Diana Ross, an iconic figure in the music industry, has long been celebrated for her immense talent and contributions to Motown.

However, her rise to fame is not without controversy.

From rumored affairs with powerful men to the dynamics within her group, the Supremes, Ross’s journey has sparked debates about her character and intentions.

Diana Ross grew up in Detroit, where she first crossed paths with Smokey Robinson, a fellow Motown artist.

Their friendship blossomed into a romantic affair, which was complicated by the fact that Smokey was married at the time.

This relationship reportedly lasted longer than it should have, as both were navigating their personal lives and careers.

Smokey admired Diana’s talent and ambition, but their affair eventually ended when Diana chose to prioritize her career and avoid hurting Smokey’s wife, Claudette.

 

The music industry is rife with rumors, and Diana Ross was no exception.

Some believed she leveraged her relationships with influential men, including Barry Gordy, the founder of Motown, to propel her career.

While many artists had talent, Diana’s connection to Gordy raised questions about whether her success was due to her abilities or her strategic alliances.

 

Diana’s relationship with Gordy was complex.

Initially, he served as her mentor, helping her navigate the music scene.

However, as Diana’s ambition grew, so did their relationship, leading to speculation about their romantic involvement.

Despite Gordy’s denials, many insiders believed there was more than just a professional connection between them.

As Diana’s star began to rise, tensions within the Supremes escalated.

Originally a trio, the group became increasingly centered around Diana, leading to feelings of betrayal among her bandmates, particularly Florence Ballard.

Barry Gordy’s decision to promote Diana as the lead singer and even rename the group to “Diana Ross and the Supremes” alienated the other members.

Florence felt overshadowed and unappreciated, which ultimately contributed to her struggles with depression and substance abuse.

 

The fallout from this shift was significant.

Florence was eventually removed from the group, leading her to file a lawsuit against Motown, claiming that Diana and Gordy conspired to oust her.

The legal battle was a reflection of the deep-seated issues within the group and the industry at large.

 

Florence Ballard’s life ended tragically at just 32 years old, leaving a void in the music community.

At her funeral, Diana’s appearance was met with mixed reactions.

Many mourners felt her presence was an attempt to draw attention away from Florence’s memory, leading to resentment and anger.

This moment highlighted the ongoing rivalry and complicated relationship between the two women.

Diana Ross has faced criticism throughout her career, with some labeling her as cold and calculating.

While some view her as a strong, independent woman who made savvy choices, others believe she used her relationships to climb the ladder of success.

The perception of her character has been shaped by her actions and the narratives constructed around them.

 

Mary Wilson, another member of the Supremes, has spoken candidly about Diana’s behavior.

She described Diana as someone who often sought the spotlight and used her connections to gain advantages.

This perspective has fueled debates about Diana’s legacy and the price of fame.

 

Beyond her professional life, Diana has faced personal challenges, including a public arrest for drunk driving.

This incident, along with her struggles with alcohol, added to the complexities of her public persona.

Despite these setbacks, Diana has managed to maintain her status as a beloved figure in the music industry.

Diana Ross’s journey through the music world is a blend of talent, ambition, and controversy.

While she has undeniably made significant contributions to the industry, the narratives surrounding her relationships and the dynamics within the Supremes continue to provoke discussion.

Whether viewed as a savvy businesswoman or a ruthless opportunist, Diana Ross remains an enduring symbol of Motown’s legacy, leaving an indelible mark on music history.

Her story serves as a reminder of the complexities of fame and the human experiences that shape our perceptions of iconic figures.

