Dear Editor,

In the run-up leading to the official release of the Bob Marley biopic One Love, another controversy is raging on social media.

Former Miss World Cindy Breakspeare, who was oddly silent during the weeks of promotion, shared a cryptic post on Marley’s birthday, adding details about their memories and travels (from 56 Hope Road to other countries) and their now-famous son Damian Marley.

It wasn’t so much the birthday message to which people reacted, but what she added — pictures of their love.

There was immediate backlash following the post, which led to Breakspeare turning off comments. Some of Rita Marley’s — his wife — children followed up with posts honouring their mom, who stood by Marley through thick and thin.

The controversy with Breakspeare made Yahoo entertainment news on which one of the comments, a tweet, was shared: “56 Hope Road was the home of his wife. What a classless woman…” I am sure the producers of the film (which included Rita) didn’t expect any of this; even if it adds to the publicity of the film, it is tasteless.

Breakspeare, in a follow-up video, stated that no one can take from her the intimate experience she shared with Marley, and she will not disown their son. But guess what, no one ever tried to do that. Marley obviously loved her, he wrote songs about her, but the Breakspeare affair is overplayed and overtold, it gets boring after a while.

Breakspeare did not make Marley who he is. In fact, none of his girlfriends claimed they did that; they’ve all remained invisible in the background — except Breakspeare, who continues to claim him as her own, although she’s married. She even complained in past interviews about being seated at the back of National Arena during Marley’s funeral! Where else did she expect to be seated? With his wife and family? With dignitaries?

Breakspeare had an affair with Marley and was present with Rita during his illness and death. It wasn’t long after his funeral that Breakspeare married her first husband in 1981. Marley reportedly had his last child, Makeda, also in 1981, the same year he died, which suggests he had moved on from Breakspeare long before, even if they remained good friends and parents up until his death.

I’ve read a few books on Marley, including Rita’s book No Woman No Cry, which is one of my favourites. I admire her strength, perseverance, and talent. Rita had several children with Marley, she knew him best, from the days when he had nothing. I wonder how many of the girlfriends, including Breakspeare, would’ve had affairs with Marley, a Rastaman, if he wasn’t successful?

The movie
One Love is about Marley and a particular period in his life. Rightly so, it highlighted Rita and her impact as wife and partner, which anchored him.

Rita’s daughters, in an apparent clapback, claimed her as “one queen”. Ziggy Marley, Marley’s and Rita’s eldest son, in a post, added that his mom “tek a bullet in her head” and still showed up next to Marley, the man she loved.

So, as we honour Marley in a film which looks poised to be a global success at the box office, the least Breakspeare can do is be respectful, as a twice-married woman with grown children and grandchildren. She should be very proud of their offspring Damian and his success, but let’s not try to shift the narrative with unnecessary distraction. After all, the message of Marley and the movie is always “one love”.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com