Fantasia Barrino Coaxed Through Rape Scenes by Director's Son  7/23/06

American Idol star Fantasia Barrino refused to relive her teenage rape ordeal for a harrowing new TV movie until director Debbie Allen's sensitive son was recruited to play her brutal lover.

The singer didn't even think she'd be able to watch the rape scenes being shot on the set of Life is not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story and told Allen she'd have to hire a body double for the part.

But Barrino agreed to play herself in the end, thanks to a friendship she formed with Allen's actor son DeVaughn Wilson, who plays her attacker in the film.

The singer says, "I went through a lot of different emotions... It was really tough because I called Debbie and I said, 'I can't do it. I'm not doing it.'

"She talked to me, and she helped me out a lot. And the good part about it is her son played the part. And he came in, and he was so warm and funny.

"I said, 'All right. If you touch me, I'm going to punch you.' He goes, 'I'm going to punch you back.' So it made it a whole lot easier for me."