thought was the
So you don't just let that go.
By nineteen ninety five, Matthew selected what he thought was the
final lineup for the group.
Beyoncé, Kelly, Latavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett.
I just want to tell you that we've been working really hard
on our vocals.
Well, we've been doing good.
Well, if it wasn't for Joe
Jackson here, we wouldn't have
been anywhere.
The girls tried several different names, something fresh
been anywhere.
The girls tried several different names, something fresh
cliche and the dolls.
The group adopted its current name when Tina found an early
picture of the children in her Bible, and the word destiny
caught her attention.
Destiny's child was born.
The children.
Of the world.
The children.
Of the world.
Reach.
Out.
Reach.
Out.
The girls rehearsed or performed every day.
No stage was too small, including Tina's Beauty Salon,
appropriately named headliners.
That gave them a lot of confidence.
And sometimes the clients liked it, and sometimes they didn't.
But they didn't have a choice.
In late nineteen ninety five, a talent scout signed Destiny's
But they didn't have a choice.
In late nineteen ninety five, a talent scout signed Destiny's
Child to Elektra Records for their first video.
The little girls from Houston were transformed into four
surprisingly sexy fourteen and fifteen year olds.
But the single flopped and an album was never produced.
We finally got the deal.
But the single flopped and an album was never produced.
We finally got the deal.
We got dropped with Elektra.
Then that was another thing.
We thought, okay, our life is over.
They just really hadn't really
honed in on their skills yet,
and they really didn't
understand still the necessary
personal sacrifices they had to
make to really become great at
this.
Matthews scrambled to keep the
girls from losing faith and
focus.
His determination salvaged a
nearly disastrous audition for
Columbia Records.
The ladies were singing a
Columbia Records.
The ladies were singing a
cappella, and right in the
middle I stopped and I said, you
know, guys, yesterday I told you
guys you shouldn't go swimming,
but, you know, you made the
decision.
And so the consequence of that
decision is today your horse and
you're not focused like you
should be.
And so they got refocused and then they started back the song
and they nailed it.
Columbia executives had
and they nailed it.
Columbia executives had
confidence in Matthew's group
and signed the girls one week
after they were dropped by
Elektra.
Destiny's child released its self-titled debut album in
nineteen ninety seven.
Sales were slow.
The track no, no, No was remixed
by Red hot performer producer
Wyclef Jean.
The single was sent to radio stations and caught fire.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
You say no no no no no. But it's really why you sing when you
know you really want it.
Vibe magazine editor in chief Emil Wilbekin.
know you really want it.
Vibe magazine editor in chief Emil Wilbekin.
You know, in the beginning, it's like with every new group, you
Vibe magazine editor in chief Emil Wilbekin.
You know, in the beginning, it's like with every new group, you
kind of watch.
Yeah, they're really beautiful.
But the fact that Wyclef had
taken an interest in these
women, you know, obviously made
us pay more attention than we
normally would.
The album eventually went platinum, but there was very
little buzz on the group.
It seemed Destiny's Child was headed to one hit, Wonderland.
Matthew realized if one hot producer equaled one hit, why
not get more hot?
Producers for their sophomore album?
Knowles took the girls up with top R&B producers like Rodney
Jerkins, Jermaine Dupri and rapper Missy Elliott.
Dealing with Beyoncé vocally, she was always sounding like
somebody that had control.
They basically knew what they
somebody that had control.
They basically knew what they
wanted to go at all times and
the way the group was supposed
to sound.
The timing was perfect also.
to sound.
The timing was perfect also.
There was no girl group with edge out.
It was needed at the time and
then they had good songs to
follow.
The producers created more up
tempo party tracks for the new
album.
Beyoncé and the girls worked on the lyrics.
I thought it was important that the ladies got more involved in
Beyoncé and the girls worked on the lyrics.
I thought it was important that the ladies got more involved in
the writing of their songs.
I mean, let's face it, who can write a song more about a female
than a female?
