Florence Ballard | Interview: Being Fired/Replacement/Weight Issues (1975) 

Florence Ballard was no puppet, she was a WONDERFUL human being. The TRUE heart and soul of the Supremes. Florence Ballard will always be a treasure to all of us.

Beautiful, classy, and extremely talented lady. The way she was treated was an absolute disgrace. Rest in peace, Flo. You are missed.

Florence Ballard had the most lovely and powerful voice and she was beautiful.

The fact that her vocal range is so strong even when she’s a background singer is uncontrollable!

She said she was "STACKED"!!!! That's what's up!!!! Word's, phrases, clothes, shoes, etc does recycle. I wish I could've meet her!!!!

Florence Ballard had self respect, that's awesome And standing up for what she believes in. Love you Florence Ballard.

She was treated like crap by Motown her manager and Ross! She had her demons but was treated like yesterday's papers after they let her go. She deserved dignity. The Supremes were one of the most successful groups of all-time. She should have been set for life financially but was robbed and taken advantaged of. Makes me sick at what happened to her.

she had every right to feel cheated and used, good on her for speaking out ,was a disgrace how this girl was treated.

"I was pretty damn stacked! ...5'7,size 12 thats the perfect size!"

"I don't dance to anyone's tune unless I want to." I know that's right. lol

Florence Ballard was so so beautiful back in those days of Motown and STILL is in my heart and I the hearts of All that love her. That's REAL.

What a amazing talented lady Florence Ballard was she did not deserve this disrespect from her label

I love her even more after this interview, great personality, RIP Flo!

Relistening to this again, Peter needs to release the whole audio of the entire interview, I hope a biopic can be put together for her, it's long overdue

Her flowers are well beyond deserved 😔 Thank you Flo for your contribution to music, for founding one of the greatest girl groups to ever make history, for your perseverance through the civil rights era, just thank you for everything Florence 💜

No matter what Flo you will always be in our hearts forever we love you and will never forget your smile your beauty and contributions to one of the best Girl groups of all time! God bless our angel in heaven!

The Supremes were way before my time but I have to say, Florence is my favorite member of the group. I imagine she was the Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of the Supremes, she was talented but would cuss you out.

I love how Florence Ballard speaks her mind and she had the right to be called a Supreme. Berry was a straight up jackass for not giving Flo any respect. Love you Flo always will.

Some of Fail to Remember that Florence Actually Started the Group!!! If it wasn't for Florence starting the Group it wouldn't be NO Supremes And its funny how Some people tried to make Florence look bad Without Actually trying to Know the Real Story!

I wish ABC had done more with Flo's recordings she did with George Kerr. As far as Flo's appearance,to me she was the most attractive of the Supremes with Diana coming in at last place. She also had the best voice. Sister could SAAANG!!!! My favorite Supremes of all time are Florence Ballard and Scherrie Payne when she was in the group. RIP Flo...we love you!!

This sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Wow

Flo was the BEST of the three..wished she was around GREAT people for her to realize that...but she probably lost her self esteem, thank to MANY issues....... LOVE YOU, FLO! WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!!!!!!

Flo was not only beautiful with a fantastic voice, but she was ahead of her time;: an independent, strong, feminist who stood up to the vultures in the music business. Why did Diana have to steal someone else"s hard work and success? Why didn't Diane have the courage to start her own group and earn recognition rather than stealing it? It just seems she had a self-entitled attitude without any consideration for others. R.I.P. Flo. I hope you are lighting up Heaven with your voice, surrounded by other the other greats who have made the transition.

I wish Florence was still with us.

RIP Florence Ballard. You are missed.

Flo's body was bangin. I wish in has that type of figure! Berry was trippin man. Lol

Terrific interview. Florence was a marvelous singer and a beautiful person. Rest in peace.

Flo had class. She may hv suffered for it but she had respect for herself as a person. I wouldn't hv slept with that sleezebag either. I hope Berry has repented of his evilness during those times.

Florence Ballard was a great artist who deserved better in life

Florence got a really raw deal. She was the loveliest of the Supremes IMO, & had a beautiful voice & charm that drew you in. She deserved better.

Man...just listening to her VOICE tells me that Florence Ballard went through a lot. She was in her early 30s but this is definitely the voice of a woman in her late 40s or early 40s. Lots of frustration, pain, and bitterness.

