Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry is best known nationally for having been arrested for smoking crack long before anyone had ever heard of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Barry has nonetheless remained a towering figure in D.C. city politics for decades. Now a city councilman, Barry took to social media to express his displeasure with HBO’s planned movie about his life.
In his rant he calls out HBO, director Spike Lee, “12 Years a Slave” producer John Ridley, D.C. crime novelist George Pelecanos who has also written episodes of “The Wire” for HBO, and NBC4 reporter Tom Sherwood. Barry had met with Ridley about the HBO project but decided not to support it. The Washington City Paper reports:
Barry says he turned against the HBO project after having dinner with John Ridley, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave who was attached to the project with Spike Lee as the director. Barry says he was unhappy with how Ridley planned to portray his arrest at the Vista Hotel for smoking crack.
Ridley and Pelecanos are attached to the project as writers and Sherwood is a consultant. Barry reportedly plans to sell the movie rights to his autobiography for another biopic.
@tomsherwood has made a career riding me, and now is working with @HBO & George Pelocanos to further exploit my life. Disgusted.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
I'm appalled at HBO, @tomsherwood and Pelocanos. As for you Tom, please don't ever call me again for anything.You've coopted my life enough.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
You ought to be ashamed of yourself @tomsherwood. How does it feel to profit off of my life? Off of my service? My struggles?
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
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Does it feel good @tomsherwood to write about my life, to profit from my life? Just because u are asked doesn't not make it right. #Coopt
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
Just so u know @hbo, @tomsherwood, U don't know the half of my life.But u don't care u just want 2 exploit another man's life 4 ur own gain
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
Really @Tomsherwood do think u even know me or my history to TRY to write about MY life? Typical. The lion always wants to tell the story.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
Hide behind your contract with @hbo @tomsherwood. But u cannot hide from me your arrogance & exploitation & disrespect.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
Some white people really do think they should tell the history of black experiences. Sad paternalists. We can speak for ourselves.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
@SpikeLee I've always respected YOU & a filmmaker but I'm disgusted that @hbo is trying to tell MY life w/o working w/the 1 who lived it.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
@hbo @SpikeLee between Ridleys nigger rant & @tomsherwood career of disdain, yeah, this is ridiculous. http://t.co/Jbr9t8tXD5
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
Does it bother u @hbo @spikelee that u hired Ridley who went on a tirade against "niggers" 2 write a script about me who LOVES black people?
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
It's not ok 4 Donald Sterling to project hatred of black people but for Oscar winning Ridley it is? @hbo @SpikeLee DO THE RIGHT THING YA DIG
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
@byaaroncdavis AND #oscar winning John Ridley who railed against "NIGGERS" in Esquire. Offended they are hired to write about my life.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
I'm so tired of people using my name & life in vain. I've fought the good fight for 50 years. Good bye.
— Remembering Barry (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014
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