The album The Writing's on the
than a female?
The album The Writing's on the
wall came out in nineteen ninety
nine.
The CD was filled with songs about strong women.
The video for their first single, bills, bills, Bills, was
set in a hair salon.
A tribute to Beyoncé's mother.
Pay my bills.
Can't pay my telephone bills, pay my bills.
And maybe we could chill.
I could give you do do do do you?
The song shot to number one, but some critics claimed the girls
were male bashing.
There's a major difference in
were male bashing.
There's a major difference in
male bashing versus female
empowerment.
If you listen to those songs, it very clearly says, if you use my
credit card, then pay my bill.
If you use my car, then put gas in it.
I don't think that's wrong.
My wife makes makes it clear that I do that every day.
Outwardly, the girls presented a
united front to the world, but
behind the scenes tension was
building.
When we got about fifteen,
sixteen, you know, that's when
you become teenager and you have
your issues.
And that's when we realized that we were becoming different
people, and it was two people and two people.
And to make a long story short, when you're in a group and you
want to be successful, it's impossible to be successful when
you can't get along.
And being in a singing group is like a marriage.
You wake up, see each other, and for twelve, fourteen, sometimes
eighteen hours out of the day, you're with each other.
It's impossible to fake in front, in front of the camera.
You can only do that for so long.
You feel like a liar?
Yes.
And eventually your harmonies.
They don't sound as tight.
Everything starts, you know, the
group is sacrificed and that's
what happened.
And, um, it was really, really
sad, really disappointing,
really devastating.
The disharmony came to a head in
really devastating.
The disharmony came to a head in
December of nineteen ninety
nine, when Mathew Knowles
received a letter from lawyers
for Latavia Roberson and LeToya
Luckett demanding their own
separate managers.
But what Latavia and LaToya
didn't realize was that their
days in Destiny's Child were
numbered.
Coming up, breaking up is hard to do, really.
In reality, some people are just not meant to be together.
Coming up, breaking up is hard to do, really.
In reality, some people are just not meant to be together.
In December nineteen ninety
nine, Destiny's Child was facing
a crisis.
Lawyers for members Latavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett sent
a letter to Mathew Knowles terminating their management
agreement with him.
Although the exact reason for the split is unclear.
One thing was certain Latavia
and LaToya were out of Destiny's
Child.
I was, I was disappointed, I felt angry because I did work my
butt off for them.
And so I was also really angry because attorneys, which are not
my favorite people, they can really screw up a lot of stuff.
We tried everything to prevent
my favorite people, they can really screw up a lot of stuff.
We tried everything to prevent
having to to no longer be
together.
We tried psychologist.
We tried, um, church, everything you could possibly think of.
But really, in reality, some
people are just not meant to be
together.
And God has his will and his will will be done.
So you and me are through.
And God has his will and his will will be done.
So you and me are through.
Oh, they were devastated.
I mean, when we first got the
letter, I literally had to go in
and pick Beyoncé up out of the
bed.
I mean, like, pick her up and say, you know, get up.
Because that's somebody that
you've been with since you were
ten.
And not only did they love those
girls, we loved them too,
because they've been around my
house since they were ten and we
were like a family, so it was
devastating.
I first called Beyoncé and Kelly
devastating.
I first called Beyoncé and Kelly
because it's ultimately their
decision.
I'm not a member of Destiny's
Child, so it was their decision
as to what the new direction
would be.
And then I finally got Beyoncé.
would be.
And then I finally got Beyoncé.
After the second week to say, we're going to fight, we're
going to get up, we're going to find some new girls, we're going
to get on the plane, we're going to go to schools, we're going to
go to malls.
I mean, we went to malls, we went to schools.
We just talked to everybody to try to find the girls because
that's what they decided they wanted to do.
That direction had to be decided quickly.
The group was booked for
appearances, and the video sh**t
for their next single, Say My
Name, was less than three weeks
away.
A frantic search began for two new members.
