Everybody, including myself has their "Flo" story that clearly demonstrates how nuts this bitch is!
That said I still think she's teriffic and I don't think there's anyone who doesn't enjoy her performances. Now that she's out of Chelsea she's commin' home to roost.
I hope people say how they really feel about Flo. Call her what you will, but honey she's still here and apparently more outrageous that ever at Fez:

CABARET/REVIEW

The Flotilla DeBarge
Minstrel Show
Fez (inside Time Café)
380 Lafayette Street (212)-533-2680

He is Woman, Hear Her Roar!

Flotilla DeBarge serves up chicken, songs, and laughs

She is (black) woman, hear her roar! The formerly large and still-in-charge Flotilla DeBarge opened her new one-woman cabaret show at Fez to strains from the theme song to Sanford and Son. It was the first of many racial and politically incorrect references that make up her Minstrel Show, subtitled An Evening of Song, Comedy and Fried Chicken.

Dressed in a sparkly black dress with watermelon appliqués, DeBarge threw back her shiny Afro and offered a positive self-help message straight from Oprahalong with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, which she aggressively handed out to the audience.

Known for her extensive drag career, DeBarge referred to “the tragedy” that happened in New York as an inspiration for her new act. No, terrorism did not make her decide to write and perform this show. The life-altering event turned out to be her departure from Barracuda, where she hosted a popular Wednesday night party for the past couple of years. Her decision to leave has obviously caused DeBarge to do some serious soul-searching and to explore her Southern roots. This may be the reason for her sometimes-shocking take on black issues and racial stereotypes. How else to explain her tendency to break into “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?”

Until now DeBarge has worked mostly as a lip-synch artist. This show, in which she sings live, is a big leap forward for her. On opening night, she displayed an average singing voice and limited range that improved as she grew more comfortable. A reminiscence of her youth in South Carolina led to a serviceable version of the Otis Redding classic “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.” Later DeBarge moved on to “I Look Good” and “Big Girls,” both of which revisited her East Village salad days as a doyenne of Pyramid and Boy Bar. Between songs she talked to her “flowers” (fresh-cut cotton branches) and made fun of Michael Jackson (who, according to Flo, is actually a “confused white woman”). But she was at her best when she strayed from the script and simply razzed the audience, especially two “skinny white bitches” who were the brunt of many of her jokes. Now this was the Flo we know and love!


Back on message, she discussed her many film and TV roles (To Wong Foo, Flawless, Keep the Faith, Sex and the City, Law and Order), all of which featured her as cracked-out trannie hooker. Talk about range! This introduced a hysterical lip-synched segment from the movie Mahogany, in which Flo flawlessly mouthed Diana Ross’s model-on-the-rise character. Oprah Winfrey in The Color Purple was also honored with a song. DeBarge turned serious for a moment here and there, reading poems by none other than Maya Angelou. These black women of power and dignity have obviously given Flo inspiration following her personal upheaval. Then just when one might start taking her seriously, DeBarge got funny again with her impression of an out-of-control black woman of power, A.K.A. Halle Berry at the Oscars.


During the second half, the Empress of Large seemed to warm up and relax into her material, and her singing reflected it. Her renditions of “Love Me With a Feeling” and “Rock Me, Baby” were sassy and full of fun. Her frank discussions about sex (talking about her “peanut butter pussy—smooth, brown and easy to spread”) and love (joking with a lesbian couple in the audience) had the crowd in stitches. DeBarge still does bawdy humor better than most, and once again her quick wit was on display. A few more songs followed—including a bland “Say a Little Prayer” and a snappy “(African) American Woman”—but DeBarge was out of steam. Running a long 85 minutes, the show could have done without the entirely unsolicited encore, “Do You Want to Know a Secret.” But DeBarge won back the crowd with a couple of old favorites from her early years, “No Bad News” and “Movin’ On Up.” Although it was obvious that DeBarge and director Scott Nevins have worked hard to expand her talents with Minstrel Show, it was these two signature lip-synched songs that really got the audience going. It looks like DeBarge—like all the young, black and gifted women before her when they were just starting out—still needs to find her voice.

