Earth, Wind & Fire documentary explores band's highs and lows, Maurice White's complicated life

Behind the glitter, grooves and Grammy-winning legacy of Earth, Wind & Fire sits a more complicated story, revealing a more personal side of the band’s founder, Maurice White.

In the HBO documentary, "Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World)," by musician Questlove, the film explores the rise of the legendary band from its beginnings to global superstardom while diving into the complexities of Maurice's personal life.

While the project — which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Festival — celebrates the group’s genre-defining sound and enduring cultural impact, it does not shy away from the fractures behind the fame.

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Relatives of Maurice, who died in 2016, describe a man whose personal life was far more complicated than his public image suggested, including multiple relationships and children born outside his primary partnership.

Marilyn White, a longtime partner of Maurice, said in the film, "Maurice was not exactly the most faithful person. He had other women on the road. Maurice, in fact, got someone pregnant while he was out on the road. I didn’t find out until after she was born. Everyone but me knew. And then he had another son from someone else." 

She recalled a painful confrontation with Maurice.

"I said how could you do that? And he said, 'I’m a star, I can do whatever the f--- I want.' And I said, 'You know what, that makes me feel unworthy.' I am not unworthy and I moved out. He couldn’t believe I did it and I did it."

The film also features Maurice's children, including daughter Mimi White and an interview with his son Eden White.

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"I’m Maurice’s youngest son that we know about," Eden said. "Around the time my mom was making costumes, my dad pursued her and they had a connection. Him and my mom had a pretty tumultuous relationship. He was [continuously] pulling back. By the time I was born, they had been seeing each other for, I believe, around 20 years at that point."

He added that despite the strain, he still struggles to reconcile the emotional complexity of his father’s behavior.

"It was really tough for me to want to pursue a relationship with him. Even as a child I was questioning my mother. I’d ask, ‘Why is he so distant?’ And she explained it to me in what I think is a beautiful way and that’s how I articulate it to this day. ‘Everybody has a door in their heart that they let love in and out of, and he had enough trauma when he was younger that it closed the door for him. And he could only get it open so far.’"

"But when he was making… music, that door would open as wide as it could."

Beyond the personal revelations, Academy Award winner Questlove chronicled the rise of Earth, Wind & Fire and its enigmatic founder, Maurice, in the documentary.

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"From humble beginnings to the epic, celestial, pyrotechnical stadium shows of their height, Questlove's celebratory doc showcases this iconic group's out-of-this-world music, visuals, metaphysics, and joy," a press release on the Tribeca Festival site reads.

The film revisits the band’s origins through friends, family and never-before-seen footage, tracing how Maurice’s vision expanded the group’s sound, scale and theatrical ambition.

It also features interviews with former president Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Flea as well as Lionel Richie, blending animation and archival footage into what's described as "a party of a film." 

The documentary also delves into the band’s inner workings, where several members describe financial frustration and what they viewed as tight creative control.

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Guitarist Johnny Graham said the public image masked a very different reality.

"To the world there was this positive love image presented. But to us, it was totally different. Maurice was always separated from everyone. There was only certain people that could do an interview. If you take a picture, you must stand here in definite positions and there were things that were done intentionally to make you feel small. For one thing, we knew we weren’t getting paid right."

Graham recalled being surprised by his pay: "My first royalty check, Maurice handed to me and he goes, 'Here’s your royalties for the record.' I looked at Maurice and said, 'What’s this?'" Graham said with a laugh.

He eventually walked away from the band.

"There was no reason to go through that sort of a treatment if you’re not getting paid and not making any money. Why be there and be treated that way? I never came back."

The film also notes internal breakups and fallout, including the departure of key musicians, the Phenix Horns, who left to work with Phil Collins.

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Other band members claimed, "Yes, things were expensive, but we were generating millions of dollars and only making $2,500 a week. I think it was less than some of the roadies."

Larry Dunn, a former band member and songwriter, accused Maurice of maintaining tight control over credit and publishing. 

"For the first 8 years, Maurice took everyone’s publishing," Dunn alleged.

Other commentators from the documentary claimed, "Maurice was very slow to give up any kind of credit to anybody. The whole damn band should’ve gotten co-production and credit. But he had to be perceived as the single sole champion of the sound."

Even the band’s legendary stage presence came with a staggering price tag, according to those involved.

Eden recalled his mother, Ellene Warren, explaining the scale of production spent during the disco era: "My mom, she was one of the costume designers. I believe she spent nearly $1 million on fabric and other supplies in one year."

Financial strain was also highlighted behind the curtain.

The documentary suggests the legendary band leader dealt with cash-flow issues. But for Maurice, compromising on the quality of the show just wasn't an option; he was someone who poured everything into his art.

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At its core, the documentary underscores the seismic impact of Earth, Wind & Fire — a band that fused jazz, funk, soul and pop into a global sound that defined an era.

What emerges is a portrait of Maurice as both architect and enigma — a man whose creative vision built an empire and whose personal choices left fractures still being processed decades later.

With numerous gold and platinum certifications, Earth, Wind & Fire has won six Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and has sold more than 90 million albums.

In 1975, the group’s sixth studio album, "That’s the Way of the World," went triple platinum and propelled the band to another level of stardom.

The band is Columbia Records’ bestselling R&B band of all time and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

"Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World)" is streaming now on HBO Max.