Dancer singer Farrah Franklin
appeared as an extra in the
girls video for bills, bills,
bills.
Tony Williams knew the girls
from the concert circuit when
she was a backup singer for
Monica.
She always was ready to work,
and that's why I think she would
make a perfect member of
Destiny's Child, because they
have to meet so many different
obligations.
Yeah, I was nervous, very nervous.
obligations.
Yeah, I was nervous, very nervous.
I hadn't danced and I took dance.
I went to a creative and performing arts high school.
But when it came time to dance,
I chose to sell the tickets for
the show.
Tina and Matthew gave the new
girls quick makeovers to ease
them into the group and broaden
their appeal.
Farrah was sent to a tanning salon to achieve a darker look.
Tan was also asked to go by her middle name, Michelle.
We spent a Sunday morning after
church from like one o'clock
till two o'clock in the morning,
changing hair colors and doing
arching eyebrows and, you know,
just doing a lot of things to
come up with a different look
for them.
When I went to Houston, I learned the routine for Say My
for them.
When I went to Houston, I learned the routine for Say My
Name, and I went home to Rockford, Illinois, and I got,
you know, I had a long length mirror and I would rehearse in
my grandmother's bedroom.
But no amount of rehearsal or
cosmetic changes could hide the
fact that they were different
girls.
What's up with Destiny's Child?
So sh**ting the video for Say My Name became quite a challenge.
The girls came up with this idea.
So sh**ting the video for Say My Name became quite a challenge.
The girls came up with this idea.
Let's sit on the sofa and then we're going to just pose.
So on the count of the beat, the
director kept going, bam bam,
bam!
And it was really something that just happened there on the spot.
It wasn't planned, but it was one of those creative things
that just turned out to be a stroke of genius.
My name, say my name, say my
name is around you say, baby, I
love you.
You ain't running.
Say my name, say my name.
kinda shady and calling me baby.
When I was in the studio, I
kinda shady and calling me baby.
When I was in the studio, I
didn't see any signs of anything
wrong or whatever, but by the
time my song came out, it was a
different group.
By the time my single came out, it was a total different group
on the video.
So it was like, whoa, what happened?
The eye catching video helped Say My Name become the group's
So it was like, whoa, what happened?
The eye catching video helped Say My Name become the group's
biggest single yet.
The song spent a month at number one.
Turning drama into dollars became a Destiny's Child
trademark, but Destiny's Child boot camp proved too much for
newcomer Farrah Franklin.
She was absent from a series of promotional engagements and a
tour of Australia.
Farrah also posed for the cover of the Art of makin, a sort of
how to manipulate Women manual.
Definitely not the girl power
message Destiny's Child was
known for.
Five months after joining the
group, Farrah was out now a
trio.
The girls felt they finally found the right combination.
This is Destiny's Child forever and ever and ever.
It has made us stronger.
And it's brought definitely an angel to our lives.
And without Michelle, we wouldn't be who we are.
We wouldn't be this successful.
Thank God it's over now.
And everything happens.
Everything happens for a reason.
In March of two thousand, Latavia and LaToya filed a
Everything happens for a reason.
In March of two thousand, Latavia and LaToya filed a
lawsuit against the group.
That suit was eventually settled out of court.
Speaker 18: Do you have a sense of closure about everything?
Well, actually, I talked to the
ladies, um, before everything
happened.
I know there were rumors about
them not knowing and all of that
bull.
It's bull.
We talked, and I told them I
loved them, and I wished them
the best.
And, um, I said if I ever did anything, I apologize.
And there are no hard feelings and that was my closure.
The girl spent the summer of two thousand touring as the opening
act for Christina Aguilera.
By the fall, Destiny's Child was popular enough to headline on
their own, but the gig was almost over before it began.
I broke two of my toes.
their own, but the gig was almost over before it began.
I broke two of my toes.
Unfortunately, we just finished
the tour with Christina
Aguilera.