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there is a certain thing that about Diane that has always been the way she is period since she was since I knew her at at the age of 13 and that would that would be she wants everything herself diana Ross rose to become Mottown’s biggest icon but if the rumors are to be believed finding out how she did it might make you not look at her the same way again from having an affair with Smokeoky Robinson while he was married you said the two of you actually were dating at one point yes okay mhm did that last a long time or was that just

00:44
sort of brief and Well it lasted uh probably longer than it should cuz I was married at the time to also having an affair with Barry Gordy there’s so many things you know i can start with being a very very good friend a lover a mentor some actually believe that Diana Ross slept her way to the top which of course is a knock on her talents whether her rise was really more because of her intimacy with Mottown brass more than her talents as a singer that’s something we can’t say for sure but we do know that’s what some people

01:19
in the industry believe let’s get into it smokey thank you very much but what are you doing here i thought you were in Burbank doing your show no wait wait baby this is my mic back in the day there were a lot of rumors about Smokeoky Robinson and Diana Ross one of the wildest rumors said they were the real parents of Michael Jackson now that sounds crazy right most people laughed at the idea i don’t believe it either but let me tell you where that rumor came from mottown had a lot of secret relationships going on they were

01:53
young wild and living fast this happened later yeah that happened later happened after I got married you know after I got them signed up in Mottown and all that that’s when that started people were hooking up left and right the idea of Smokeoky Robinson and Diana Ross having an affair should not surprise anyone mottown was full of drama smokey was even trying to get with Barry Gord’s wife at one point when Smokey was 12 years old he met Diana Ross she lived just four doors down from him diana Ross is my really good friend okay we grew up

02:29
four doors down the street from each other and we’ve always been close she was a little younger than him and at that time he did not know she could sing to him she was just another kid in the neighborhood they would see each other all the time but there was nothing special between them back then it wasn’t until years later that he found out about her singing talent diana and her family later moved to the Brewster Projects a housing community in Detroit when I found out she could sing was when she moved away from the from the block

03:03
she moved to a place called the Brewster Projects one day after Smokeoky had already started working with Mottown Records Diana called him she told him she had a singing group and wanted him to listen to them she hoped he would help them get signed to Mottown this was the first time Smokey realized she was serious about music he had no idea before that she even wanted to be a singer and after we started Mottown she called me one day and she said “Hey Smoke I got this group you know and uh I want you to hear us so you can sign us

03:37
up at Mottown.” Yes Smokey was married at the time his wife Cludet Robinson was also a singer in The Miracles they had a deep love and they built a life together but things were not always perfect while he was working at Mottown and helping artists like Diana something unexpected happened smokey and Diana started having an affair it was not planned they did not go after each other it just happened they spent a lot of time together and feelings grew between them the affair lasted for about a year smokey loved

04:11
Diana but he also loved his wife he was caught between two women well it lasted uh probably longer than it should cuz I was married at the time diana was young and she was trying to make a name for herself in the music world smokey was helping her and they became very close he admired her talent and her ambition she was a beautiful woman and he could not resist her but Diana started to feel guilty she knew Clawudette and she knew that Smokey still loved his wife one day she told Smokey that she could not continue the

04:46
affair she did not want to hurt Claudette smokey understood he respected Diana’s feelings and their romantic relationship ended even though the affair ended their friendship did not smokey and Diana remained close over the years they had a special bond that never faded smokey always spoke highly of Diana he said she was one of the closest people in his life he never stopped caring about her many people believe that Diana loved him but she also knew that their relationship could not last forever her career was growing and she had big

05:30
dreams of becoming a solo star being with Smokey a married man could bring problems she decided to end their relationship thinking it was the best choice for her future smokey was heartbroken when Diana left him he truly cared about her and it was not easy for him to let go he later said that he understood why she made that decision but it still hurt him deeply their close bond was never the same again some people believed there was tension between them after the breakup diana moved on focusing on her career and getting involved in other

06:09
relationships while Smokey was left with his feelings many fans and people in the music industry talked about Diana’s choices some saw her as a strong independent woman who made smart decisions others thought she was cold and used people to reach her goals [Applause] no one can say for sure what her true intentions were some people say she liked the idea of making other women jealous she wanted people to know that she could have any man she wanted for example Diana Ross had a thing with Eddie Kendricks from The

06:50
Temptations before he got married but even after he got married some say she still messed around with him that might have been her way of showing his wife you think you got him but he’s still coming back to me diana Ross gets a lot of backlash for these stories but that’s because she was the most famous female singer to come out of Mottown the truth is she wasn’t the only one doing these things it wasn’t just the women either the men were just as bad barry Gordy was messing around with Diana Ross even though he was married to Reoma some