Photo: Wireimage/Getty
A few years ago I had a discussion with a rep for a major photo wire distribution service. The conversation started when I asked her why photos I had taken of a certain urban celebrity weren’t receiving priority status. I reminded her that the artist was an A-lister.
She broke the truth down to me: there are only about a handful of black A-listers in Hollywood, and only 1 in Atlanta.
In urban entertainment, there is a mythical A-list that every black celebrity thinks they’re on. The reality is a bit harsher. Mainstream magazines and tabloids will not pay big bucks for photos of most urban celebs – even if they think they’re all that.
Sean Combs learned the hard way that although two A-lists exists – only one is important – and his name isn’t on it.
According to the NY Post’s Page Six, Sean Combs lashed out at People magazine for what he saw as lousy placement of photos of the twin girls he had with ex-girlfriend Kim Porter.
There was no mention of it, but I’m sure Sean also bristled at the fact that the mag didn’t offer him nearly the same amount that they offered Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for exclusive pics of their twins.
It isn’t so much about race as evidenced by the fact that there are a few blacks on the real Hollywood A-list. I hesitate to name them though for fear of crushing any overinflated egos.
While Gabrielle Union is a solid C-lister, her status would be permanently elevated to A-lister if she turned up pregnant by, say, Brad Pitt. The demand (and financial offers) for exclusive pics of their baby would be off the charts.
Man as sad as this is, its also true!
true indeed. true indeed. i got “Chance” getting the exclusive in people mag..lol.
Sounds like some serious Bitchassness to me
was that a HINT…if so, could you be referring to Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon? Nevermind…..I think I’m reaching..lol
Sean is always pitchin a fit about something, but i mean in think in this case he has a little bit of a reason…. The man is alllllllllll over the place! Shoot I found out yesterday about the deal with Burger King ( thanks Sandra hahaha, he is the 1st african american to market and sell 3 scents of cologne/perfume at the same time, he is on TV shows, has grammys and everything else why shouldnt he be on the cover….is it because he is not married? I dont like his attitude but I wont knock his hustle.
Sandra who are the handful of A listers that are black…
My guesses…
-Halle and Denzel
-Jay and Beyonce
-in Atlanta? Whitney?
-Is Eddie Murphy still considered A List
-Oprah (not Gayle)
-Will Smith (Jada but only with Will)
Wow alot of egos getting bruised. I can’t believe Puffy still thinks he’s A list. Boo Boo that’s over.
thats what they get for putting prices on children’s head for f*cking photos anyway, how the hell you find the nerve to be mad that your child recieved a cheaper offer off of something you shouldn’t even be negotiating??!!
If he is so worried about someone seeing those babies, why doesn’t he just put them in a Sean John Ad and buy advertisement in People Mag? Don’t nobody wanna see Kim and Seans twins, is what it is…
hahahahahahahaha. dude, only black america cares what you do, and we’re almost tired of you. blacks, latinas, whites, will pick up and buy a mag with jlo on the cover. puffy, not so much. we’ll stand in the aisle, read it, and place it back on the shelf.
is it because he is not married?
Brad and Angie are not married. It’s a black thing.
This is so funny. I like to watch Entertainment Tonight and I notice they NEVER hardly EVER have anything black in their rotation. They had Mario and his “drug addicted” mother, only b/c he is on Dancing With The Stars.
LOL @ #9 saying:
blacks, latinas, whites, will pick up and buy a mag with jlo on the cover. puffy, not so much. we’ll stand in the aisle, read it, and place it back on the shelf
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Whats funny is, I REFUSE to let my daughter pick up an Enquirer, People, or any other mag that doesn’t display us while standing in the checkout lane. If she reaches for any mag, it BETTER be for a Black Enterprise, Jet, or hair magazine. If they don’t cater to us in that aspect, then her next option would be a Better Homes and Garden. They can keep all that other sh!t to themselves. Nobody wants to see Brittney’s nasty crotch or Lindseys coked up nose bleeding or some big ol’ rock headed pale pasty child with a cheese doo in his hand, slobbering all down the front of his shirt. That crap aint worth reading about.
@ Dakotab:
Back when I had that conversation there were 2 A-listers in Atlanta including Whitney. But Whitney moved so now there’s only one in Atlanta who I won’t name. Also at that time, Janet was an A-lister but she wasn’t living in Atlanta back then.
Oh I see he got it mixed up. Just because they come to your parties or let you screw them once in a while doesn’t make you one of them Sean Combs. His best bet for getting off that C+ list is becoming Tom Cruise’s friend.
I’m starting to get hip to this A-List thing. I wish I knew who the only A-Lister in Atlanta was. I’d say it’s Usher, but I don’t really think he’s even an A-Lister. Here is my amended list of black A-Listers.
#1 – Will Smith
Denzel
Michael Jackson
Mariah
Beyonce
Jay-Z
Diddy
50
Rihanna
dakotab
Thanks for the reminder. How could I forget Oprah and Eddie. Eddie is so A list that he has dragged Tracy and Mel B firmly onto the B-List when Mel B used to be a C-lister at best and Tracy wasn’t even on a list. As a matter of fact Eddie dragged Tracy to the C list not B.