There was no lighting backstage, so I couldn't see there was a
ramp in my way.
On the way to the quick change booth.
So they needed someone to.
Fill in for it and they were going to get a dancer.
So they needed someone to.
Fill in for it and they were going to get a dancer.
And since I was already dancing for them and I already knew that
part, they were like, salons, you can do it.
And I'm like, really, I can?
She did, but there was no way Kelly was going to give up her
spot on stage.
Now that shows a survivor to me.
Someone sitting on the side of the stage with a cast on we
rhinestoned the cast.
So it's like bling bling.
And she's still singing.
And Kelly, like, just pulled it off so good because she's
already so like so she's like, can you pay my bills?
And sitting down with her blink, blink acid.
During the tour, the girls
And sitting down with her blink, blink acid.
During the tour, the girls
worked on material for their
next album.
Execs at Columbia heard a song
written by Beyoncé called
Independent Women.
They snatched it up for the Charlie's Angels soundtrack.
Destiny's child recorded the
song with a little angel flair
or independent.
Throw your hands up at me.
or independent.
Throw your hands up at me.
All the honeys making money, your hands up at me.
The movie was a huge hit and the song became an anthem.
Billboard magazine reported that Independent Women was played on
radio more times in a single week than any other song in
history, but the girls barely had time to enjoy their success.
They were already back in the studio working on their first
album as a trio.
No doubt about it, two thousand
and one was going to be a make
or break year for Destiny's
Child.
Coming up.
The selling of Destiny's child.
Everywhere you look, there was Destiny's Child, and you just
kind of got the sense that it was too much.
And later, the girls get in on the joke.
kind of got the sense that it was too much.
And later, the girls get in on the joke.
She had me.
And later, the girls get in on the joke.
She had me.
Big ups to my pops.
Cause he banked me.
By two thousand and one, Destiny's Child was a downsized
group of divas grilled by the media wherever they went.
It seems that the girls had a lot to prove, and they did just
that on Grammy night in February of two thousand and one.
It was unbelievable that night.
Um, I think I was so nervous I couldn't speak.
And it was kind of like, that was the night we proved
ourselves and, um, the people in the audience, um, it seemed like
everybody I looked at was looking like, entertain me.
Like, what are you gonna do?
everybody I looked at was looking like, entertain me.
Like, what are you gonna do?
Yes, exactly.
Like, what are you gonna do?
Yes, exactly.
But when we got.
When the music started and we
did our little silhouette
routine, it just everything
calmed down.
And then all of that nervousness turned into fire.
Fire.
Destiny's child took home two
awards, best R&B Song and Best
R&B performance by a duo or
Group for the single Say My
Name.
The Grammys gave much needed validation to a group some
critics dismissed as a by the numbers pop concoction.
Meanwhile, the girls were putting the finishing touches on
their first album as a trio.
They took the turmoil of the previous two years and poured
their emotions into the lyrics.
The album and first single were titled, appropriately, survivor.
Survivor.
I'm not gonna give up.
I'm not gonna stop.
I'm gonna work harder.
And it was I mean, everybody says it's dark, thinks that it's
totally directed towards the former members, but a lot of it
is directed toward all the people since kindergarten.
That said, you, that'll never happen for you.
It was a thing about survival, but it was still positive.
It's like, you know, look what
I'm doing, but I'm wishing you
the best.
And I'm not trying to be negative about you.
And I love the part about my mama taught me better than that.
Cause my mama taught me better than that.
Survivors sold a staggering six
Cause my mama taught me better than that.
Survivors sold a staggering six
hundred and sixty three thousand
copies in its first week, and
easily knocked Janet Jackson off
the top of the Billboard album
chart.
The girls promoted the album relentlessly, and since image
was increasingly important to the group, Tina Knowles and her
staff worked overtime on the girls hair and costumes.
The concept was for everybody to have a different hair color and
a different look, so all the little girls could have somebody
that they could relate to.
We're Boy Scouts today.
