Is 'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall' based on a true story? All you need to know about Lifetime’s biopic
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Lifetime is set to bring to life the remarkable story of Youree Dell Harris aka Miss Cleo in the biopic titled 'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall'.
Directed by Tim Reid, the film features American rapper and actress Robin Yvette Allen, popularly called The Lady of Rage, in the titular role of Miss Cleo. The cast also includes Ian Bohen, Shane Johnson, Towanda Braxton, and Jessica Luza, among others.
When Lifetime released the trailer for 'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall' on July 16, 2024, fans were not only thrilled to see The Lady of Rage portraying the iconic 90s TV personality, but also eager to learn about Miss Cleo's rise to fame and the events that led to her eventual downfall.
Who was Miss Cleo?
Miss Cleo became a household name in the late 90s as a popular TV personality through her role as a spokeswoman in commercials for the Psychic Readers Network, a psychic pay-per-call-minute service.
Originally from Los Angeles, Miss Cleo claimed to be a Jamaican shaman and encouraged people to take advantage of her special Tarot reading services.
The trailer for 'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall' reveals that she generated up to $24 million monthly for the Psychic Readers Network through the commercials that aired from 1997 to 2003.
She developed a cult following with her calming persona, patiently listening to callers as they shared intimate details of their lives.
Things began to unravel when the network faced allegations of fraud and deception. As scrutiny increased, Miss Cleo found herself under the spotlight, having to defend her reputation and navigate a looming financial crisis on her own.
The official synopsis for 'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall' reads, "The epic journey picks up in the late 90s’ when, single mom Youree Harris finds herself desperate to take care of her family and takes a job at the Psychic Readers Network -- only to become one of the network’s most beloved personalities, Miss Cleo."
"But her challenges don’t end there and when the network faces allegations of fraud and deception, they turn their sights on Miss Cleo. For the first time, Miss Cleo’s side of the story will finally be told," it further says.
Did Miss Cleo get charged for fraud?
In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged the promoters of Miss Cleo with deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices.
As part of the settlement, the company agreed to pay a $5 million fine and return $500 million in uncashed checks to customers, according to a November 14, 2002 report by Consumer Affairs.
During a lawsuit in Florida, it was also found out that Miss Cleo was born in Los Angeles and had always been an American citizen, contrary to her claim that she was Jamaican. Although she was sued, she was not found liable, according to a report by the Spokesman.
How did Miss Cleo die?
After her collaboration with Psychic Readers Network ended on a terrible note, she continued to offer her "special services".
On her website, she listed down her rate chart for services such as Readings, Energy cleansing, House cleansing, and weddings.
Miss Cleo was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and she died on July 26, 2016, at the age of 53, as per The New York Times.
How to stream 'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall'?
'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall' is scheduled to be released this coming Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 8 pm ET.
The film will be available exclusively on Lifetime, the membership of which comes at a cost as low as $4.99 per month.
'Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall' trailer