Farrah Franklin
{{Short description|American R&B singer (born 1981)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Farrah Franklin
| image =
| birth_name = Farrah Laron Franklin
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|5|3}}
| birth_place = Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
| years_active = 1999–present
| alias = Destiny Franklin
| spouse =
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, actress, dancer
| genre = R&B
| label = Columbia (2000), Fo' Reel (2002–2003)
| past_member_of = Destiny's Child
| website =
}}
Farrah Laron Franklin{{Cite web|author=Freddy O|url=https://freddyo.com/destinys-child-memorabilia-selling-for-50000-because-farrah-franklin-lost-her-storage-unit/|title=Destiny's Child Memorabilia Selling for $50,000 Because Farrah Franklin Lost Her Storage Unit|date=August 18, 2011 |access-date=August 19, 2011}} (born May 3, 1981) is an American R&B singer and actress. She is also a former member of the girl group Destiny's Child. Along with Michelle Williams, she replaced the group's original members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett.{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Amy |date=June 5, 2016 |title=The Sad Downfall of Farrah Franklin, Destiny's Forgotten Child |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/05/the-sad-downfall-of-farrah-franklin-destiny-s-forgotten-child |access-date=June 16, 2022}} Franklin spent several months with the group before departing as a member.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2014 |title=See Ex-Destiny's Child Singer Farrah Franklin's Mugshot! |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/destinys-child-farrah-franklin-arrested-mugshot-2014217/ |access-date=September 16, 2022 |website=Us Weekly |language=en-US}} While her musical contribution to the group was minimal, Franklin's vocals are featured on the group's single "Independent Women Part I" which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following her departure.{{Cite web |last=wemissmusic |date=September 14, 2021 |title=21st Anniversary of Destiny's Child's 'Independent Women' |url=https://wemissmusic.com/2021/09/14/anniversary-of-destinys-childs-independent-women/ |access-date=September 16, 2022 |website=WE MISS MUSIC |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=5 reasons why 'Independent Women' is Destiny's Child's weirdest song |url=https://splinternews.com/5-reasons-why-independent-women-is-destinys-childs-weir-1793852758/amp |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=splinternews.com |date=November 5, 2015 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922220247/https://splinternews.com/5-reasons-why-independent-women-is-destinys-childs-weir-1793852758/amp |url-status=dead }}
Early life
Franklin was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and raised in Fresno, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-millionaire-matchmaker/season-2/farrah-franklin-kevin-oh|title=Farrah Franklin & Kevin Oh|date=February 11, 2009}} She was named after Farrah Fawcett by her grandmother as an inspiration of the latter being named after Lana Turner.{{Cite web |last=Thisis50 |first= |date=March 4, 2019 |title=Farrah Franklin Talks About First Joining Destiny's Child & Why She Quit The Group + Much More |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wrNi72cjDok&t=79s |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=YouTube}} She considers Lawrence Bohanon to be her father,{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BG2Y0mrzH_M/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BG2Y0mrzH_M |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title = Farrah Franklin • Instagram}}{{cbignore}} as she never met her biological father, Rodney Allen Heard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BWBuV8VFP3p/|title = Farrah Franklin • Instagram}} She is of African-American and Italian descent, and the oldest of eighteen children, including a younger sister named Karrie. She is also the cousin of late singer and rapper Natina Reed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/9UiXgXTH9u/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/9UiXgXTH9u |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Farrah Franklin • Instagram}}{{cbignore}} Franklin grew up attending church. She started singing at age two, inspired by Bohanon, who played bass guitar in local bands. When Franklin was eight, she began performing in plays at the Fresno Memorial Auditorium. She was in the concert choir at Central High School, where she was bullied. At fifteen, Franklin decided to leave Fresno to pursue a career in entertainment following her aunt's relocation to Los Angeles.{{cite AV media |date=February 1, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQpVKSBR-k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/3fQpVKSBR-k |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=TCVL 88 FFranklin CMAC |publisher=SevagTateosian |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cbignore}} She went by the name 'Destiny Franklin' before her stint in Destiny's Child.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BUiPwoYlgP1/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BUiPwoYlgP1 |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title = Farrah Franklin• Instagram}}{{cbignore}}
Career
= 1999–2000: Destiny's Child =
