‘I Was Embarrassed For Kim’: Mary J. Blige Reveals Being ‘Pissed Off’ When Diana Ross Touched Lil Kim During VMAs, Says People Need To Respect Lil Kim

Mary J. Blige has been living her best life since her divorce to her ex-husband Kendu Issacs and her Instagram is telling the tale. She’s also been sharing more about her own iconic history in the entertainment business, and she spoke up about a decades-old event that is pitting her against another diva – Diana Ross.

Though it’s been decades since Mary hit the scene, she’s morphed into one of the Black community’s most successful multi-hyphenates, spinning her tales of heartbreak and heartbreak into a career that encompasses film, TV and music. She’s conquered all three areas and has even been a spokesperson, model and more. It’s still the music that drives the conversation for many.

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A post shared by Mary J Blige (@therealmaryjblige) on Sep 9, 2020 at 11:54am PDT

Still, Mary’s been unfettered in reaching for more success as she transitioned out of life as a married woman and into one where she’s single, loving herself and living again.

Power Book II: Ghost premiered September 6th, 2020 and features Blige joining the franchise alongside her once-duet partner Method Man. Returning Power stars Naturi Naughton and Michael Rainey, Jr. also feature in the show, which covers events after the original series ended by Naughton and Rainey’s characters.

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In the show that reunites the Grammy award winning combo of Method Man with Mary J. Blige, Mary plays new character Monet Tejada, queen pin of a crime family, a role unlike one that Blige has played before. Rainey’s character opposes Blige’s family and Method Man plays a high-powered attorney Davis McClean.

The two of them also reunited recently on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, and they discussed another iconic diva that Mary had the chance of crossing paths with back in 1999, Diana Ross.

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Similar to Janet Jackson’s “Nipplegate” incident in some ways without all the uproar, there was an awkward moment during the MTV Music Video Awards in 1999 that had people talking for years, for many reasons. It all centered around one pint-sized female rapper – Lil Kim.

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At the time, Mary J. Blige, Diana Ross and Lil Kim were all presenting an award. As was Kim’s customary fashion, she was wearing a couture outfit that only Kim could pull off, and one that people still talk about to this day – a custom one-shoulder jumpsuit that had only a small piece of fabric covering one of her body.

As is legend now, Ross famously touched Kim’s breast and pointed it out on camera while the group was about to present their award. While Kim later laughed it off in interviews, calling it “friendly,” Blige was embarrassed for her friend, and told Andy Cohen that when asked about it.

“I mean, I was embarrassed for Kim and I was really pissed when that happened because that’s my little sister and my friend,” Blige said on air. “Kim is courageous. She’s going to do what Kim does so I think we all should respect it. We should respect Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj and Cardi. So respect Lil Kim. This is what they do. Respect them. Aye, it’s what they do.”

See the clip below.