Finally! The small sidebar in Entertainment Weekly was not enough to sate Gothamist's interest in Farnsworth Bentley, aka P. Diddy's umbrella wielding man servant/personal assistant/motivational coach (he changed the umbrella for a bullhorn and help the Diddy train for the marathon), and the Times anticipated that. The Style section's lengthy article about Bentley and his new line of umbrellas ($160 umbrellas - brilliant!) told us the following things about Derek Watkins (the un-Diddified name of Bentley):
- Farnsworth went to middle school with Andre 3000 of Outkast. "Another childhood friend remembers Mr. Bentley and his third-grade girlfriend coordinating ensembles."The Times article mentions a discussion on blog, rudderless, debating whether or not Farnsworth is positive or negative black role model. Gothamist can understand that the image of subservient black man isn't that great, but neither is a gangsta rapper. Bentley's rise to fame is definitely less bizarre than Paris Hilton's. Plus he's friends with Outkast - that counts for something is our book.
- Bentley was a manager at Eleven Madison Park and hated it; he messaged Diddy, "Please don't make me go back to my hater boss."
- Bentley's parents wanted him to quit after the photographer of him holding Diddy's umbrella.
- He hated his nickname "Farnsworth Bentley" at first
- Bentley, insisting he was not Diddy's butler but a personal assistant, says his Diddy responsibilities "included waking his boss in the morning, fetching caramel macchiatos from Starbucks, fielding phone calls, packing and unpacking P. Diddy's suitcases, and picking out his clothes. He also said he sat in on business meetings." Hmm. Maybe not butler, but how is valet?
- Farnsworth would like "to have his own Hollywood empire, a restaurant and a children's show on Nickelodeon that would fill the void left by the death of Mr. Rogers." Perfect - Farnsworth can teach kids the values of pocket squares and having a different umbrella for everyday - sort of like Preppy Eye for the Four-Feet High set.
Farnsworth Bentley's umbrellas will be sold online at mr-bentley.com this spring.
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Farnsworth wasn't a butler, or even a valet. Majordomo is the most apt description.
Ooh, I love the word "majordomo." Also, it's too bad that portraying someone as a service worker is somehow degrading, either to their race or some other identifier. Service workers make the world go 'round, and they have plenty to be proud of.
Confused...he seems really really gay. No, not metrosexual at all. Just flamingly gay. Doesn't really mesh with P.Diddy's image.
maˇjor-doˇmo
Pronunciation Key (mjr-dm)
n. pl. maˇjor-doˇmos
The head steward or butler in the household of a sovereign or great noble.
A steward or butler.
One who makes arrangements or directs affairs for another
The pictures of him in the Times were hilarious, with all his funny little prance-y poses, like some bastard dandy-offspring of Quentin Crisp and Andre 3000...
Only $160 for an umbrella?! What a steal! In my annaul budget I allocate $500 for umbrellas, just to get me through the rainy seasons.
That Farnsworthdomo is a low-priced genius!
He's Sam to Diddy's Frodo.
Farnsworth Bentley is an inspiration!
where and what brand clothings does mr farnsworth bentley wear and how can i purchase some of those ties and suits similar to those worn by him.
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I THINK FARNSWORTH IS SOOO FINE....I DONT CURR WUT NE1 SAYS ABOUT HIM...AND TO THE PPL WHO SAY HE'S GAY I THINK THEY'RE JUS HATERS CUZ THEY'RE MAD THEY COULD NEVA LOOK GOOD IN STUFF HE WEARS. BUT YEA...WHEN I FIRS SAW HIM ON THE SHO MAKIN THE BAND 2...I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM AND I RELE THANK HE'S GUNNA MAKE IT, I DONT KNO IN WUT BUT I THANK HE'S GREAT! ! !
Why dont he just paint is face black and lips white and tap dance for us.
Just go the whole nine yards and get it over with.
I am glad he found a niche in the market and went for it... but soon he will become the idea and actually belive the two (human and image) are the same...
