STEPPIN OUT
July 2006
By Krys Longan

Crystal McCrary Anthony's Dirty Laundry

Dirty Laundry is considered the first wide-release movie that deals with homosexuality in the African American community, so it will no doubt be shattering many preconceptions that audiences have about black society. It is a difficult subject to broach successfully, but luckily the film’s executive producer, Crystal McCrary Anthony, knows a thing or two about tackling challenges.

It’s exhausting just to read Crystal’s biography. She started as an entertainment lawyer, then morphed into a television commentator and best-selling author. She has written two novels so far-Homecourt Advantage and Gotham Diaries-both of which made The New York Times best-seller list. Her first novel followed the tumultuous lives of the wives of professional basketball players, which is a subject she knows something about: “My former husband was an NBA player, and I was living that life!” the stunning brunette said. Crystal was married to former New York Knicks star Greg Anthony, and they have two children together. When one considers Crystal’s remarkable list of accomplishments, it’s impossible to place her within the ridiculous confines of the stereotype that she feels continues to dog black women to this day: “Too many movies and books portray the black woman who is sassy, standing with her hands on her hips and rolling her head. [They are portrayed] as having kids with four different men, and being over sexualized.”

Crystal is so impressive she may single-handedly shatter this conception. But she feels a kinship with another strong African American woman: Oprah Winfrey. Crystal will be appearing in the September issue of O, and she had the opportunity to meet Oprah at a recent event. “I don’t get excited about meeting most people,” Crystal recalled, “But when I met Oprah I lost it! When I was in introduced to her, my body made an almost involuntary bowing motion.” (Oh, did I mention that Crystal is funny too? Really, it’s almost too much!) “I think Oprah has an affect on everything from the stock market to the publishing industry...she’s fucking amazing!” Crystal laughed. “She can shift the economy. Someone should write a book called The Oprah Affect.”

Besides being a mother, lawyer, best-selling novelist, and TV personality, Crystal decided to lend her energy to produce Dirty Laundry because she felt this movie has an important message to impart. “Homosexuality is a reality, and I resent when their images are marginalized or stereotyped,” she said. And she thinks if anyone can make this topic into a hit movie, it is Dirty Laundry’s writer and director. “Maurice Jamal is being hailed as the black, gay Woody Allen.” The film stars Rockmund Dunbar of Prison Break fame, along with supermodel Veronica Webb and Loretta Devine from last year’s Oscarwinning movie Crash. “There has not been a film made that tackles homosexuality in the African American lifestyle and in the church. This is the indie film of 2006...and I’m not biased!” she laughed. “It’s an original story, and I thought it would be a great time for me to learn about movie making from soup to nuts.”

Crystal currently lives in New York City with her children, 5-year old Cole and 3-year-old Ella. Dirty Laundry is now playing at film festivals across the country, and goes into national release in December. After she adds executive movie producer to her resume, what’s up next for the phenomenally talented Crystal? “I would like to see a massive attack on illiteracy in early childhood education take place,” she said. “We are in a crisis situation in urban areas of our country.” Hmmm...I don’t think illiteracy stands a chance with Crystal on the case.

For more information on the upcoming release of Dirty Laundry, surf to dirtylaundrythemovie.com. For more information on Crystal, go to crystalmccraryanthony.com.