What a beautiful soul..She's lovely.. Her energy is great!!!!

she handled herself w dignity considering the circumstances . she was waaaay too real for THAT business!

RIP cousin Flo.

She was always the one left out. Even though she added perfectly, to the group's chemistry. No body is going to tell me, she wasn't screwed over. I believe in ways, that were never published. Gordy or others in command wanted her out, obviously. The spin that was created, she did it all to herself. Is sad and pitiful !

From the time of Florence interview, she died a year later. I happen to run across her interview, jet magazine February 1975, with her Children,Mother and 2 Sisters. Interesting!!!

I feel horrible and pained for the horror florence went through. They really treated her horribly and unfairly, almost as if she wasn't a human being with feelings like the rest of us. Thats what killed her. If not for all of that, she would be alive and well singing to this day. Its truly sad what people will do out of greed or power issues. A size 12 is beautiful and healthy..I respect miss diana and she's good at the size she is now but diana used to look SICKLY when she was in the supremes.

And Cindy fits in Florence’s gown perfectly. Does it mean that Cindy was fat too?!

The worst thing that happened to Flo was her attorney stole all the money she got in compensation when she was forced out of the Supremes. So she had nothing to rebuild her career with. Awful. Motown was run in a very odd way, dominated by Gordy, Robinson, Mickey Stevenson - too many awesome artistes were neglected.

IT is sad. No one should be treated like that. Had the tables been turned, I'm sure Florence would have never treated Diane like that.

no doubt the MOTOWN mafia killed FLO .....she knew too much about Motown, Berry, and DIANA. Flo was ready for a comeback....and Motown wasn't going to allow it!

Florence was what we call "thickness". She was so fine

The original Supremes will be The Supremes to me with Florence. Thank you Florence Ballard for your talent, courage and to be always remembered. RIP my dear girl, you sing and you shine in the stars.

Very interesting audio....glad to hear the story in Flo's own words, instead of other peoples who probably weren't even there! RIP Florence

Dreamgirls did well in showing the story to the world.

You are correct. Many, many accounts exist of the good things that Flo did for Diana, before, during and after her tenure with The Supremes. When Diana was sick from exhaustion in about '66, it was Flo who visited Diana in the hospital and cried with her. When Flo wanted to expose Diana and Berry's affair to media around '67 or '68, to her own surprise she changed her mind, saying "I STILL don't want to hurt them." Flo had common decency. She had demons, but she understood friendship.

I really wish Florence really had strong ambitions and confidence to embark on a solo career. She was a great singer, was writing her own songs, solid dancer thanks to backup dancing for other Motown acts, had great comedic/acting potential and fashion potential. Just imagine if flo made her potential into a reality and start a career as a solo entertainer in the 1970s boy. But I guess everything happens for a reason #RIP

Getting ready to read the book.

you told the Truth there...thanks....I love you Flo

I always loved Florence...she was very beautiful and incredibly talented.

I'm 35 but man these videos of Florence just makes me wish I could know more of her. So down to earth, do pretty...

Flo said "I knew I was well put together." 🤩❤ LOVE IT

Florence's story is truly chilling. Alot of her fans never know the truth as to what really happened, her story was not widely available. To hear how this beloved American superstar and beautiful person was treated is truly inexcusable.

It's a shame that Flo didn't perform during the modern era. As she correctly says, she was "damned stacked," and all she would have had to do was dress scantily when she performed, and she would have went over big with her voluptuous body alone. Hell, that's how stars today like Beyonce and Rihanna have become so successful.

Flo and Mary in Heaven: Let's give them something to talk about! Rest in Heaven Mary and Flo. Forever my Dreamgirls, forever Supreme.....

You Go FLO, she sho nuff was STACKED, and lookin Real fine. Who even gave a damn what Berry Gordy thought about her she was BEAUTIFUL.

A lot of you are wrong. Florence really didn't care about Barry devoting all his attention to Diana. She was upset because she got ALL the leads on the songs. Even the songs they covered. If Barry would have just gave Florence and Mary just a lead on a few of the covered songs they did I'm positive Florence would have been a lot more happier. Barry never tried to sit down and at least talk to Florence about what they could do AFTER Diana left the group.

great insight. and really cool to hear her talk about her figure and how guys loved it.