Styled by Tina Knowles.
We're Boy Scouts today.
Styled by Tina Knowles.
Outfits designed by Tina Knowles.
Our style is Tina Knowles.
Outfits designed by Tina Knowles.
Our style is Tina Knowles.
Tina knowles, Tina knowles.
Our style is Tina Knowles.
Tina knowles, Tina knowles.
So what we're doing today.
Is taking care of the business end.
So what we're doing today.
Is taking care of the business end.
Was Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, who put his experience
as a former top corporate salesman to good use.
And we really put together a very comprehensive day.
We talk it through between management artists and record
label, and we maximize on what we do because we do get a lot of
opportunities, but we maximize on the ones that make sense.
Save big bucks on every call.
opportunities, but we maximize on the ones that make sense.
Save big bucks on every call.
Hop on in, guys.
We felt like candies was perfect for Destiny's Child.
Hop on in, guys.
We felt like candies was perfect for Destiny's Child.
Our favorite toy Hitclips Hitclips.
I will do L'Oreal commercials for as long as they want me to.
We're building it not just with
I will do L'Oreal commercials for as long as they want me to.
We're building it not just with
music, but with other imaging
opportunities and endorsement
opportunities.
I mean, Destiny's Child is a franchise.
Kelly, can you handle it?
Michelle, can you handle this?
Be unsafe.
Can you handle this?
I don't think they can handle this.
In June, the group released a
second single from survivor,
bootylicious.
The song was built around a sample of the Stevie Nicks tune
Edge of Seventeen.
The girls convinced Stevie to make a cameo in the video.
The song was yet another anthem for female empowerment, and
coined a phrase that became a part of pop culture.
I don't think you're ready for this.
Bootylicious is the new word.
It's the word of the summer.
And now.
Bootylicious.
And now.
Bootylicious.
By the end of two thousand and one, Destiny's Child released a
Christmas album and promoted their new line of dolls.
No doubt about it, Destiny's Child was a phenomenon.
But any time a group becomes
this popular, it's ripe for
ridicule.
Saturday Night Live parodied the girls in a recurring sketch.
It's a real good album, though it's called Baby Daddy ology.
Saturday Night Live parodied the girls in a recurring sketch.
It's a real good album, though it's called Baby Daddy ology.
As you.
Can see, this.
As you.
Can see, this.
Girl has a.
Can see, this.
Girl has a.
Sticker on her face.
Girl has a.
Sticker on her face.
Her name is shellac and we had to get rid of her.
Yeah, cause she has, cause she had a lot of pitch problems.
She was.
Tone deaf.
These girls hold a real special place in our heart.
Cause they are the first three members that we kicked out.
Mhm.
Big up to my moms, cause she had me.
Big ups to my pops cause he backed me.
Big ups to my girls.
They back for the biggest ups, the biggest ups.
Let's see Destiny's Child taking part in a parody that makes fun
of Destiny's Child.
It was obvious the group was in danger of being overexposed.
Everywhere you look, there was Destiny's Child there in the
target ad they're doing.
They're preparing for their Christmas album.
They're going to be at the All star game.
They're going to be here.
And you just kind of got the sense that it was too much.
Grammy voters didn't seem to mind.
In January two thousand and two, Destiny's Child was nominated
for Grammys for best R&B Album and best R&B song for survivor.
The one thing that no one can take away from Matthew or
Beyoncé is the fact that through all the trials and tribulations
through the drama, they kept it up and they did it really well.
Keep on surviving.
through the drama, they kept it up and they did it really well.
Keep on surviving.
I think all of the people that
had things to say that that made
me have to look at myself and
learn about myself and become
stronger.
You know, if if we hadn't gone
through that, I wouldn't have
written survivor, maybe not even
Independent Woman.
You know, I wrote that out of people talking.
And I'm just very happy that God gave us another chance and that
the public gave us another chance, because a lot of people
don't get that chance.
Coming up on revealed.
don't get that chance.
