HOUSTON,
Texas (Destiny's Child Fans Website) - Two former members of the R&B group
Destiny's Child have settled their lawsuits against the group's current members, its manager and their music label (Sony). Terms of the settlement, announced Wednesday, were not disclosed.
LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson were original members who quit the group in 2000. They later sued lead singer Beyonce Knowles , her father and group manager Mathew Knowles, original member Kelly Rowland and Sony Music for breach of contract, defamation, libel and fraud.
Luckett and Roberson left over unhappiness with Mathew Knowles' control after their original manager died in 1997. Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams replaced the pair; Franklin dropped out months later and the group has since performed as a trio.
But hard feelings arose this year over the 2001 single "Survivor." It includes the lines: "You thought that I'd be stressed without you/ But I'm chillin'/ You thought I wouldn't sell without you/ Sold 9 million."
Luckett and Roberson contended the song was a violation of a previous settlement with Beyonce Knowles and Rowland which precluded either party from making any disparaging public comments.
Beyonce Knowles, who co-wrote "Survivor" said the song was about everybody who ever discouraged the group. "I've had people from school who said we weren't going to make it. We had a label that dropped us," she said about the group formed in Houston when she was eight. "For me, I have no problems with anybody. ... I was 17 when (they left). It was a long time ago ... It's silly."
Luckett and Roberson had sought unspecified damages. Their attorney, Warren M. Fitzgerald Jr., said that the lawsuits were resolved amicably. and his clients were pleased with the negotiated outcome.
"They are happy at this point to put it all behind them," Fitzgerald said. "They do feel vindicated by the course of action they took."
Thomas Fulkerson, who represented Beyonce Knowles, declined to comment and Sony Music could not immediately be reached for comment.
