When Rihanna agreed to grace the January 2010 cover of GQ magazine readers were expecting to get insight into the highly publicized incident that occurred between her and Chris Brown on February 8, 2009. They were also preparing for the launch of her “Rated R” album and hoping to see whether the unveiled track listing would indicate any personal revelations about the episode. GQ correspondent Lisa DePaulo was also looking for the same thing and when she did not get it, she turned an awkward and a highly interrupted interview into a high-speed chase on paper as we tried to get into Rihanna’s head and the mind of an impulsive manager who goes unnamed. The article is vivid in revealing the challenges of a journalist trying to do her a job and a manager who clearly does not know how to do hers.
DePaulo’s impressive resume includes the ability to interview a music superstar and then the likes of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Michael Steele, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Bobby Kennedy Jr. and make them appear as relevant as the rock star. I spoke to the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communications graduate to discuss her challenges in trying to capture Rihanna.
The Launch Magazine: Lisa, how did you pitch this Rihanna story to GQ?
Lisa DePaulo: Usually, it is the opposite way. The magazine had a plan to interview Rihanna and asked me to do the interview.
LM: In the article, you speak often of a “hovering manager” who interrupts the interview. Are we allowed to know who that person is?
Lisa DePaulo: There is a reason. I did not think that was necessary or informative to the readers to reveal who that manager was.
LM: Did you set up this interview with the manager or with the record label?
Lisa DePaulo: I just showed up to do the interview and that’s the person who was there.
LM: This person plays a big role in the article. That’s why I ask.
Lisa DePaulo: You know, you never know what’s going to happen with celebrities. Sometimes they have a person with them and sometimes they don’t. Usually when they have someone in the room with them they don’t interfere.
LM: Were you given any limitations prior the interview or told what you could not ask?
Lisa DePaulo: No.
LM: But with the way you wrote the piece “hovering manager” was obviously an obstacle for you, especially since you gave the person that name.
Lisa DePaulo: Look, in an ideal world, you interview a celebrity and they are very open and they sit there and talk to you. There is no management going on closing the interview. I really felt that to not include her interruptions and presence would have given an inaccurate portrayal of what the experience was like. But I will say that usually that doesn’t happen. Usually they let the star speak for himself or herself. They don’t usually butt into things. I thought it was unusual and to not put that in there would cast the wrong light on Rihanna. It would make it seem like she wasn’t answering things. The reason she was hesitant at times was because she was interrupted by her own management person.
LM: When the interview was over did you feel good about it or did you feel that you needed a second attempt?
Lisa DePaulo: Oh, I certainly wanted more. I was disappointed and I tried to get more and that was definitely not going to happen. Anytime you interview somebody is and there is some kind of blockade you try again and again to get more from them. They probably felt that we are not going to give in to all these things again. I didn’t want to get into it again but the truth is that they agreed with an interview with a national magazine.
LM: It seemed like an obstacle course to an extent.
Lisa DePaulo: Well, here’s my thought about doing this. Sometimes publicists and managers interfere in a way that’s not in the best interest of their client. Rihanna would have come off a lot better if they just let her speak for herself. Sometimes they interfere to the detriment of their subject, their client. I really feel that if it was just Rihanna and I sitting there and talking it would have been a better interview and she would have come off better.
LM: I had an incomplete feeling in reading it.
Lisa DePaulo: Yeah, I felt the same way. I’ve had this happen over the years where publicist or managers interfere. It doesn’t happen often but when it does you just say, ‘Oh my gosh!.” The best thing they can do is trust their own client.
LM: Was there ever an attempt after the interview to follow up?
Lisa DePaulo: Oh yeah. I said I wanted more time with her. I said I wish she could have answered more questions and they did not oblige that. But at the end of the day, I think all of us would have been a lot happier if the interview was not interrupted and conducted that way.
LM: Was the album at all played or given to you prior interview?
Lisa DePaulo: Yes, I heard most of it. I was there early enough to hear enough and I heard some ahead of time.
LM: And the album was released at that point?
Lisa DePaulo: Certain songs had been released.
LM: You were trying to get into the record during the interview? So far the album has not sold well. Some have said that this album underperformed.
Lisa DePaulo: I haven’t really followed what’s happened with the record. We address certain parts of the record but the things I wanted to get into more were the things I felt cut off by.
LM: What was the feedback form the magazine when you turned this in?
Lisa DePaulo: No, they were fine with it. We all felt the same way that we could have gotten a little deeper. The only thing we discussed was how much to get into the making of the process because at the end of the day, people don’t care about how difficult it is for the writer for the interview. They just want the interview. But in this case, I felt that without putting accurately what happened it was a disservice to Rihanna because it would make it sound like she was just not being forthright or answering things. And I believe that if the manager were not there she would have been more forthcoming.
LM: Was there any feedback from the label
LD: You would have to ask GQ that. Usually you never hear anything back. I would love to have more unfiltered uncensored time with her. She is really cool and really smart and really interesting. I would have loved more time with her and time without staff there.
LM: Lisa, thank you. Where can people go to see more of your work?
Lisa DePaulo: GQ.com