Fantasia Burrino and Alicia Keys have both made headlines for being sexually/emotionally involved with a married man. In Alicia's case however she did not receive the media scrutiny or backlash that
Fantasia received. Why is that? In this feature article we will discuss in detail why we think Fantasia received more backlash than Alicia Keys, even though BOTH women committed the same "public offense".
To begin let us discuss how the situations were handled. With Alicia's situation with producer/rapper
Swizz Beatz, there was NEVER a public statement from Alicia's people. Even when Mashonda, (Swizz's ex-wife), released public letters to her, in magazines, and even direct attacks via twitter, she never responded. However, Fantasia was photo'd OUT with the married man and even directly denied any involvement with him or knowledge of his marriage. Alicia completely acted as if the situation did not exist, and continued touring and promoting her album, while Fantasia continued to expose her family issues on her hit reality show on VH1.
The main thing this comes to down to is IMAGE. Alicia Keys has always been a respected public figure, a philanthropist, and has always carried herself with a measure of class. Fantasia, however, is known to most of the world as the American Idol singer, who was raped, abused, a high-school drop-out, and to put it bluntly, ghetto. There's a saying that goes, "somethings are better left UNSAID", and it couldn't have been truer in Fantasia's case.
By unintentionally exposing the leeching of her family member's into her wallet and bank account, the disorganization, the drama, and the cancellations of her Broadway Performances with no notice she only made herself an easier target when it comes to public ridicule. Alicia, however has never exposed her personal life, and there has always been next to nothing negative you could say about Alicia.
Next, Fantasia ignorantly got the man's name tatted on her, and as a result tried to get the tattooed covered up. She continued to deny the reports of her affair with the married man, and has YET to acknowledge the fact that he was married and she KNEW of it. Alicia, on the other hand has completely kept her mouth sealed about the situation leaving once again NOTHING for the public to feed off of.
Lastly, Fantasia was not only slapped with a lawsuit, claims of an alleged sextape, but she also attempted to take her on life, only to be photographed with the married man just days later on the set of her new reality show. And to add fuel to the fire an unreleased track named 'Lucky Girl' glorified and nearly justified her affair with a married man, only adding insult to injury.
Conclusion: Alicia Keys never let what anyone said or did get to her, or even get a response from her. She even completely ignored anything negative Swizz's wife (at the time) had to say about her. Fantasia made her story even MORE controversial by attempting "suicide", and recording a track that glorifies an affair with a married man. Fantasia has been ripped apart by mainstream media, and even national reporter Nancy Grace! Alicia's business never made CNN even though she is a much bigger star.
The claims of 'skin color', IMO, are completely invalid due to the fact that Alicia handled her situation in the RIGHT WAY, and Fantasia handled hers in the WRONG WAY!
