August 5th, 1984 - The Interview
Long Chapter Ahead. 3648 Words
(Cont. Interview)
| Chapter 54 • Benny Lingerman Presents: Benny Speaks: Destiny's Child (the full version) |
Jt•
It had been maybe 9 months after the girls and I disbanded and today we're shooting our interview. This interview is scheduled to be on tv, its gonna air on September 31st and I'm scared honestly.
It would be possibly our last interview together. Its gonna basically showcase us throughout the good and bad, and more.
The girls and I are of course still the best of friends, we just wanted to do our own thing.
Here's our outfits
Token goes first, then Onyx and then me.
~ Once They All Get Qued ~
"How are you girls? How long has it been since you've done an interview all together?" Benny asks with a smile, "About 7 months? Maybe 7 months." We all answer
"How are you girls? Onyx?" She smiles, "I'm great, um, he sido realmente genial-." She cuts herself off which makes us all start giggling, "I'm so sorry, used to speaking in Spanish. Um, I've been really good I am happier being a single artist, I can do my own things now." Onyx replies with a nod
"I see, Token?" Benny turns to Toke, "Same here, I'm proud to say that I have some music on the way as well." Token explains which brings the attention to me
"And you Jayden, you just released your debut album. Already nominated for some awards, congratulations."
"Yes, thank you. I definitely agree with my girls, I have more freedom, can do my own things. I did just release my first solo album, its doing very well and I have lots of tricks and surprises up my sleeve." I reply with a smile, "So why did you girls break up?"
We all look at each other to see who wanted to answer, they both nodded at me so I took a breath and shrug, "There was so much...drama and toxicness in the group. Us not agreeing to one another's ideas, pressure from the press and the media. Our former band mate causing extra problems." I explain before nodding to Onyx
"We honestly got tired of people telling us that we've 'let ourselves go' and 'Jayden is holding the group'. I must admit, I did let that go to my head and I did get competitive multiple times, I forgot that these were my girls. My problem was also I let Ciara get in my ear, knowing she had a problem with Jay." She says and grabs our hands
"We didn't see eye-to-eye anymore, like my girls said things got competitive and toxic between us all. So we just decided to release an album and make one more before separating. We separated until our latest album dropped and we agreed that it was best to split." Token finishes
"Are you all happy with your decisions of splitting?" Benny questions, "I am, I've always wanted to sing Tejano music. I'm thankful that my girls understood my decision. By the way, to my American fans, don't think I've forgotten about you. I'm singing Tejano, but I do have something else for you all." Onyx smiles
"I'm very happy, not saying my girls were holding me back but my solo-career is taking off. My album is out and I'm excited and just so glad that my girls are actually happy now." I reply with a smile
"Definitely, I have music on the way. My man and I are thinking about adding onto our family." Token smiles causing us to gasp
"You're thinking about babies? We are too! Our babies can be birthday twins!" Onyx smiles as I cheered, Token nods which causes us to group hug, "I can see that there is definitely still love between the three of you." Benny smirks
"There was never any love loss, we're still family. These are still my girls." Onyx smiles, "We still call and talk to each other, we've just been..." Token pauses, as if she was thinking of the words to say, "Just doing our own thing." I finish for her
"Jt you mentioned having tricks up your sleeve, is there anything else we can expect?" Beatrice smirks like she knew something
I giggle softly and look away before looking back at her, "I'm going to be touring soon and maybe just maybe Michael will tour with me." I smile, "Will there be another Destiny's Child tour or even album?"
"We can't speak for the future but as of now, no. We all agreed to just maybe bring each other out when we're on tour and sing a couple songs but a tour for Destiny's Child, no." Token answers as we all nod
"I understand, I'm excited for you all. I wanna touch on the Ciara Marina topic and how she affected you all, positively and negatively. Onyx, you and Ciara were friends throughout her time, how did she affect you?"
