BrownBunny
All Star
I don’t usually subscribe to conspiracy theories but the details are sketchy.
So on Aug. 17, 1973 Paul Williams died of an apparent suicide. Now there are several great motives for a suicide. His career was gone, he had a chronic, extremely painful disease that was slowly killing him, and he battled with severe alcohol addiction.
On top of that, he had many debts and found himself supporting two households after an affair. A business he started with his mistress also ended in failure.
Under those conditions it makes perfect sense for him to commit suicide.
But it gets weird when you read the coroners report.
According to the coroner, Williams had used his right hand to shoot himself on the left side of his head. In addition, a bottle of alcohol was found near Williams's left side, as if he had dropped it while being shot. The gun used in the shooting was found to have fired two shots, only one of which had killed Williams.
The only two people who he apparently talked about having thoughts of suicide with was Melvin and Otis. The two members who just happened to be extremely loyal to Motown. He didn’t say anything to his wife, mistress, or best friend.
But if Motown killed Paul, what are there motives?
Eddie Kendricks: A big part of why he left the temps is because Paul was unable to perform too. With Paul out of the way, maybe he would return?
This seems unlikely as Eddie hated Otis and Melvin. He also wasn’t into the psychedelic music phase the Temps went on post David Ruffin. There’s no reason for them to believe he would rejoin.
Money: Paul was still on the payroll leading up to his death. He was paid his one-fifth share of the group's royalties, and kept on the payroll as an advisor and choreographer. He was costing them a lot money and they weren’t getting anything in return.
Reputation: Motown still had an immaculate reputation in the early 1970s. Their stars had to uphold a certain image even with all of the dirt behind the scenes. When Diana was impregnated by Barry, she quickly married her first husband in order to not be seen as an out of wedlock mother. In his final year, Paul openly carried on with his mistress and his alcoholism was so severe, it could have easily caught on to the public.
Extra: Paul tried to jumpstart a solo career in 1973. His singles, co-written with Eddie Kendricks, were blocked by Motown.
So on Aug. 17, 1973 Paul Williams died of an apparent suicide. Now there are several great motives for a suicide. His career was gone, he had a chronic, extremely painful disease that was slowly killing him, and he battled with severe alcohol addiction.
On top of that, he had many debts and found himself supporting two households after an affair. A business he started with his mistress also ended in failure.
Under those conditions it makes perfect sense for him to commit suicide.
But it gets weird when you read the coroners report.
According to the coroner, Williams had used his right hand to shoot himself on the left side of his head. In addition, a bottle of alcohol was found near Williams's left side, as if he had dropped it while being shot. The gun used in the shooting was found to have fired two shots, only one of which had killed Williams.
The only two people who he apparently talked about having thoughts of suicide with was Melvin and Otis. The two members who just happened to be extremely loyal to Motown. He didn’t say anything to his wife, mistress, or best friend.
But if Motown killed Paul, what are there motives?
Eddie Kendricks: A big part of why he left the temps is because Paul was unable to perform too. With Paul out of the way, maybe he would return?
This seems unlikely as Eddie hated Otis and Melvin. He also wasn’t into the psychedelic music phase the Temps went on post David Ruffin. There’s no reason for them to believe he would rejoin.
Money: Paul was still on the payroll leading up to his death. He was paid his one-fifth share of the group's royalties, and kept on the payroll as an advisor and choreographer. He was costing them a lot money and they weren’t getting anything in return.
Reputation: Motown still had an immaculate reputation in the early 1970s. Their stars had to uphold a certain image even with all of the dirt behind the scenes. When Diana was impregnated by Barry, she quickly married her first husband in order to not be seen as an out of wedlock mother. In his final year, Paul openly carried on with his mistress and his alcoholism was so severe, it could have easily caught on to the public.
Extra: Paul tried to jumpstart a solo career in 1973. His singles, co-written with Eddie Kendricks, were blocked by Motown.
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