Since the premiere of the TLC biopic, “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story“ in late 2013, ordained minister and former music executive Perri “Pebbles” Reid has voiced her opinion on the film, stating that it exaggerated in parts and even told untruths entirely during others. She visited The Wendy Williams Show shortly thereafter to discuss potentially filing a suit against Viacom, owners of the VH1 network, which aired the film.
Pebbles claims that VH1 attempted to clarify their earlier representation of the film as a first-hand account biopic in a letter to her after the movie’s promo trail represented it as such.
The movie, which detailed the lives of TLC’s three members Tionne “Tboz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas portrayed Reid “as a conniving and dishonest business woman who hoodwinked three innocent girls and exploited their talent for her own personal gain,” according to court documents. The suit also alleges that the network “ignored fundamental canons of journalistic and literary conduct by publishing false and defamatory accusations with actual malice.”
The suit states that contrary to what was portrayed, Pebbles never withheld the trio’s contract terms or controlled the lawyers who negotiated on the trio’s behalf.
The film became Vh1′s most-watched original movie of all time.
Pebbles has released the following statement on her website:
First I want to thank all of you for the well wishes and prayers. I apologize for the delay in responding to the movie, but I wanted to gather my thoughts. I have always been a private person and this unprovoked attack has been extremely upsetting to me and my family. I have needed time to spend with my family and for personal reflection.
The movie contains many false and defamatory statements and scenes about me. Please know that I have never cheated or misled anyone. I will defend my reputation, accomplishments, and character. My attorney is in the process of demanding a retraction of the false and defamatory statements and scenes about me from VH1.