She was actually the lead singer before Diana

They need to make a movie about this!

and as for the weight issues, Cindy was bigger than Florence

So sad. I ♥️ Florence Ballard!

I never said I loved Berry =S I am a massive FLO fan and I think she was treated wrongly by Berry - sure she wasn't completely proffessional but he could have made it much easier for her to leave Motown (since he hated her so much)....

Florence told Berry Gordy: I stopped a whole company of men on Fifty seventh street. I didn't hear anybody calling for Diana lol. Just had to add that. Too funny.

Florence Ballard will always be loved and she's one of my favorite Supremes (my other two favorites are Diana Ross and Mary Wilson), and she has a wonderful laugh. I LOVE MOTOWN!

That's right Flo, speak to mind supreme sista you don't dance to no one's tune you dance to your own tune & NOT Berry Gordy's. Love Florence Ballard Forever.

Never forgotten!

Flo was someone that I agree with. Take no bs, do not be a doormat, and speak your mind. Everything I hear her say, I understand her feelings.

**Florence Ballad** Was **Fabulous** She Was One Of The **True Hearts** Of Motown. **Beautiful** **Very** **Talented** And She Spoke The Truth When Necessary. A **True Legend** And **Every-One** Knew It!!!!!!! **Peace**

damn i like how florence talk she seems like a very cool down to earth person it just hurts to found out she died to early. this was 1975 and she died the next year i wonder was she murdered or did she really died

I am a Dianna Ross fan but i am sure she was pressuring Berry Gordy to get rid of Flo because Flo was a much prettier woman..she was a natural beauty and i really think Diana was jealous of that.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross were the Supremes. If Florence needed some time from the group to refocus on her life and family, the Supremes should have helped their friend and not simply permanently replace her and then conveniently place blame for the dismissal on Berry Gordy;

Flo, you're still with us. Bless you fine lady.RIP great lady

there were @ least a dozen women @ Motown who sang better than miss Ross & Flo was @ the top of that list.

I read this book i forgot the name.VERY GOOD READ. It talks about how the supremes started and all. Talked about the drama between them mostly. Man i couldnt put the book down. I remember in one part it talked about how florence tried calling mary and diana for help, and they both hung up on her. Maxine said that she could hear florence slam the phone down and scream, "THOSE BLACK BITCHES!" lol. I love florence.

A person is at an extreme disadvantage to receive fairness and justice if the boss is sleeping with the coworker.

And they say dream girls wasn’t TRUE!!! Sounds like it to me… 🤷🏽‍♀️

I personally like Diana but I never really thought she was really pretty... Not ugly though... Unique is a good word...Barry chose Diana because she was grimy enough to play with him while he was married.

this is VERY cool. nice to hear her voice and hear her laughin' and tellin her side of what went on. she sounds like a real cool sista nothin like what i thought. thank u for postin this.!!

Florence's voice was so DEEP, compared to her singing voice. She's dead of course, but she probably COULD have made a career singing opera...

I love Flo, but it's always interesting to hear someone's perspective of their own history. You literally have to come out of yourself and look at the whole situation. Gordy was controlling back then. Obsessively controlling with everyone, especially the girls (the Supremes). Ross thought of him a slave driver; She and Mary hated the way he sat in the audience taking copious notes at their performances and then coming back stage with a litany of things that needed to be fixed, using tough love from the audience during their rehearsals. That would mess with anyone's head. The one battle Flo was right on was the infamous "People" debacle. I don't know if it was Gordy, or Gil Askey (who produced those Copa shows), or Ross feeling insecure or wanting to get back at Flo after one of their fights, but Flo should've retained that solo. Gordy and Askey knew Ross was never one to back down from a challenge. She would've upped her own game in response. It would've made them all that much better as performers. Ross and Mary fought Berry at different times but ultimately relented since he was the boss, but Flo fought period. Her fights with Gordy, drinking like a alcoholic, missing shows, gaining weight, being miserable, and jealous, all pretty much wrote her future. When she was happy, everybody was happy. When she was miserable, everybody felt it. They were the biggest US group in history by that point, which just prolonged the inevitable. If Flo were scared straight (which I believe was Gordy's initial intention for having Cindy around), she would've kept her eyes on the prize and the money, not hired Tommy Chapman to manage her, not have a dirty attorney steal her money, and would've gone on to have a great career post Ross. But what's done is done. Had her heart not become damaged she would've had that second act she craved for in the mid 70's.

