17 Things We Learned from Part One of The Bobby Brown Story
I think it's safe to say that by now, we've all watched the 2hr and 45min drama that is the life of Mr. Bobby Brown in part one of his biopic, The Bobby Brown Story on BET. I know I'm still humming to the tune of "Every Little Step". If you haven't watched yet, keep reading this article for some juicy #SpoilerAlerts that blew our minds in this epic TV tell-all of the one and only "King" Bobby Brown himself, and be sure to watch Part 2, the epic finale, tonight at 9pm EST on BET!
- Bobby Experienced Death at a Young Age
Part One of the biopic began with teenage Bobby reminiscing on his childhood and a specific moment when one of his best friends from the neighbourhood, James Jimmy "Jimbo" Flint, was stabbed and bled to death, downstairs in his apartment complex in his mother's arms. This scene set the tone for the rest of the biopic and for Bobby's life that was filled with death, hurt and trauma. - Bobby's Older Brother Tommy Brown was his Manager for Years
One good constant of Part One was the relationship between Bobby and his older brother Tommy, played by the very handsome and talented Mekhi Phifer. For people like me who might not have been as in-tuned with Bobby's personal life, this was news to me. I didn't know Bobby had both his mom and dad, his sisters and a brother he was so close to that he served as Bobby's manager (until Bobby got into Cocaine... which we will talk about in a few). - Bobby and Ralph Remained Good Friends
Despite Bobby getting kicked out of New Edition, in a scene where Bobby seems to be at a crossroads with the music he was producing and the type of music he wanted to produce, he turned to his former band mate, and seemingly good friend, Ralph Tresvant (lead singer of New Edition) for musical advice! - L.A. Reid and BabyFace Gave Bobby His Most Successful Solo Album To Date
In 1988, with the help of Music Exec, the late Louil Silas Jr., Bobby teamed up with the #dynamicduo of producers, Anthony "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "BabyFace" Edmonds, to produce Don't Be Cruel, Bobby's most successful solo album of his career. This success came after his previous album, King of Stage, flopped in 1986. - Y'ALL BETTER PUT SOME RESPEK ON KEITH SWEAT's NAME!!!
In an attempt to get Louil Silas Jr., played by Laz Alonzo, to let him work with another music producing genius, Teddy Riley, instead of L.A. Reid and BabyFace, Bobby lists a few successful artists that Riley has worked with. Unfortunately, they're all rappers, causing Silas Jr. to doubt how that would work for Bobby's sound. Bobby quickly snaps back by adding Keith Sweat to the list, which prompts a smooth "who?" from Silas Jr. Chiiiiiiiiiile... I don't know 'bout y'all, but y'all need to PUT SOME RESPEK ON MR. KEITH SWEAT's NAME! LOL! - Bobby Seemed to Enjoy Going to Jail
If it's a good performance you want, it's a good performance you'll get! The biopic showed Bobby's love for his music, performing, and the love he had for his fans, especially the ladies. In a scene where Bobby is about to perform at a concert in Georgia, local cops warn Bobby before he hit the stage, that lewd and sexually suggestive acts on stage warrant an arrest. Bobby assured the officers that he would behave and that it would be a family show, as his "girlfriend" Kim was present. Well... in a matter of minutes, Bobby invited an 18-year-old female from the crowd to join him on stage and basically gave the lady a lap dance and lifted her into the air to bump n grind. The cops rushed Bobby off the stage in handcuffs, which he seemed to relish in, leaving his brother Tommy to comment, "Hah! I think you're the only person I know who intentionally goes to jail!" - JANET. JANET. JANET JACKSON!
I think I speak for EVERYONE when I say the BIGGEST revelation of the night was finding out that Bobby and Janet Jackson hooked up while she was married to backup dancer René Elizondo Jr., and Bobby was still hooking up with his second baby's mother, Kim. Janet, who is mostly private with her personal life, never displayed an inkling that she and Bobby were EVER together, so, to me and almost everyone else who watched last night, Ms. Jackson and Bobby's hookup was the bombshell moment of Part One. According to The Breakfast Club host, Charlamagne Tha God, "If you read the book #EveryLittleStep that Janet and Bobby scene wouldn't have been a surprise" -- read the rest of his IG post below. - Bobby Really Only Loved Two Women
Despite fathering seven children with a number of women, #RIPBobbiKristina, it appears as if the "My Prerogative" singer ever only truly loved Whitney Houston and his current wife, Alicia Etheredge (whom we will address in a few). - Whitney Houston Was... Booed?!?!?!
