Three years after he picked them to round out the all-girl pop group he’d been assembling, Diddy gave Aubrey O’Day and D. Woods the proverbial boot during Tuesday night’s live season-three finale of “Making the Band 4,” leaving only Aundrea Fimbres, Shannon Bex and Dawn Richard to carry on as Danity Kane. Diddy’s reason for the dismissals? Fame turned O’Day into someone he no longer recognized, he said via satellite, and D. Woods was merely guilty by association, caught up in the shrapnel of O’Day’s celebrity.
But according to Richard, it was O’Day’s image that gave Diddy pause.
“Puff did not like [O’Day’s] image … where her image was going for the group,” she told UsMagazine.com. “It wasn’t a personal thing,” she added, explaining that O’Day’s recent topless appearance on the cover of Complex magazine wasn’t sending the right message to the group’s fans.
“We had just did a signing with Dollhouse Teen, which is for 13-, 14-year-old young girls,” Richard continued. “So, we can’t do that one day and then the next day do an obnoxious cover. … [Diddy] wants the fans, and he says he can’t do that if we can continue to go in the direction that we were going.”
While Diddy said he would work with Woods in the future, O’Day’s time is over. But the group will continue, Richard said.
“Well, Puff told me specifically that Aubrey is no longer in Danity Kane, and Danity Kane will move forward without her,” she explained, adding that Diddy hasn’t mentioned anything about replacing the two singers. “He has not said anything per that. But I think in my heart that he is going to do another show.” {Source}
Peep Aubrey’s speech/clash with Diddy at the finale below (D. Woods did not attend the show):
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Now, as some of you may know, That Grape Juice was on-site ALL-DAY at the 2008 MOBO Awards here in London yesterday. Having not yet watched the finale of Making The Band 4, yet knowing it was aired live, imagine my surprise when I spotted a certain D.Woods sitting right in front of me with her publicist (a friend of That Grape Juice).
After exchanging pleasantries (she is very familiar with the site, dating back to our interview with her back in February) and watching her present an award , I spoke with her on the side about what exactly is going on with Danity Kane (bare in mind I knew nothing of what went down at the finale), she confirmed she’d reveal all in an inteview with That Grape Juice (which will hopefully be in the coming week(s)). Interestingly, however, when shouting out the site, she introduced herself in a way that will leave many scratching their heads, somewhat. Check it out:
Hmmmm…
Wait…there’s more. After the airing of the finale, a press release from MTV touting ‘bonus episodes’ of Making The Band to air in 2009. Check out an extract of what to expect:
With the future of Danity Kane still up in the air, Day26 pursuing their dreams and Donnie Klang working his way to the top, where do they go from here? MTV is extending the drama into 2009 with bonus episodes of the hit reality series “Making The Band.” The saga will continue with the remaining members of Danity Kane, their label mates Day26 and Donnie Klang as they all embark on the next phases of their Bad Boy careers.
The extended season will pick-up where the last one left off…Following all the drama and turmoil from the cliffhanger on the live finale. Fans will catch-up with Day26 as they go out on their own and experience what it’s like to be the opening act for more established recording artists. Can they stay focused and make it on their own without the support of their label mates? Donnie Klang will continue to strive and prove to Diddy that he has what it takes to be a solid solo artist and go on tour with more well known musical acts. Will the hectic pace of the music business put too much strain on Dawn and Que’s romance or will it make their love stronger? The Danity Kane story will continue to unfold after Diddy’s shocking decision to remove Aubrey and D. Woods from the group. Will the Band live on without them? Will Aubrey and D. Woods return to Danity Kane? The bonus episodes will follow MTV’s favorite “Making The Band” artists as they give it all they have while trying to remain true to themselves in the process.
I’m still pretty surprised at the whole thing. I’ll hold my tongue until I learn/hear more of what is going on.
Your thoughts?