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.
