Critics and fans have fawned over Jennifer Lopez’s strong performance in Hustlers but one important figure wasn’t impressed.
Speaking to Vanity Fair Wednesday (Sept. 17), Samantha Barbash admitted she enjoyed parts of the film that were inspired by her life, but most of it–like many adaptions of real-life events–was fabricated. Barbash refused to give her film rights to the producers of the film, leaving them to rely on the infamous New York magazine feature for the screenplay.
Barbash and former friend Roselyn Keo were arrested in 2014 for allegedly drugging men and stealing upwards of $200,000 from them during their employment at Scores, a gentlemen’s club in New York.
Barbash pleaded guilty to conspiracy, assault, and grand larceny and served five years of probation. Keo took a plea deal in exchange for no jail time. The ladies reportedly indulged in the finer things in life with the money like cards and Hermes bags. The women have defended their actions after claiming the clients were beyond degrading in the club.
As Barbash watched the film with her family over the weekend, she was shocked at the inaccuracies. She tells the outlet that producers offered her “pennies” to be included in the film. She also says she never talked to Lopez about the role.
“I’m a businesswoman. J. Lo doesn’t work for free. Why would I? At the end of the day, I have bags that are worth more than what they wanted to pay me,” she said. “She had my birthmark that I have. I used to have a piercing on the top of my lip. She had it on the bottom. She had a tattoo on her finger. I had it on my wrist.” But her mannerisms? No. I am nothing like that in person.”
The portrayal of her working relationship with Keo was also inaccurate, Barbash said. Social media posts of them partying together reflect a loving friendship but Barbash insists the film take on Keo (named Destiny and played by Constance Wu) was a lie. “She wasn’t a friend—she was a coworker.… There was no sisterhood—it was business and that’s it,” she said.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Lxv_8Z_OTKc
But the now-business owner praised Cardi B’s performance. Although the rapper isn’t in the majority of the film, Barbash wishes she was. “Her 10 minutes was a great 10 minutes…It’s funny because, when I first heard that the film was coming out, [my business partner] said [she wished] Cardi would have played me,” she said. “Even though she is not an actress, she was in the strip club world and she gets it. She would have maybe played a better me. Not taking away from Jennifer. But just because Cardi was in the business.”
Hustlers proved to be a hit at the box office, grossing over $33 million in its opening weekend. Lopez has also received critical praise for her performance which could turn into nominations in the awards sector next year.