One thing that came as a shock to me, was that the incomparable Whitney "The Voice" Houston, was booed at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards, supposedly for "being too white". Who knew?! - Speaking of Whitney...
Another revelation that Part One brought us, was that Whitney endured a miscarriage during filming of The Bodyguard. I vaguely remember hearing about this, but hearing about it again last night was a shocker. - Speaking of The Bodyguard...
It's CLEAR that BET does NOT cast their actors for biopics based on looks! But, that's A-OK because the actors didn't necessarily need to look like the celebrity; they embodied them perfectly without the looks. Ethan McDowell, who got a lot of flack on Twitter for not looking like Kevin Costner, was kind and comforting to Whitney in that scene, which is exactly how Costner was to Whitney then. Cree Davis, who portrayed Janet Jackson, was described as looking more like Rebbie, but her Jackson "whisper" was on point! Even down to Ms. Whitney Houston herself, who was played by The Game and Rosewood alum, Gabrielle Dennis, received mixed reviews because she doesn't "look" like Whitney. But did you see her twitches? The way she rolled her words? Bobbed her head? Trembled her lips? Got high? Yup. She was Whitney! - Whitney's Secret Lover...?
I'm only 26, so I probably was not even alive to hear rumors in real time, but I vaguely remember hearing about Whitney possibly having a secret lover who is a woman... her best friend Robin. This relationship was alluded to in the movie subtly, but it was clear that Robin was always around, even after Whitney married Bobby, and that she was there to STAY! The film never made or showed any sexual or romantic scenes, but those who knew could read between the lines. - Bobby Didn't Know That Whitney Did Cocaine
In the movie, it was revealed that the moment Bobby first discovered that Whitney even did drugs, let alone Cocaine, was the morning of their wedding day! Bobby walked in on Whitney who was dressed in a white robe, snorting coke, which Whitney claimed "helps her when she's nervous". Many have speculated over the years whether Bobby introduced Whitney to drugs, vice versa, or if Whitney had been getting high years before she met Bobby. You be the judge... Also, where the heck was Bobbi Kristina for most of Whitney's and Bobby's marriage? - Bobby Had An Affair With His Now... Wife?
After Bobby and Teddy Riley became friends, even after Bobby married Whitney, we see that Bobby and Teddy's lady, Alicia, basically became best friends. I just happened to connect the dots (super late might I add), to come to the realization that this "Alicia" is Bobby's current wife, Alicia Etheredge! *insert surprised emoji* Chiiiiiiile... nothing happened between the pair in Part One, but by the looks of the preview for Part 2, we're about to see how this whole love affair turned marriage unfolded. - Bobby was Sorta Kinda Responsible for His Sister's Fiancé's Death
One of the most dramatic and heartbreaking scenes in Part One, was the death of Bobby's sister's fiancé, Steven "Shot" Sealy, played by Lance Gross. In a nightclub scene where Bobby's asking Steven why he wants to marry his sister, two men walk past Bobby and Steven, prompting Steven to ask Bobby if he knows them. Bobby says, no, but unbeknownst to him, viewers can see that one of the men was the same guy from years ago who pulled a gun on Bobby and Kim in a club. When Bobby and Steven walk outside to their car, Steven stops and notices a black SUV a few feet away inching closer to them. Bobby asks Steven if everything's good, to which Steven replies that he's good. Just as they hop into the car, we see Steven pass Bobby a gun, with his last words being, "Hold onto this". All we hear next are gunshots and see Steven (Lance) laid out in the driver's seat with a splattered and bloodied windshield. It appears as if Bobby's the target, but the shooters got Steven instead. To save his own life, Bobby hops out the car and runs in the opposite direction, haphazardly shooting off the gun Steven just gave him. #RIPShot - Bobby's First Baby's Mother is Married to Carl Payne II in Real Life
After one of Whitney's nights of getting high and fighting with Bobby, Bobby ended up sleeping on his first baby's mother's (Melika) couch. He's awoken by his son Landon (LaLa) who offers him a bowl of Apple Jacks cereal. While they're sitting on the couch, Melika walks in and Bobby thanks her and "Carl" for letting him crash on their couch. This scene went waaaaaaay over my head! It wasn't until earlier today that I learned that "Carl" is Carl Payne II, aka "Cole" from the hit TV comedy, Martin. Talk. About. A. Roller. Coaster. I read somewhere that Carl and Bobby had a falling out, but the biopic didn't show this, so I'm not going any further into that. - And... the best for last
WOODY MCCLAIN CAN ACT, DANCE, and portray BOBBY his ASS OFF! There's really nothing more I have to say on this. If you can't literally see/hear/feel Bobby Brown in him, then you're blind/deaf/dead.
