Fantasia says she tore up both knees ‘trying to fix’ millions in tax debt

Fantasia has a Grammy and multiple NAACP Image Awards, but those entertainment accolades got here at a price. The Color Purple star has endured financial hardships, including debt to the U.S. government.

Forbes met with Fantasia on the set in Atlanta ForbesBLK Summit 2024 in June. In this interview, the “American Idol” Season 3 winner explained how she ended up owing Uncle Sam a seven-figure sum in back taxes.

“I always tell people I lost everything twice, and I think everyone connects that to bankruptcy, but for me it was like I had a group of people on my team who were all about running the business. I look up and I owe a million dollars in taxes, and my lawyer didn’t show up in court because of it, and then they put my house up for auction,” Fantasia recalled to the audience.

The singer and actress also admitted that the financial problems affected her clan of about 5 – 6 individuals who lived along with her in Charlotte, North Carolina. She eventually paid off a tax debt of $1 million. However, Fantasia had to cancel several concert events due to injury in 2018 trying to earn enough money to maintain her lifestyle. She spent the subsequent two years recovery As much because it’s possible.

“In the process of paying that million dollars, I hurt both of my knees. Let’s talk about that. I had to have two knee surgeries, I tore my knees apart trying to fix it,” Fantasia said.

She added: “I lost everything, and then I just went back to work. I didn’t file bankruptcy. I didn’t even know anything about it. Nobody sat me down and said, ‘Look, this is what you can do.’ Either go to work or go to jail. That’s all I could think about, and I wasn’t ready for jail.”

Fantazja’s financial problems date back over a decade. During a conversation with Oprah In 2010, the R&B singer confessed that she hit all-time low when she came upon her card was declined when she tried to pay for a pizza.

IN 2012, TMZ reported that Fantasia listed her five-bedroom Charlotte mansion for $800,000. She originally purchased the house for $1.3 million in 2007. In 2013, the “I Believe” hitmaker supposedly he lost his home by transferring the title to the bank to avoid foreclosure proceedings.

A clip of Fantasia’s performance on the ForbesBLK Summit 2024 recently resurfaced on TikTok. Some commenters Live The post praised the 40-year-old artist for her perseverance. Other TikTok users had questions and concerns.

“Her lawyers did not advise her to file for bankruptcy (thinking face emoji),” one person wrote on the social media site.

Someone else asked, “And she still had to pay her mortgage?” Another wondered, “Did she ever get a letter or email?”

While one fan commented, “That’s why God (blesses) you now because despite everything you had to go through, you still felt joy.” Another fan wrote, “So many lessons from her wisdom and clarity.”

Fantasia was able to bounce back from her financial fall. Her critically acclaimed performance in the 2023 film The Color Purple earned the fact show veteran a win in the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture category on the fifty fifth NAACP Image Awards on March 16, 2024.

She can also be a mother of three children and the wife of Kendell Taylor.