In 1999, while living in Los Angeles, Franklin was hired to be an extra in the music video for Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills". It was there that she met with group members Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson. At the time, she was in a fledgling singing group called Jane Doe, which was in the process of disbanding. In January 2000, Mathew Knowles invited Franklin and Michelle Williams to join Destiny's Child, replacing previous group members LeToya and LaTavia without notice. The two were introduced to fans in February 2000, by appearing in the music video for "Say My Name".{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1504044/destinys-childs-long-road-to-fame-the-song-isnt-called-survivor-for-nothing/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715070823/http://www.mtv.com/news/1504044/destinys-childs-long-road-to-fame-the-song-isnt-called-survivor-for-nothing/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=Destiny's Child's Long Road to Fame (The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' for Nothing)|website=MTV}} Franklin toured and performed with the group, and also appeared in the music video for "Jumpin', Jumpin'".{{cite AV media |date=October 25, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjw92oUduEM |title=Destiny's Child – Jumpin' Jumpin' (Official Music Video) |publisher=DestinysChildVEVO |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902112932/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjw92oUduEM |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |url-status=live}} She contributed vocals to various Destiny's Child songs, including "Jumpin', Jumpin'" (Remixes), "Upside Down" (Live at VH1 Divas), and "Dot", as well as a few tracks on Survivor, released after her departure, like "Independent Women" and "Dance with Me".{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/artists/Destinys-child|title = Destiny's Child}}
On July 20, 2000, after six months with Destiny's Child, Franklin exited the group. A day later, group member Beyoncé claimed in an interview that Franklin had missed three major promotional dates and expressed a lack of interest in continuing with the group, leaving them with no other choice but to dismiss her.{{cite web|last=Basham |first=David |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428043/destinys-child-talks-split-with-farrah.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203172108/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428043/destinys-child-talks-split-with-farrah.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |title=Destiny's Child Talks Split with Farrah |publisher=MTV.com |date=July 21, 2000 |access-date=May 17, 2012}} In a later interview, Franklin denied Beyoncé's allegation, stating that she had suffered from dehydration and a stomach virus but was recovering as she traveled with the group to do shows in Seattle and Europe. Farrah contended that after being verbally attacked by management, due to her not showing up because she was ill, she stormed out of the room and quit the group.{{cite AV media |date=November 26, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFVfhfAdcOI |title=Farrah: Beyonce Covered Up Real Reason I Quit Destiny's Child |publisher=djvlad |via=YouTube |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108185326/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFVfhfAdcOI |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |url-status=live}}
= 2001–present: Solo projects and Pheenx =
After leaving Destiny's Child, Franklin embarked on a solo career. From 2002 to 2003, she was signed to and dropped from Fo' Reel, where she recorded a song titled "Get at Me" with Method Man. She then spent two years signed to Fabolous's street label, Street Family Entertainment, before getting dropped in 2005.{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459775/20030131/mr_cheecks.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030202094844/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459775/20030131/mr_cheecks.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2003 |title=Mr. Cheeks Casts Ex-Destiny's Child Member As A Shorty With The Fatty – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV.com |date=January 31, 2003 |access-date=November 4, 2012}} Prior to joining Destiny's Child, Franklin appeared in the 1999 feature film Trippin' and began an acting career, starring in 2004's The Brewster Project. In 2006, she was cast in an episode on the sitcom, All of Us. She shot an independent thriller film called Eyes of Darkness, which also featured rapper Jayo Felony, and starred in other films like Single Black Female. She also modeled for Russell Simmons' fashion line Def Jam University and was featured on the covers of Teen People, Ebony, CosmoGirl, Vibe, and Today's Black Woman.[https://www.facebook.com/FarrahFranklinFANPAGE/ Farrah Franklin] Aside from her work as a replacement member in Destiny's Child, she has cameoed in several music videos for artists like Kurupt, Nelly, Mr. Cheeks, and R. L. Huggar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B4loQA4D6N4/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B4loQA4D6N4 |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title = Farrah Franklin • Instagram}}{{cbignore}}
In January 2007, Franklin made an appearance with other former members of Destiny's Child in the E! special Boulevard of Broken Dreams, which documented their experiences in Destiny's Child and the issues that Franklin faced during the months she was present in the group. Franklin insisted that she was mistreated and ignored by management during meetings when she asked questions about the massive deductions in the group's paychecks.{{cite AV media |date=November 3, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0rInWOp68 |title=Boulevard Of Broken Dreams: Destiny's Child |publisher=coolestali |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722065138/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0rInWOp68 |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |url-status=live}}
She released a single called "Lollipop" in 2008.{{cite AV media |date=January 1, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WuvNI4miSo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/5WuvNI4miSo |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Farrah Franklin – Lollipop |publisher=Christopher Porterfield |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cbignore}} In 2009, Franklin joined a new girl group called Pheenx which consisted of members Bethany Grant, Queen, and herself. The group released two singles titled "Post Boy" and "Sharpshooter" before Grant, the lead singer, was dismissed from the trio due to her involvement in pornography. The group later disbanded.{{Cite web |title=The Struggle Is Real! See What This Ex Destiny's Child Singer Is Doing Now|date=November 20, 2015 |url=https://www.iloveoldschoolmusic.com/farrah-franklin-ex-destinys-child-member-we-found-her/2/ |access-date=July 19, 2023 }}