Mary Wilson stated that Mr. Gordy treated Diana Ross worse than any of them because he expected the most from her. All Mr. Gordy wanted Ballard to do was her job. He grew tired of her absences, tirades and constant alterations to her costumes, due to her weight fluctiations.

"I knew I was damn stacked." Love it ... right on, Flo !!! And she's right, being 5' 7" and a size 12 is NOT fat. That's actually what they consider a "healthy" weight. And Cindy was the same size (plus or minus a couple of lbs.) There hasn't been anything said about Berry Gordy harrassing Cindy about her weight. Flo was right, Gordy just wanted to f--k with her head.

I only enjoy the Diana, Florence,and Mary as the being the Supreme of the Supremes. I was one of them that hated the group broke up. They really brought class to the music world.

Oooh I've just heard Flo said herself that yes according to Mary's book that she's got all the attention when she came to Manila. I've seen some photos as well and the look of adoration on the Filipino fans confirms this. Wow...

Can you "Imagine" working for someone and with someone and have them "Disrespect" you on this level. Me I have never had a "Boss" like that. This was "enough" to make you Drink do Drugs to escape this type of "Betrayal"....

Florence Ballard truly had the best voice. R.I.P. Florence. You truly are SUPREME forever. Your fans will all be with you again. Someday We'll Be Together !

@aimperator It was a VERY tough situation and only the 4 of them really knew what went on. I missed Flo a lot and went through years of rejecting Cindy, but now in retrospect, I realize what a great replacement she was - the best, I'm sure. No one could replace Flo, but Cindy brought a lot to the part and allowed DR&TS to go places they may not have been able to with Flo in the group.They worked like dogs until the split, I doubt that Flo could have kept up.

Struggling to cope with the label's demands and her own depression, Ballard turned to alcohol for comfort, leading to arguments with Ross and Wilson. Ballard's alcoholism led to her missing performances and recording sessions. Florence had been allowed back into the group to complete some dates, while Cindy's contract release was done with the Bluebelles. Flo was in bad shape. She was quite heavy and quite erratic, and her mood swings were severe, as anyone traumatized would be. On July 20, 1967, the marquee at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas had been changed from “The Supremes”, to “Diana Ross and The Supremes” by Berry Gordy's insistence, and Flo went off on BG. No employee is allowed to show up to work intoxicated: ANYBODY would be fired for that. The truth of the matter is that Motown had given Flo a second and third chance, but both Diana *AND* Mary agreed with Gordy that she had to go. They were not happy about doing this, because the group was so hot, that a change of this magnitude could have a disastrous impact. Mary has said many times that Flo wanted out: she was miserable. She had, however, deluded herself into thinking she was irreplaceable, and that helped do her in. Flo was the victim, but she was just as responsible for her fate as anyone else. Had she adopted Mary's attitude of going with the program, she would have stayed in the group until June 12, 1977 at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, England.

Barry didn't want those curves on Florence because it cause a distraction against the bean pole lead singer

I love her talking voice too!

Florence Ballard had a wonderful voice and deserved much better treatment from Barry Gordy. The Supremes were not the same without her. RIP Flo.

@urblhoops Oh wow, what an honour it is to have family of the late, great Flo comment on one of my videos :) Thanks :) I'm so flattered :D

Very honest. That's just the end of almost every girl group from then to present date,Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles,Destiny's Child,Spice Girls,The Pussycat Dolls,even Gladys Knight & The Pips...you name it! There's almost always only one girl stand out and that one girl went on doing things while the others stays in yesterday. Why a group anyway~ Just be solo and hire backup singers,much less hurting that way.

You tell just by her speaking voice that she could saaang!! I’ve been stuck watching everything about her n the supremes lately I need a break fr all the ratchetness in music today they were so beautiful n classy n elegant thats what I find sexy mary was beautiful too

Flo 💚

Still have lots of love for the queen supreme, Florence Ballard and her musical legacy lives on in All that love her. Love you Angel.

We missed you Flo

So sorry to hear this news

Actually, Flo was making somewhat of a comeback before her death so I don't think she was depressed anymore and I believe she wasn't drinking as much as she use to (the autopsy showed little alcohol in her body). Really the reason for the heart attack was probably because she had put on weight and I doubt she was as active as she once was