That is when it will be sad to see.
I Love you Mr.Bently.....I think your so hot
Your gonna make it..keep the umbrellas tight
At sickcandy.com there is more on Mr. Bentley and an apparent umbrella showdown.
The Times article mentions a discussion on blog, rudderless, debating whether or not Farnsworth is positive or negative black role model. Gothamist can understand that the image of (A) subservient black man isn't that great, but neither is a gangsta rapper. Bentley's rise to fame is definitely less bizarre than Paris Hilton's. Plus he's friends with Outkast - that counts for something is (IN) our book.
Just took a photo with farsworth on 34th street in Manhattan about 30 minutes agoery nice guy and so cute!
does anyone know where i can get buddy icons of farnsworth??????
I love you mr.bentley you are the finest and hottest man I know you look just like my boyfriend and nice umbrella in your photo
your going to make it don't worry about those haters
I just found out farnsworth's name is really derrick watkins. thank goodness for that! I felt bad for him having the name farnsworth bentley. I don't care where you come from, that's a name chock full of jokes. and personal assistant to p. diddy? more like butler. man-servant has a lot of innuendos to it. if he went to morehouse and got a solid education, what is he doin holding p.diddy's umbrella? has p.diddy gotten soo famous that he cannot hold his own? does he think he's the king of england? no one is that special that they can have someone do for them what they can do for themselves. p.diddy, if you really think the best of farnsworth, fire him and let him find a job that is worth his time and his education. I seriously doubt there is any course in any college that teaches you how to be a servant or butler/maid/whatever. I wouldn't take a job like that. it's an insult. nevermind to what race, it's just an insult to people in general. p.diddy, hold your own umbrella. set a good example for your children and let them see their father doing for himself, and not having a college-educated individual playing the part of cadbury (richie rich's butler). have some pride, derrick (aka farnsworth). call yourself what you want, but you know your family probably hates it. I know I do. I see you as a very attractive and talented man, but you aren't showing it. you are just coming across to me as the 2004 version of stepin fetchit. you know who that is? good. you are him right now. get some pride, man. and speaking of man, what self-respecting man walks behind p.diddy with an umbrella? I saw that picture. it made me think of the days of slavery when black people said "yes massa". I apologize if it offends people, but I think farnsworth bentely offends people. farnsworth/derrick/whatever you wanna call yourself, if you wanna set a good example to people of all walks of life, stop being diddy's man-servant and start being yourself.
My friend Bethany looooves Bentley. He keeps her hope in men alive!!!! Thanks Bentley u have turned her life around
Farnsworth bentley is my role model, he is a perfect example of the American dream as he worked his way upat Bad Boy starting as a butler, now a road manager and is now making umbrellas, mr bentley don't worry about what people thikng u are my greatest inspiration
You guys are all craazy. Bentley is the hottest guy I have ever seen in my life. I am boy craazy and really pciky and Bentley meets my top needs (and wants ;) ) I love you Farnsworth you are sooo hot boi!
I think what the masses of people have not yet acknowledged, is that this young black man has devised a way of succesfully maketing a product(himself) and making massive amounts of money in doing so.
However, I am sure that it may perplex some groups of people that he is not knocking you in your head and taking your purse and or being killed on a street corner, because after all, isn't that what the media shows you we as African American people do.
You see somehow, when young black males sneak in under the radar of certain groups or classes, it completely throws off their equilibrium. I personally find it fantastic that this Morehouse graduate is taking some steps toward personal success.
To the ladies and gentlemen who find Farnsworth Bentley offesive, take great refuge in the fact that he probably does not care what you think. I find Adam Samler ridiculous, but some folk' think he's funny. So, rest asure that Mr. Bentley is cashing checks for amounts that surpass the value of your raggedy opinions.
i agree with holly 100 percent, just because he isn't the same image as a rapper doesn' mean he isn't making a sh!tload of money, do ur thing bentley