She clears her throat and scoffs, "Ya know, I wanna clear the air on this. Yes Ciara got in my ear but it wasn't just her, it was people around me and myself. I was jealous and I said some horrible horrible, foul things about Jayden, Michael and their son Prince. I take full accountability on it and I've apologized from the heart to both Michael and Jayden. Ciara, she was also jealous and thats why I think we cliqued up so fast and easily because when she first came I wasn't happy. I was upset because its like, damn there are now three pretty girls and then there's me. Like the shadow, and it sucks. I was in a bad headspace, I wasn't getting what I wanted, I felt lonely and things and Ciara was just the one I felt like I could lean on." Onyx explains
As she spoke I definitely listened, to her words and body language. She was honest, "Explain your headspace," Benny says
"Depressed. Hurt. Insecure. Lonely, DHIL is what I called it. Because of my mental space, I took my anger out on Jayden and Token, I let a girl I didn't know fuck up my relationships with two girls I've known since Middle School, and that sucks. It took me a while to realize, I fucked up, I'm in the wrong, this is my fault. These girls have been through breakups with me, they'd hold my hair and pat my back and take care of me when I was sick, and I took it for granted. I regret it all." Onyx admits before wiping a tear
I pouted and rubbed her back, "Dont cry mama." Token coos, rubbing her thigh softly. Onyx huffs and puts her head in her hands, allowing a soft sob to escape, "Can she have a moment?" I ask for her
Beatrice nods and the director yells cut, "C'mon babe." I said softly as we take the microphones off of our shirts
~ After Onyx Calms Down ~
"Welcome back to Benny Speaks, we have here our guest Destiny's Child. Are you guys alright?" She asks with a smile
"Yea, I'm sorry, I just felt really bad. We can move on now." Onyx says
"Later on we'll touch back on the Ciara Marina topic but now I wanna get to something lighter, how you guys came up. How did you...become Destiny's Child, where the name came from? If I'm not mistaken, you three were actually in a group with another female. Girl TYME right?" Benny asks causing my breath to hitch
Joanna.
"Yea, Jo Jo, Jay's...sister." Token comes to realization. I close my eyes and count to ten, only to refrain from crying my eyes out. "Its okay." I smiled softly, fiddling with my fingers
"I take it as if speaking about Joanna is a hard topic to discuss, why dont we reminisce on how you girls were brought up. Michael Jackson and Motown, how did this all happen?" Benny asks
"One day we were sitting in the studio as Michael was recording a song for Off the Wall, the girls and I were writing and humming our own songs but then Mike's producer was like why dont yall hop in the booth. We did and he got in touch with Motown, they liked us and heard us sing again and decided to sign us." Token explains, "So Ciara was an add in? Do you all agree to add her in?"
I shook my head, "No ma'am, one day we got a call to a meeting. We get up there and she's there, they said they had an 'image' and just added her in." I explain with a shrug
"What was your initial reaction when you saw her and found out she was joining the group? What were your thoughs? Token?" Benny asks
Toke bites her lip before shrugging, "I can sense when...someone's energy is off, her energy was always off. When we met her, my reaction was 'oh?' I was fine with her joining but it was something .... strange about the entire situation." Token explains earning a nod from Benny, "Jayden?"
"I thought the girl was gorgeous, I thought she'd make a great addition to our group. I was iffy about the situation too because it was so sudden but I wanted to give her a chance." I explain, "Onyx?"
"I didn't like her at first, she was very manipulating. Like Toke said you can tell her energy was off, it wasn't....I don't know it just wasn't right." Onyx says
For a couple of minutes we went back to the Girl Tyme and watched a couple videos of us singing, my Joanna...it actually made me smile seeing her.
