Marion Barry’s Reality Show Fallout
The first casualty of Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry's "reality" show (besides the D.C. Council's collective dignity) appears to be Andre Johnson, a former communications aide for Barry who is currently, but not for long, the communications director for Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander.
Alexander called LL this morning to say that Johnson will soon be out of a job, because she says he lied to her about his involvement in the show.
"It's over, his gig is up," says Alexander. She also mentioned it in the comments section of the last post.
Before we go any further, you'll have to watch this first part of the show's pilot to get a clear picture of Alexander's complaints.
Alexander says she asked Johnson repeatedly whether he was involved in the show, and he told her no. But, she added, Johnson would repeatedly ask her—at Barry's request, Johnson claimed—if she would consent to being filmed for the show, which as of yet hasn't found a network willing to air the series.
Alexander says she declined Johnson's request to because she wants no part of the show, which she called "cheesy." Well, maybe she'll agree to one small role: “If he wants me to be part of the show, he can film me firing him," she says. Ouch.
Alexander says she's also upset Johnson appears to have been filming scenes shown in the pilot when he was no longer working as a contract employee for Barry—as the show seems to indicate—but as her full-time employee. Johnson was working in her office when he received his subpoena that's mentioned in the pilot episode, Alexander says. She said when Johnson first approached her asking for a job, he said he was sick of all the "drama" that came with working for Barry.
"He's surrounded himself with the drama," she says. "I guess my office was a little too boring for him."
Alexander also pulled no punches when he came to the appearances made in the show by her council colleagues, including incoming Chairman Kwame Brown, At-large Councilmember Michael A. Brown, and Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.
"I can’t believe elected officials … are involved in this. I am truly shocked," she says. Adding that she wants to give her colleagues a message: "Please stick to the council. Hollywood is not in the stars for you."
Indeed, all the councilmembers give pretty awkward, stilted performances that makes one wonder if there was some hack producer off to the side telling them exactly what to say.
“And the acting was terrible, if I might add," says Alexander.
She also took Barry down a few pegs for the scene where he's out on a posh golf course joking about having to return to the city and all of its "bullets and sirens."
“I just found it very distasteful," she says. "I think reality TV ... seems to be for people who hit rock bottom."
LL has reached out to Johnson and will update as necessary.
Photo by Darrow Montgomery
1:24 pm
WOW - such a turbulent, heated and emotional event, almost like it's straight out of ... oh.
If they can't find a network to pick this show up, WCP should acquire the rights pronto.
1:38 pm
Ha ha ha, check out around 6:15 in the video. They used stock images and the Getty Images watermark is still there. What a mess.
1:39 pm
Wait -- did I miss something? I thought the show was about Barry, not the Andre Johnson Show.
1:40 pm
AND a Maryland plate on his Hummer? WTF.
1:45 pm
I had hoped that Ms. Alexander, my adjacent Ward Coucilwoman was not classless enough to post notice of her employee's firing via a blog. But I guess I was wrong. What's worse is that she's bad mouthing fellow colleagues for participating in a poorly done reality show while she's airing personnel decisions online.
Come on Yvette, better decorum maybe or is it better to act as if you were raised in an alley? Step it up!
1:57 pm
Alexander is right. Somebody needed to say what she said. I would have fired him too. He clearly wants the public to know his business. Now we do.
2:22 pm
Good for CM Alexander. She did the right thing. Johnson's "performance" was a disgrace. He calls himself a communications professional? Who would hire someone with such bad judgment?
2:31 pm
As a Communications Professional, the first rule that Mr. Johnson broke, was "eyes/ears open; MOUTH SHUT!"
I commend Ms. Alexander for exercising great judgement in releasing him from her employ. He would have gotten the same treatment from any other employer once you expose yourself and your boss to public ridicule.
Kudos CM Alexander.
2:45 pm
I can only imagine that if your bosses aired your laundry ONLINE, your responses would be quite different. Whether other employers would decide to post their employees employment status online is subject to discussion. I can't find many cases where this had happened. Ok, well maybe I can't find any.
That's quite separate from whether he should have been fired.
Sorry, she proved herself an idiot much like the person she hired.
3:39 pm
what a total embarrassment. there's our future council chairman, everybody!
how can we even talk statehood with this type of shit out there? congress will never allow it with barry, kwame, and m brown doing stuff like this.
way to kick it off, kwame....
3:46 pm
@ Wicked: You forgot to mention Harry "I'm getting ready to release TT's records to the public" Thomas.
Gray was smart to stay away from this production.
4:09 pm
All of this is so tacky on soooo many levels. CM Alexander hasn't been a paragon of good judgment either. I mean really, you hired someone from Barry's team to be your communications director?!! That alone speaks volumes about your managerial acumen or lack thereof. What shining qualities did you see that compelled you to hire him? Was it his PR strategy on the whole taxes issue? No, maybe it was his handling of the girlfriend getting government funds! I swear the whole council is bunch of bumbling idiots.