Coming up on revealed.
Oh my God.
This hasn't happened since, like I was fifteen.
And the girls meet one of their heroines.
Bad bad bad bad it.
Welcome back to revealed I'm Jules Asner.
Everywhere they go, the members of Destiny's Child are bombarded
with questions about the group.
So I thought I'd put them on the spot.
Maybe I could get them to dish a little dirt on each other.
I had my own kind of version of The Newlywed Game.
I'm going to ask you all to tell on each other.
Okay.
Who's the most boy crazy?
Wait a minute now.
Oh, no no no no no. Y'all slick.
They both went over here, but my eyes go there, y'all.
Okay. And whose hair is the biggest in the morning?
Whose hair looks the worst in the morning?
Sorry.
Y'all looking at me?
No, because this morning I woke
up, and this hair gets, like,
stuck together.
If I got braids or not.
stuck together.
If I got braids or not.
Cause sometimes I get my braids and then I can't, you know?
But if my braids are out, like this morning, I had a scar.
No.
Sometimes Michelle's.
Hair can. No. But. Salon.
Sometimes Michelle's.
Hair can. No. But. Salon.
Yeah. Y'all have was wrong.
Days ago.
Had spiral curls, but they look like big anacondas.
Days ago.
Had spiral curls, but they look like big anacondas.
They turned into, like.
We all have our mornings, so.
They turned into, like.
We all have our mornings, so.
There's, God forbid, a fire alarm or something.
We all have our mornings, so.
There's, God forbid, a fire alarm or something.
You got to get out of the room quick.
One day they had a fire alarm
and it was nothing but
celebrities in.
It was a show, and somebody knew
it was a bunch of celebrities in
the hotel.
So they did the fire alarm.
Everybody.
Timbaland, Missy, everybody's coming downstairs.
We were so embarrassed.
Who have you guys been most
We were so embarrassed.
Who have you guys been most
surprised to find is a fan of
yours?
There are so many people that.
There's somebody that, like, really blew you away.
There are so many people that.
There's somebody that, like, really blew you away.
Yeah. Um, Patti LaBelle, more of
There's somebody that, like, really blew you away.
Yeah. Um, Patti LaBelle, more of
the glitzy brocade and lace and,
um.
And, uh.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry too.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry too.
Oh, I love you.
Don't finish.
Finish.
Get this.
Oh, this is to us.
Please.
We love you.
I'm gonna get.
You. I'm not ready for this.
Do bootylicious for you, babe.
Yeah.
Well, I.
Know for a fact Beyoncé can sing her butt off.
And the other girls, they're singing right along with her.
It's just like a wonderful singing group.
And they're not perpetrating.
Now, when you guys are this busy.
And they're not perpetrating.
Now, when you guys are this busy.
Where are the guys?
They're not there.
What?
You mean what guys?
This is our boyfriend.
What?
The sound people.
These are my guy.
Sorry.
Right. We have to.
And we have to say you're cute, right?
We will say it too, because that's the only flirtatious
stuff that we'll get to do.
Do you think they get intimidated?
stuff that we'll get to do.
Do you think they get intimidated?
I mean, think about the lyrics.
And also, it's the intimidation.
I don't want to mess with no independent woman.
We don't get a lot of guys approaching us.
You'd be surprised.
I was at a gas station.
A guy asked me for my number,
and I was so, like, shocked,
like, oh, my God, this hasn't
happened since.
Like, I was fifteen.
Like just going, you know, to the gas station and somebody
actually walking up to you saying, can I have, you know,
how you doing today?
Like really that it hadn't happened.
I was just like, I didn't know how to take it.
I was like, all right.
He fiancé you cannot tell me you were pumping your own gas.
No, I was very shocked.
He fiancé you cannot tell me you were pumping your own gas.
No, I was very shocked.
No, you cannot tell me.
No, no, no, it's a luxury.
No, you cannot tell me.
No, no, no, it's a luxury.
Trust us.
