Former BET CEO Debra Lee Opens Up About Affair With BET Founder Bob Johnson & Saying ‘No’ To Oprah and Aretha In New Memoir

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Debra Lee’s new memoir “I Am Debra Lee” is making waves as she gets candid about her interactions with Aretha Franklin and Oprah Winfrey, and confirms the long-rumored affair with BET founder Bob Johnson. Deets about her new book inside…

Former BET CEO Debra Lee’s new memoir, “I Am Debra Lee,” is making waves with its eye-opening revelations. The memoir shares insights into Lee’s legendary career and the challenges she encountered, as well as personal anecdotes that shed light on her journey.

One eyebrow-raising chapter discusses Lee’s interactions with powerful women such as the late legendary singer Aretha Franklin and media mogul Oprah Winfrey. Lee candidly reveals how she had to navigate the requests and demands of these formidable women, explaining that her experiences gave her the necessary tools to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

Lee and Aretha Franklin’s paths first crossed in 2003, when Lee was planning a tribute concert for the legendary singer at BET’s Walk of Fame benefit concert. However, the singer’s requests for the event were far from simple; in fact, they included asking for a “full winter wardrobe” and a diamond Harry Winston watch worth $50,000. Despite being BET’s COO at the time, Lee didn’t simply give in to Franklin’s demands, instead opting to negotiate compromises that ultimately led to a lasting friendship between the two.

“I didn’t have very many female role models. I never worked for one,” Lee, 68, tells PEOPLE. “The prominent people in my career were always men. So, it was great to get to know Aretha, and I was a little terrified of her at first.”

“[Aretha] was the kind of celebrity that would call me directly. A lot of artists will call the head of programming or the person doing the musical award show, but she had no hesitation to call me directly.

“I had to learn how to deal with her. Some of her requests I couldn’t say yes to. I had to learn how to say no to her and stand up to her. And I think over time she respected me for that, and we really developed a relationship. So, the song she [sang] when I was in sixth grade, that I used to sing to, ‘Respect,’ really manifested itself in my relationship with her.”

“She always demanded respect, and she handled her financial affairs. She made her own decisions about what she wanted to do and what she didn’t want to do. I was never really sure what she thought of me, but in the end, I’d like to say we were friends.”

Debra Lee’s memoir also reveals a memorable encounter with media mogul Oprah Winfrey. According to the book, Lee, who was the CEO of BET at the time, turned down Lady O’s request to purchase ad slots on BET to promote her cable network, OWN, citing the competition between the two channels.

“It felt not pleasant,” she says of their conversation. “But I also knew I couldn’t let her do that. I wouldn’t let any other Black targeted network buy time on BET. And, as I explained to Oprah, ABC doesn’t let NBC advertise on their network and the same with CBS. It was difficult, but I explained to her my rationale, and I hope in the end that she understood it.”

Lee’s memoir also confirms a long-rumored affair with BET founder Bob Johnson while they were both married.

Despite both being married at the time, Lee reveals intimate details of their relationship, including how Johnson used his power to manipulate her. In an interview with Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America,” Lee referred to Johnson as her mentor and credited him for much of her success before delving into their affair.

She shares how Johnson used his power to manipulate her into a relationship and control her schedule. Despite the toxicity of the situation, Lee found a way to overcome it and ultimately become CEO of the company.

“The downfall of a relationship like that is if you want to get out of it,” she adds. “I wanted to break up, I saw that it wasn’t a longterm relationship, and my job and my career was held over my head.”

“If you want to break up with me, you can leave tomorrow,” Lee claims Johnson told her after she attempted to call it quits. “That was 20 years into my career at BET, so I would’ve lost everything.”

Watch the clip below:

Lee took over as the Chairman and CEO of BET in 2005 when Johnson left the network, and she held the position until 2018.

While some have praised Lee for her transparency, others have criticized her for being hypocritical. Peep some reactions below:

 

“I Am Debra Lee” offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and career of a trailblazing executive who shattered glass ceilings and paved the way for future generations.

 

Will you be picking up a copy?

Photo: DFree/Shutterstock/Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America

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