Do these folks not understand the use of "no comment" when the media calls them?
4:11 pm
Kudos CM Alexander for speaking the truth, clearly, and plainly. Much respect for CM Alexander! She was being kind calling it "cheesy" --- it was baffoonery.
Mr. Johnson did not represent her office as a professional nor as a friend.
5:40 pm
Bought to you by the makers of the Rayful Edmond movie, May 3rd Films...coincidence? I think not...
Dude is corny...Spazzin like a kid who need his Ritalin and shit...LOL. I mean, you get in business with Barry, you DON'T KNOW that all his bullshit becomes YOUR bullshit too?
And Mike Brown? You can't get more neutered than this milquetoast, no opinion having, Daddy coattail riding muphukka. At least be half the man ya Daddy was...buncha clown ass niggas in suits furthering their own cause, fattening their pockets and fucking over the citizenry as usual.
C'mon man...later for this bullshit.
5:41 pm
Andre could go back to work for Barry. He seems comfortable being the Mayor for Life's lackey and if he's lucky, Barry won't make him perform oral sex as a condition of employment.
7:04 pm
Me Theresa Dudley,teacher in PG County love deumb politicians and idots in general like me who got fired from Drew Freeman Middle School for teaching children (BLACK) how to insult each other. My check still is signed by stupid county officials and I love dumb buttocks like Yvette Alexander, I hate Marion Barry and Rushern Baker, the new Chief Uncle of PG County. Baker just hired all whites to run his administration like A Fenty did and I am loving it folks.
I go to court to help assist white corrupt PG cop named Richard Delabrer, but never will I come to court for Jack or Leslie Johnson (she stuffs too much money in her bra and they are black) and I hate being black w 2 children and a sorry black husband.
7:28 pm
Barry, Thomas, Brown & Brown: Utter embarrassments.
7:47 pm
Legally Blonde Alexander does not know that she cannot disclose personnel information to anyone much less the MEDIA. Dahh!!! Can you say BIG DUMMY! Yes, you fired him and I am certain some attorney has already advised of his rights and a lawsuit is forthcoming. And it appears to have been malicious given that you called the MEDIA. You have embarrassed Johnson and I'm certain they will claim you caused him to lose money because of your trying to disgrace him in public. Damn! And I hope he doesn't know anything about you that is damaging such as drinking in public. If he does...I am certain it will be in the next episode of "Mayor for Life". I just hope his lawyers sue you personally and not the city. We have no money since you voted against raising the taxes.
12:12 am
As usual LL an OK Article. And the comments are interesting as well.
Sad to read this on CM Alexander & Mr. Johnson. He is actually good at his profession and if I'm not mistaken this reality show birthed before the investigations.
Nonetheless, no matter what CM Alexander thinks of me, I respect her as a person and balanced leader, and will always hold her in high regard. She and Aundre were the ONLY two who reached out to me July 4 '09 and that gesture meant volumes at a time when I was utterly alone against the wolves.
Now on airing employees business publicly. Is that really an injustice what CM Alexander blogged? Really? hmmm~ What was that Marion, Fred (now Harry Thomas' Lawyer/still can't wrap my head around that one) and Mr. Johnson's replacement slandered all up on the Wilson Building steps the week after July 4th?
Is there a lawyer in the house?
12:49 am
@Thugly Dudley,
Like I said before in a previous post, either stop posing as a black woman with issues about Yourself and Your life or do what you have to do to get out of the skin that you're in-if you are a black woman. If you devalue yourself that much then point the finger at YOU. Don't blame anybody for your problems. You do have alternatives on how to handle your "personal drama". I suggest you look into that and stop your constant bitchin. Nobody wants to hear it and nobody cares anyway! It's just annoying.
4:49 pm
Being of Ward 7, I find it very odd that Ms Alexander should stoop so low to arrogantly discuss her decision in public without speaking to Mr. Johnson. Who's the real reality star here? I do know for a fact that she was approached and demanded to be paid for any involvement in the project. She was told that no one is being paid. I guess She's like some politicians if you don't pay, she won't play. Now she wants to get in front of the story and speak negative about Mr. Johnson and the project that she demanded to be paid to be a part of. It seems she's jealous becasue they did it without her. She's the one that needs acting lessons. Try acting like a council member that cares about your schools in your Ward like CW Harris that has volunteers assisting but yet she's never stepped one foot in the building.
7:40 pm
It always comes down to the money..."Jerry Maguire-Show me the money". I guess they didn't have it in their budget to pay Yvette Alexander what she wanted. Here's a clip of what really happened to Yvette Alexander. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaiSHcHM0PA