Michelle Williams Wants to Reunite All Original Destiny’s Child Members Sans Farrah Franklin
For years, Destiny’s Child fans have requested a reunion. While Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams have surprised fans with collaborations and specialty performances but not a full reunion in the form of a tour or album.
But Williams says there’s hope for a reunion. While she’s open to reuniting as DC3 with Rowland and Beyoncé, Williams says she’s open to reuniting with the original four members.
Destiny’s Child was originally a quartet
The group was formed in the early 1990s with Beyoncé always as the group’s lead. Originally known as Girls Tyme, the group consisted of six members. After the group lost on Star Search, Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, took over as manager. He restructured the group as a foursome. Beyoncé, Rowland, LaToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson were the final four.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 1997. It was a moderate hit. Their sophomore album, The Writings on the Wall, was released in 1999 and solidified their place in the music industry. But tensions between the group grew as a result of Roberson and Luckett’s dissatisfaction with management.
The two requested new management but Knowles apparently wasn’t a fan of the idea. Per Roberson and Luckett, they weren’t paid adequately nor given any creative control or equal singing parts. They accused him of trying to set up Beyoncé’s solo career.
LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson were replaced
Amidst the tension, the group released two singles and accompanying music videos: Bills, Bills, Bills, and Bug a Boo. When the third single and music video for Say My Name was released, two new members were introduced: Williams and Farrah Franklin.
Roberson and Luckett claimed they had no idea they were fired and were under the impression that they were in negotiations with their group members and manager to work things out. They also alleged that they discovered they were replaced when they watched the Say My Name music video.
Related: Destiny’s Child: How Much Are the Original Members Worth Today?
Roberson and Luckett were accused of not attending rehearsals, appearances, and performances. They denied the claims. They eventually sued their group members and Knowles and settled out of court.
Franklin was fired five months into her tenure for missing rehearsals. She claimed she quit.
Michelle Williams is open to reuniting the original DC lineup with her included
Williams is currently promoting her new book on mental health. While speaking with Page Six, Williams spoke of the possibility of reuniting the original lineup and shared her excitement.
“That would be actually something. Everybody is pretty much cordial,” Williams told Jawn Murray.
She admits however that she doesn’t know how realistic it would be considering everyone’s schedule and busy individual careers. She says she doesn’t “really know the answer to” whether or not it could happen, “but I think that could be kind of fly.”
“Destiny’s Child 5,” she said with her being included in the reunion. “I’m speaking it into the atmosphere. That’s what you gotta do. Anything is possible…at the end of the day. That’s just the thing. As long as God’s in it, that’s a great thing.”
Williams’ book, Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life–And Can Save Yours, is available wherever books are sold.