A good way to tell who the black A-listers are is to look in the mainstream magazines like In Touch or OK! People magazine runs stories on black A,B, C, and D listers, but those other two magazines don’t. Also, don’t confuse celebs in the same picture as A-listers as being A-listers too. For instance, Beyonce might be an A-lister, but Jay Z isn’t. The same with Janet and Jermaine. MJ hasn’t been an A-lister in a minute. And, LOL, 50 Cent isn’t an A-lister on anybody’s list!
Diddy finally got some reality in his life. Yeah he’s a big deal to “us” sometimes but the rest of America doesn’t think so.
Also, no one wants to see him and his baby mama if the name isn’t Jolie-Pitt. Yeah, the same situation but they’re white and huge in “Hollyweird”.
#13 I AGREE
i thot diddy was A list. he’s got A list money. but maybe he needed some humility to himself. is Tyler Perry considered an A list? Who else besides Usher is black in Atlanta and popular?? T.I. MAYBE!
maybe Janet is A-list?
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you Sandra. 50 Cent’s comments on Barack Obama made the front page of CNN both times. That would make him an A-Lister in my book. When I heard white bankers talking about Jay-Z’s net worth at work I realized he was an A-Lister for sure for sure. As I said the last time we had this discussion Michael Jackson is a living legend who stays in the news at all times for the silliest of reasons. There is nothing he could do in his lifetime to remove him from the A-List. Not only would he be able to get into Hyde, but they’d pay him to come.
I agree with Bird’s list, but I do notice Vanessa Williams getting a lot of attention since Ugly Betty…so she is either A or B list.
I am still stuck on the A-List. I can only think Usher…Sandra, can you give us a hint? Has someone said the right person yet?
sorry I meant to say – I am still stuck on the Atlanta A-List
Diddy has worked very hard to get were he is today and EVERYONE (black, white or purple) respect what he has acheived. It’s not unusual to hear uppity rich white folks who are balling to say things like they are doing it Diddy style. In my opinion, when everyone knows who you are and admires your “come up”, you are A+ List. I understand what you are saying Sandra, but I disagree I think Diddy is and will always be A+ List. There are many legends that are dead and gone who folks generations from now will still be amazed with their stories/achievements. I believe Diddy is on that level.
Sandra says: She broke the truth down to me: there are only about a handful of black A-listers in Hollywood, and only 1 in Atlanta.
I think it’s Usher too. Only because the other folks as I call them like him…But, that d*mn wife is definetly a “D” lister….so basically your husband or wife could be a “A” lister and you could be a non-lister…lol d*mn.
Sandra is right. I wish our people would read. There is a such thing as true socialites. They are the white and jewish and black people who have had money from generations ago. Just look at the reallife house wives of newyork…Puffy and dem cannot buy their way into those circles.. They are classed out:class is a social structure. Paris Hilton and all dem is not true socialites. True socialites sponsor art galleries and charites. I do believe the Apex museum here in the ATL was about to close yet all these R&B singers want to be socialite. My family members attended Howard in the early 1900’s. Puffy Mariah and dem cannot buy their way into this circle. I am telling you. Puffy and all those NBA stars and LaLa dem are Nouveau riche (French for “new rich”)It is very had for white NR’s and jewish NR’s to enter those circles so you can imagine the entertainer going from the ghettoyard to Martha’s Vineyard..They are so silly and silly looking…and when they go to the Kentucky Derby…they will never be accepted into those circles no matter how much money they have..Oprah aint even in those circles….Just by chance she is friends with the Kennedy’s…Let’s create our own space and stop trying to be white…Those circles are about class and you can’t come from the ghetto and country and join them you have to have lineage and Black Ballers dont have that….
Look up the word lineage.
Halle Berry will get alot of money for her baby pics
While Gabrielle Union is a solid C-lister, her status would be permanently elevated to A-lister if she turned up pregnant by, say, Brad Pitt. The demand (and financial offers) for exclusive pics of their baby would be off the charts.
What a great example Sandra! You are right. I heard Brad and Angelina’s twins pics could for AT LEAST 10 Million…..she ain’t even five months is she??
Quite frankly, I don’t think the fact that he was snubbed had anything to do with his “list” status, but his lifestyle. People don’t like him. And quite frankly, no one wants to see another cheating, commitment issue having, baby making black man, and his doormat enabler on the cover. Let’s be real. Kim Porter already made herself look like a fool on the cover of Essence with puff, and know she has two more kids, he still won’t marry her, and top it off, has another child by someone else.
I don’t blame People Mag for not paying them or mentioning it.
You can’t compare Brad to Puffy, Brad is with Angelina, you see him helping with kids, not out in the clubs shaking his arse with some 21 year old on his arm.
The difference is not race or status, it’s lifestyle.
I just want to know who is the 1 A-lister in Atlanta, it has to be Whitney unless there is someone in the A I didnt know lived in the A!