"Jayden, it seems you were...saddened at the topic of your sister. My crew and I actually realized during the break that Joanna was your younger sister and the Joanna Taylor who has been missing for a little over 10 years. Would you like to talk about that?" Benny asks softly
Onyx rubs my hand as I blow out a breath, smiling throughout my pain as flashbacks began to roll in. The good and the bad, I just decided to creep while talking about the situation
"Sure. I um, Jo was my everything. She was my baby, my little girl, I felt like I was her mom and when she went missing it felt like a piece of me left with her. I never...healed and grieved correctly because for some reason I feel like my baby sister is out there, I know she is. I never stopped looking for her, I never stopped thinking about her..." I pause to catch a breath and swallow that painful ball in my throat, the ball that signals that you're about to cry. Yall know
Benny nods, "How did your parents heal?" She asks causing a tear to fall
Token began to rub my other hand as Onyx rubbed my back, "Its okay," she mumbles, "Do you need a moment?" Benny asks causing me to shake my head
After combing my hair out of my face I continue, "My um, my parents and I didn't get along after Jo disappeared, so at 14 I ran away and lived with my grandma for majority of my teenage years. She raised me, got me my first apartment, taught me how to be a woman and I'm grateful. C-Can we go to the next topic?" I ask with a weak smile
They all nod in understanding before Benny smiles, "Alright, lets go to something much lighter, your fans want to know your views on pregnancy. Since you're disbanding are you guys working on starting a family? Token you mentioned adding onto yours with Prince right?" She smirks
Token grins and nods, "Explain how you two met, we were definitely shocked when you guys officially started dating," Ben says
"Umm, P and I have known each other for a while, we met on the Triumph tour with J5, Whitney, and the girls and I. We started off as friends with benefits but then we got addicted to each other and that lead to moving in together. We've been together for about 3 years going on 4 and we just think we're ready." Toke explains, as she talked Onyx and I cheesed like idiots
"Got it, may I say you two are definitely the odd couple, so alike but so different I love it. Onyx you're thinking of adding onto your family? Who are you with?" Ben asks
"My guitarist for my tours, his name is Chris and he's just...the love of my life. Chris is everything I could want in a man, my girls have met him. Chris and I met about a year ago by A-B and Suzie, and we've been together ever since. I told him today I was like 'If Benny asks, I'm gonna announce our relationship' and he was like 'good, i'm tired of hiding'." Onny explains causing Toke and I to smile
"And babies, Chris and I want to wait until I get a couple more tours and albums out. We want to ... build a house and I want a farm, we have a lot of things to do before adding another human onto our list, so we're waiting, but eventually we're gonna get there." Onyx says
Benny nods before turning to me, "Jt, you and Michael actually would've been parents to a 5 year old right? Are you guys thinking of expanding?" She asks causing me to smile
"Yes our little Prince Michael Jackson, he would've been 5. Not a day goes by we dont think of our little heaven baby, but as of now we aren't thinking of babies because of how busy we are. Like Onny said, we still have albums and tours and stuff to get out of our system before we sit and think 'lets have a baby'. But in the future? Definitely, I cant see myself without a replica of me or Michael, hell even both." I explain with a smile
"Alright, now like I said we were going to go back to the topic of Ciara Marina. We actually got in contact and actually decided because this is somewhat a reunion we'd bring her out. So introducing now Former Member of Grammy Winning Former Girl Group Destiny's Child, Ciara Marina." Benny smiles as Ciara walks out
I roll my eyes as she walks past us with a smile, her stomach looked a little bit bloated but okay, "How are you Ciara?" Benny asks, "I'm fine, like I said I would be. Hey Jayden," Ciara smiles
Again I roll my eyes, why is she talking to me though? I wave back softly before crossing my legs, "A little upset are we? I just have a question, why are you lying about what happened? We both know Michael and I were just friends and you got jealous." Ciara smirks
I smack my lips and turn to face her, "Ciara please, you and I know YOU were flirting with my man. I heard you with my own ears, Michael was terrified around you, there is no reason to continue lying." I demanded
"Girl please," she stands to her feet causing me to undo the straps on my shoes, "You and I both know it was nothing more than a friendship!" Ciara yells causing the security to alarm, I stood to my feet and began to walk around the table but the girls hold me back
"That was a rocky start huh? Ciara explains to us what your problem is with Jayden? Why she and she only allegedly targeted you?" Benny asks
Ciara's face kinda fell as she sighed and looked behind her, thats when we noticed Otis from Motown. She stands to her feet and walks off stage
The girls and I share a weird look before Benny clears her throat, "We'll be right back."
