Since the Evening’s Awards, fans have been questioning Martin Lawrence’s well-being. Beyond concerns for his health, there’s speculation about whether his current struggles might be karma for past actions. Specifically, there’s focus on how he allegedly negatively impacted the life of Lark Voorhees. This video delves into the allegations: Martin’s alleged mistreatment of Lark, purportedly exploiting and mistreating her, publicly ending their relationship, allegedly sabotaging her career, and causing her to exhibit erratic behavior and nonsensical statements.
Personally, I don’t harbor any concerns nor do I exhibit any reasons for worry. In my world, it’s purely fictional.
Lark Voorhees is remembered by many for her role as the fashion-forward Lisa Turtle on the ’80s and ’90s sitcom Saved by the Bell. She exuded style, beauty, and attitude, and retrospectively, she emerges as an underrated style icon.
Some may also recall her appearance on Martin in late 1992, coinciding with her relationship with Martin Lawrence. In a surprising revelation during a 1993 interview with People magazine, Lark confirmed their engagement.
“Darling, I’m at a loss for words.”
Nearly a year later, Martin Lawrence made a surprising appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show and dropped a bombshell during his segment—he revealed his intention to marry another woman. What made the situation even more surreal was that Lark, like the rest of us, found out about the engagement via television. Clearly, Martin had no intention of marrying Lark, evident by his failure to even have the decency to end things with her before making such a public declaration.
Following the breakup, rumors circulated that the ordeal had deeply affected Lark. Friends and colleagues from Saved by the Bell later confessed in interviews that Lark appeared visibly shaken and would flinch at the sight of men passing by. Dustin Diamond, known as Screech, even detailed in his book that after Lark and Martin’s split, she would react fearfully whenever approached by a man. This suggests that Martin’s actions went beyond merely breaking up with her on TV without her knowledge. Screech hinted at more troubling possibilities, suggesting that Martin may have been physically abusive or inflicted serious harm on Lark’s mental well-being.
Adding to the mystery, Lark vanished from the entertainment scene after the incident with Martin Lawrence. When she resurfaced in 2012, her appearance had drastically changed, and her behavior raised speculation among followers. Concern peaked when her mother, Trisha, disclosed to People magazine that Lark was grappling with bipolar disorder, hinting at underlying traumas. Trisha refrained from elaborating on what had traumatized her daughter. However, Lark later refuted these claims in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, insisting that she was fine and no cause for concern. Yet, it was evident to observers that something wasn’t right; her words seemed disjointed, and she appeared disoriented throughout the interview.
It’s akin to undergoing rigorous training, like enlisting in the Army. You prepare yourself physically, mentally, and with all the necessary information. It’s a bit like a boot camp for the stage.
Moving forward two years, Lark reappeared on Entertainment Tonight to discuss her mental health and her mother’s claims about her medication. Once again, Lark maintained she had always been in good health. During this interview, she was accompanied by her husband, Jimmy Green. Together, they addressed their spontaneous marriage and the restraining order Lark’s mother sought against Jimmy, citing concerns for her daughter’s safety. Patricia alleged Jimmy’s affiliation with a Los Angeles gang and described him as a threat, citing instances where she felt endangered, including finding him asleep in her closet. Jimmy dismissed these claims as his mother-in-law’s attempt to control Lark, asserting their love and partnership.
Despite Lark’s defense, her marriage to Jimmy Green was short-lived, ending in divorce six months after the wedding. Jimmy’s attempt to sell a video of them further complicated matters. Lark’s struggles were attributed to a mental breakdown during her time with Martin Lawrence, leading to ongoing deterioration in her mental health. Even her former cast members from “Saved by the Bell” couldn’t engage her in their projects, as seen during a reunion organized by Jimmy Fallon in 2015, where Lisa Turtle and Screech were notably absent. In subsequent interviews, Lark discussed the reunion and the potential for a full cast reunion.
“In anticipation of the reunion, there’s been widespread enthusiasm and support. We even have a demo skit ready for a pivotal moment. It’s a real possibility that things could come together again.”
Back in 2017, during an interview with Gossip TV, she expressed optimism about the possibility of a reunion, stating that the world would clamor for it once more and that they would all eagerly participate. “We were all connecting online, gearing up for it,” she recalled. “So I believe it’s on the horizon, for sure.” However, despite Lark discussing the reunion multiple times, she was notably absent or excluded from a second reunion in 2019. Then, in 2020, she found herself sidelined from the reboot of the very show she had championed for years. Allegedly, her exclusion was due to concerns about her stability on set. Interestingly, many find it plausible that Martin Lawrence played a role in affecting Lark’s mental well-being. After all, this is the same Martin Lawrence who faced a lawsuit from Tisha Campbell in 1997, both on and off-screen. The allegations in the lawsuit were quite damning. They ranged from Martin’s aggressive behavior on set, including yelling and threats, to inappropriate physical contact during intimate scenes, even attempting to kiss with tongue. According to the lawsuit, Martin’s demeanor became increasingly erratic and hostile, escalating into uncontrollable fits of rage for no discernible reason as the show progressed. Tisha and others on set were allegedly subjected to his menacing threats if they didn’t comply with his demands. The situation deteriorated further in subsequent seasons, with Martin’s behavior reportedly causing Tisha immense stress, leading to hospitalization at one point. Despite her complaints, she felt unsupported by the crew. By the fifth season, Tisha felt so threatened by Martin’s conduct that she took measures to protect herself, such as installing a lock on her dressing room door. It was evident to the entire cast that the environment had become toxic, largely attributed to Martin’s actions.
