Mary J Blige: 'Burger King advert broke my heart'
Published Jun 28 2012, 16:32 BST | By Robert Copsey
Mary J Blige has admitted that the controversy around her recent Burger King advert 'broke her heart'.The star was criticised over a commercial for the fast food chain which was pulled after it was deemed racist.
Watch the advert below:
She told US radio station Hot.97: "I thought it would have been a great branding opportunity. It never was a chicken commercial, it was about a sandwich, and I was singing about the ingredients in the sandwich. That's what I thought it was.
"It broke my heart. I understand the laughter and the jokes...you're supposed to do that when something like that happens. The thing that hurt me was when people started saying vicious negative things that had nothing to do with it."
She continued: "So many people reached out to me, [they] saw how it went terribly wrong. My brother Busta Rhymes who I love to pieces, he reached out to me. It was a mistake, you know. I didn't think it would come out like that.
"I want to apologise to anyone who was offended or thought I would do something that was so disrespectful to our culture, so forgive me if I hurt you."
Mary J Blige currently stars in the musical movie Rock of Ages, where she plays the owner of a strip club.
Watch Mary J Blige discuss Rock of Ages with Digital Spy below:
I've never heard of this stereotype of black people loving chicken. Even if it is a stereotype, I don't see how it's a bad stereotype or even racist.
Is the offense at the fact that it's a black person singing on the advert? If so then the offended people should be considered racist for making that connection. I don't think Mary was thinking about her skin colour at all nor were the people who employed her for the advert.
July 1st 2012 at 11:01am
............she still got paid
June 28th 2012 at 7:05pm
naff add Mary but cant see how people would get steamed up about this. Sure SOME black people like chicken. thats true, a meat eaten by MANY other races also...just saying. Some people arent happy unless they are offended. Frankly im more offended how a great music start like Mary J has sunk to the levels of promoting a (albeit global) fast food chain. Get back to what you do best Mary. And less of the naff ads please!!
June 28th 2012 at 6:49pm(+1 like)
It's not the full ad - I remember it being a lot worse.
June 29th 2012 at 10:21am
Why do people get offended by absolutely everything these days?
So because one black person sings a song about their love of chicken that somehow translates to every single black person on the planet loving chicken?
The only thing Mary needs to be mindful of is becoming one of those celebrities who will do anything for money. While this advert is not racist, it is extremely corny and will stay with her forever.
June 28th 2012 at 5:50pm
This is so ridiculous so because there is a stereotype of Blacks loving chicken, A PERSON, who happens to be Black cannot sing about loving chicken? The same people will be complaining that there isn't enough Black people on T.V! Is not like she's singing "Give meeeee the chicken for free because of my raaaaace" This is perfect example of political correctness gone MAD! Mary should not apologise for being talented enough for Burger King to ask her to do the advert in the first place.
June 28th 2012 at 5:00pm