Suffice it to Say – CM Marion Barry is Pissed at NBC’s Tom Sherwood

It's really sad that @HBO solicits two white men to write a story about my life, profit therefrom, and has not talked to me once.

— Marion S. Barry, Jr. (@marionbarryjr) May 2, 2014

A lotta action on former Mayor and current Council Member Marion Barry’s twitter page starting around 9:45 and concluding around 10 this morning:

“It’s really sad that @HBO solicits two white men to write a story about my life, profit therefrom, and has not talked to me once.

@tomsherwood has made a career riding me, and now is working with @HBO & George Pelocanos to further exploit my life. Disgusted.

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.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself @tomsherwood. How does it feel to profit off of my life? Off of my service? My struggles?

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

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

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.

Hide behind your contract with @hbo @tomsherwood. But u cannot hide from me your arrogance & exploitation & disrespect.

Some white people really do think they should tell the history of black experiences. Sad paternalists. We can speak for ourselves.”

Ed. Note: The Hollywood Reporter reports:

“HBO Films is developing an untitled television biopic centered on former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, whom [Eddie] Murphy would play should the project move forward.

Journalists Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood have been tapped to consult, along with The Nine Lives of Marion Barry filmmakers Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer. Jaffe and Sherwood penned a book published in 1994 entitled Dream City detailing politics in D.C.”

Washington CityPaper 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.”

CityPaper also notes George Pelecanos will be on the screenwriting team.