Motown’s Gordy gets an apology

DreamWorks Pictures, maker of the Oscar-nominated film “Dreamgirls,” apologized to Motown Records founder Berry Gordy for any suggestion that a character in the movie was based on his life.

The apology appeared as a full-page ad Wednesday in the trade publications Variety and Hollywood Reporter.

“ ‘Dreamgirls’ is a work of fiction,” the studio said. “For any confusion that has resulted from our fictional work, we apologize to Mr. Gordy.”

DreamWorks, part of Paramount Pictures, issued the apology after Gordy contacted the company, said Paul Freundlich, a spokesman for Gordy. Freundlich said Gordy was urged to talk to the studio by Motown artists who felt parts of the film reflected badly on the record company and its founder.

“For the past 50 years, I have been protecting the integrity, the love and the talent that is and has become Motown’s legacy,” Gordy said in a statement. “I applaud DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures for doing their part to clearly differentiate the fictional movie ‘Dreamgirls’ from the real Motown.”