The girls and I stand to our feet and go backstage to the makeup station, "Can we talk about what the fuck that was?" Onyx asks as she gets her hair fluffed, "I'm over the entire show, we still have more topics to fill about music and rumors." I said while bouncing my leg
After we finish our hair and makeup, we were called back to the stage, the crew members fix our mics and we set for countdown
"We're back, thankyou for tuning in. Jayden are you calm? Ciara, is everything alright? Who were you looking at?" Benny asks causing her to sigh
"I have a huge confession and apology to make, um..when I was first brought into Destiny's Child, I was brought in by Otis from Motown and it was unexpected to the girls. I thought they knew, but when we met it turned out they didnt. Otis wanted to ruin Jayden for allegedly pulling Michael Jackson away from the label, he convinced me that I would be the star I always dreamed of being if I helped him. He payed me hundreds of thousands, he told me what to do, he gave me good loving if you catch my drift...he just controlled me. When I broke away from DC, I was promised a solo album which is on the way but Otis noticed how the group broke up and Jayden sky rocketed as the other girls did. I admit I did have it out for Jayden because she had the man I wanted, she was everything I wanted to be. The looks, the fame, the popularity, the man- I wanted it all. Otis promised me it all, but as of today I say to hell with that. I'm done ruining my character for a man who uses me as a puppet." Ciara demands, we all just sat back and listened
"Jayden, I owe you and Michael such a huge apology. I do, I know I don't deserve the forgiveness from you two, nor from the fans. I crossed lines and boundaries, I let my jealousy take over me. Onyx, you too, I controlled you because of what Otis was doing to me and it was so wrong so I'm sorry. To you Jayden, to you Onyx, to you Michael and to you the fans. I'm sorry." Ciara states
Eyes landed on Onyx and I as we were basically put on the scene, "I forgive you Ciara, but thats it. Forgive, never forget, move on." Onyx says before looking away
"Um, yea what Onyx said." I agree softly, "Jayden there were times were you and Ciara got into physical altercations, can you speak on that?" Benny asks causing me to sigh
"Its nothing hard to explain, Ciara crossed boundaries like she said and I fractured her nose. I regret putting my hands on her as it was unprofessional but it taught her not to fuck with whats mine, I stand on it. As a teen growing up I used to fight all the time to let the anger towards my parents out, but as an adult I've grown. Being in and seeing fights hurt me because when you fight something had to tick you off to get to that point. It shows weakness and thats what I'm not up for, I hate showing weakness." I let out a soft chuckle as I move my hair out of my face
"Mm, Ciara thankyou for joining us is there anything you'd like to say to the fans or the girls?" Benny asks
She smiles and nods, "This is more so to my fans and my fiancé, Jay, I wanted you to find out this way. In February, we will be expecting a little bundle of joy. Jay I love you so much, my beautiful fans I love you so much. Thank you." Ciara stands to her feet as we politely wish her congratulations and a safe pregnancy
For a couple of minutes we went back to the Girl Tyme days and watched a couple videos of us singing, my Joanna...it actually made me smile seeing her. We talked about music, tours, pregnancy, Michael and everything else. It went smoothly, we laughed at and with other and before you know it we were wrapping up
"Ladies this was amazing, I certainly enjoyed my time with you. Viewers at home we'd like to thank you for tuning in, girls," Benny ques us
"Stream Jayden Janelle on all streaming platforms!" Onyx cheeses, "We can't forget about Above Time though." I smirk, "Oh please, lets talk about La Rosa Negra, stream that! You know whay stream it all!" Token cheeses
Then we blew kisses and did another outro before calling it a shoot! I'm excited to watch this on tv!
"Love you girls, so much." I smiled to them, pecking their foreheads, "Love yall more, yall stay safe." Token said, "Love you both, call me!" Onyx says
After we changed into something comfortable, we went home. I stopped and picked up some snacks, we decided to head back to our healthy eating lifestyle and cut out meats. 🥲
Pray for us, Lord. I can't wait to drop my next album, I've already started recording. Thinking about calling it Deja Vu.
Michael decided to take a break away from music since his brothers are going on tour soon- which Michael is not excited for. He wants me to go but I think I'm gonna stay home, maybe I'll pop up on him for a couple performances
thecutiejt: Thankyou guys sooo much for all the love and support on my debut album! 🥰 iloveyou allll !!!!! 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
onyx: I appreciate every ounce of love and support you guys have given me! Thankyou for believing 🤍 La Rosa Negra ! 🖤🌹
¡Aprecio cada gramo de amor y apoyo que me han brindado! gracias por creer!💫 La Rosa Negra ! 🖤🌹
tokendreamz: Its All Above Time💛.