JOSEPH MANGHISE/GayCityNews, August,02

It's fun to see drag queens grabbing the brass ring with their painted talons, especially since success seems to make their barbs more loving, their jewelry less dangerous. So thank goddess my sister Flotilla DeBarge has landed a part in HBO's upcoming version of Tony Kushner's Angels in America, co-starring gender-specific biggies like Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. The future oscar winner plays a cross-dressing gospel singer—basically herself—lip-synching "I'm His Child" at a drag queen's funeral. (How Imitation of Life.) And Flo's deservedly kvelling so hard about this break, you could melt Land o' Lakes in her lacquered mouth.
After calming down, she told me, seriously, "They really wanted Jennifer Holliday to wear a fat suit and sing 'I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' from Dreamgirls. When they couldn't get her, they said, 'Scrap that and we'll just get a drag queen.' " ("I am telling you I'm not going to wear a fat suit," Jen must have shrieked on cue.)

They got several drag queens, it turns out; the funeral—which wasn't in the play—is also studded with Lypsinka and members of the Imperial Court. But it's all about DeBarge—the former "empress of large"—who tried out for director Mike Nichols in full getup and sensed she'd nabbed the gig when casting people started talking to her about wardrobe possibilities. "I said, 'Excuse me, but does that mean I have the job?' " relates Flo. "I had Cher tickets and I was like, 'Let's work around these Cher tickets.' They said, 'You don't have the job, but we're not seeing anybody else.' Then Jennifer fell through and I got it." And, more importantly, she still got to see Cher!

So what was it like going from fringe fabulosity to being directed by Nichols? "It was amazing," says Flo, who's Fez-bound again. "He sent me a gift package after the shooting, thanking me for my technical professionalism. It was a handwritten note—not by his secretary, by him. So take that with you, you bitches, to quote Cher!"

La Dolce Musto
by Michael Musto
November 11th, 2002

Flotilla deBarge is totally on my dream dinner party list. I want to make her my jambalaya...it's the best in NYC, or NOLA, for that matter, and I bet that bitch would be lickin' my pan clean afterwards.

girlfriend has been dieting and looking slim as I've ever seen her lately.

Anyone wanna clue us in about Flotilla?

Crazy as a crock pot and just as purty!

Okay, here's what I've heard so far..

That Flotilla was in some kind of altercation at APT on Sunday night, that she was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon (which I have heard alternately was a high heeled shoe and a beer bottle) and is still incarcerated (here I have heard everything from Rikers to Manhattan House of Detention.

If you have any CONFIRMED information I would really appreciate if you could post it here, as we are getting lots of inquiries on this through the Queenmother site and I dont know quite what to say.

Beams to Flo..

I called 311 and got Flotilla's whereabouts off of a prisoners location info line. Flotilla is being held at the Manhattan House of Detention. Kevin maloney saw her today. He was the first person to make contact with Flo since her arrest. She had not spoken until today according to Kevin. Flo's trial is tomorrow. I do not know what the next step is after this. Her bail is $1500. For good or bad or ugly, Flotilla has been a part of this community for years and it turns my stomach to think of any drag sister taken to jail in a wig and full face. It is equally unsettling that she has sat for 4 days without contact from the outside world. Flotilla sustained head wounds and other injuries during the altercation. We all need to send some beautiful white light her way, and pray a fair, safe journey home.

...And also, in the press:
Gay City News Story

that old bitch better work, didnt know she had it in'er, she'll be allright, someone throw her a big ass party!

Flotilla as you will all know in the press very soon was indicted yesterday. The GREAT news. She is also OUT OF JAIL, and has a very good lawyer working in her defense. I was with her and as you can imagine, she is still very shaken up. She sustained some injuries and went immediately to St Vincents. This is a very serious matter, and I really urge everyone to send her your kindest thoughts. A public statement will be issued soon, hopefully clearing up so much wild speculation. It's like a children's game of "telephone" gone absolutley insane.

Great news! Then we should all not call, await her public statement, and give her a chance to catch her breath and repair the damage.
Oh. St. Vincents... not a pleasant experience either, believe me

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hatches,

I spoke to Flo briefly today. She's home, has legal help and particularly wanted to thank everyone who posted here on the M'Boards, and elsewhere, wishing her well. She will most likely be issuing a statement on Monday.

I am accepting donations for Flo as I am sure she is not able to work for a bit. If anyone would like to contribute, please email me at MissSweetieNyc@aol.com and I will see it is put in her hand. Thanks