In 2014, Franklin moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta, hoping to restart her career in music.{{Cite web|url=https://theboombox.com/farrah-franklin-new-music-destinys-child-interview/|title = Farrah Franklin Talks New Music, Destiny's Child & Life After the Limelight [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]| date=October 30, 2015 }} In 2015, she released a promotional single called "Magic n Makeup" to all streaming markets on September 15. The music video for the single was released via her official Vevo channel on September 24.{{cite AV media |date=September 24, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRU7VfEhYZg |title=Farrah Franklin – Magic and Make Up |publisher=FarrahFranklinVEVO |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218145202/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRU7VfEhYZg |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |url-status=live}} In 2016, Franklin released a song titled "Over"{{cite AV media |date=June 14, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD8VUKKuy-g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/AD8VUKKuy-g |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Over |publisher=Farrah Franklin |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cbignore}} and uploaded another called "Billion Dollar Fantasy" to SoundCloud in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/farrahfranklin/billion-dollar-fantasy|title=Billion Dollar Fantasy}} In 2018, she collaborated with singer Lucky Harmon on the song "Build Me Up", which she cowrote.{{cite AV media |date=August 10, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNhrb0tuXqM |title=Build Me Up Farrah Franklin ft. Lucky Harmon |publisher=Farrah Franklin |via=YouTube |access-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723180609/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNhrb0tuXqM |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |url-status=live}} Franklin also owns a company called One Love Pictures and Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/farrah-franklin/46/52/a52|title=Farrah Franklin |publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=July 18, 2014}} {{registration required}} In June 2020, she released the single "Push Up On Me" featuring rapper Maino.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CBy3gOJj0fc/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CBy3gOJj0fc |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title = Farrah Franklin • Instagram}}{{cbignore}}
Personal life
In June 2016, Franklin was detained by police in DeKalb County, Georgia on charges of public intoxication and marijuana possession.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7393618/destinys-childs-farrah-franklin-arrested |title=Former Destiny Child's Member Farrah Franklin Arrested For Public Intoxication |date=June 6, 2016 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 7, 2016}} This incident mirrored her 2011 arrest in Culver City, California and her 2014 arrest in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/561515/former-destiny-s-child-member-farrah-franklin-arrested-for-disorderly-conduct-see-her-mug-shot|title = Former Destiny's Child Member Farrah Franklin Arrested for Disorderly Conduct: See Her Mug Shot!|date = July 21, 2014}} Franklin's biological father, Rodney Allen Heard, died in July 2017.
On August 23, 2022, Houston mayor Sylvester Turner declared December 2 as the City of Houston's Farrah Franklin Day.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ClsSn9yu3nu/ |title=Farrah Franklin • Instagram |date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2023}} Later that year, she was also honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in Houston.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ClmlBKVr7lb/?img_index=1 |title=Farrah Franklin • Instagram |date=November 30, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2023}}
Franklin currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1999
|Trippin' |Girl on bed #2 | |
| 2004
|The Brewster Project |Maya | |
| 2008
|Unemployed |Unemployment Clerk | |
| 2009
|Single Black Female |Karma | |
| 2011
|The Preacher's Family |LaJune Carter | |
| 2015
|Tamales and Gumbo |Brenda | |
| 2016
|Rated ATL |Ne Ne | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2006
|Robert's date |1 episode |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| 1999
|"Say My Name" | rowspan="2" |Destiny's Child | |
| rowspan="2" |2000
|"Jumpin', Jumpin{{'"}} | |
| "You Owe Me"
| |
| rowspan="2" |2001
|"It's Over" | |
| "Good Love"
|RL | |
| 2002
|"#1" | |
| 2003
|"Crush on You" | |
| 2009
|"Nothing's Wrong" | |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|"The Hard Way" | |
| "Rock Ya Body"
| |
| 2013
|"Hurry Please" |Farrah Franklin | |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|"I'll Give You Time" | |
| "Magic and Make Up"
| rowspan="2" |Farrah Franklin | |
| 2018
|"Build Me Up" | |
Discography
;Singles
- 2008: "Lolli Pop"
- 2015: "Magic N Makeup"
- 2016: "Over"
- 2017: "Billion Dolla Fantasy"
- 2018: "Build Me Up" (with Lucky Harmon)
- 2020: "Push Up On Me"
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|221822}}
- [http://www.last.fm/music/Farrah+Franklin Farrah Franklin] Last.fm
{{Destiny's Child}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin, Farrah}}
Category:20th-century American women singers
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:African-American women singers
Category:African-American actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:American women pop singers
Category:Actresses from Des Moines, Iowa
Category:Actresses from Fresno, California
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:Musicians from Des Moines, Iowa
Category:Musicians from Fresno, California
Category:Singers from Los Angeles
Category:Destiny's Child members
Category:20th-century American singers