Listen, it just doesn't happen.
It does not happen.
You know, we don't get the opportunity of meeting people
and being with them.
A consistent pump, some gas.
Yeah.
We should go pump.
Come on, we just go, go, go.
Just start pumping gas.
When we come back.
The girls set the record
straight on those breakup
rumors.
Hi, I'm Jules Asner.
Welcome back.
Earlier in the show, we revealed
that Destiny's Child was going
to take a little break so the
girls could work on solo
projects.
But that bit of info caught many in the media off guard.
Here's the rest of that story.
When do you guys think you'll
all head back into the studio
together?
Well, Destiny's Child has put out four albums in four years,
together?
Well, Destiny's Child has put out four albums in four years,
which is unbelievable.
That doesn't happen a lot.
And we've been working.
Kelly and I since we were nine.
Nonstop.
I think Destiny's Child, we're going to take a little break.
And during that break, Michelle has actually already started
recording her her inspirational album, which is so hot.
And I'm going to be working on my my Austin Powers.
Austin Powers, which is unbelievable.
Now, what's your character's name?
Austin Powers, which is unbelievable.
Now, what's your character's name?
Foxy. Cleopatra.
Foxy. Cleopatra?
Yes. I'm a whole lot.
Foxy. Cleopatra?
Yes. I'm a whole lot.
I wanted to say it like Foxy would.
I can't say it like I gotta say that for the movie.
I'm just excited for all the
girls, because as a group,
they're awesome.
But I think if they were awesome individually and came back
together, they could, you know, rule the world.
The thing with Destiny's Child is that they cannot ever have
together, they could, you know, rule the world.
The thing with Destiny's Child is that they cannot ever have
another shady breakup, because it would just k*ll the group.
So I think to kind of have an amiable break for each person to
work on their own projects and do their own thing and then come
back together and regroup later is a smart idea.
Beyoncé and the girls went out of their way to make it clear
that their little break was just that a temporary break.
But within days, several papers were reporting Destiny's Child
was splitting up.
So again, the girls were forced
to address rumors at every
appearance.
Manager Mathew Knowles finally issued a statement insisting the
group will be around for a long time to come.
I think the great thing about us
doing this, we will all have to
develop individually.
You get you're in a group and it's kind of like your girls are
like your security blanket.
Yeah, even doing interviews, it's real scary.
And I was going overseas and all that stuff.
That's that's real scary.
But hopefully we'll be able to do, like, a tour and do our own
songs and Destiny's Child songs, and that'll be a long show.
Yes.
We won't need opening acts.
We'll just be each other's.
Right, right.
Destiny's child to be the opening act, right?
But, um, it's so cool because we.
It's so cool to be able to to live both dreams and do group
things and do things that you always wanted to do by yourself.
And it'll broaden our audience because, Michelle, we're doing
different types of music, and when we come back, it'll make
the sound so unique and so different from anything else.
And I'm just I can't wait for that day.
I can't wait to hear what we come up with because we'll be
like, I'm just so excited.
Like, are.
You ready?
Are we doing.
It?
Are we doing.
She just asked.
Are we doing.
She just asked.
Oh.
She just asked.
Oh.
She was like, please, okay, say my name.
Wait, was that the right key?
Sho nuff.
Okay.
Say my name, say my name.
And no.
Say my name, say my name.
And no.
one is around.
And no.
one is around.
You say baby I love you.
one is around.
You say baby I love you.
If you ain't running game.
Say my name.
Say my name.
Say my name.
Say my name.
You acting kind of shady.
Say my name.
You acting kind of shady.
Ain't calling me baby.
Why the sudden change?
Say my name, say my name.
If no one is around.
You say baby I love you.
If you ain't running game.
Say my name, say my name.
You acting kind of shady.
Ain't calling me baby.
Better say my name I feel.
Like that was our first.
Better say my name I feel.
Like that was our first.
Time seeing you.
Like that was our first.
Time seeing you.
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