Mary J. Blige sings to Hillary Clinton (Apple Music screen grab)
On the heels of a public divorce, Mary J. Blige fans roasted the singer after a clip surfaced of Blige singing to Hillary Clinton about behaving politely with police.
Apple Music released two teasers for the singer’s new show called, “The 411 With Mary J. Blige” during the presidential debate Monday. “The 411” will feature Blige interviewing Clinton about African-American concerns.
However, the clips gained traction today after social media mocked Blige for singing to the Democratic nominee about respectability politics.
The music company touted the “intimate conversation” as a sit-down showcasing Blige and Clinton “like you’ve never seen them before.”
An intimate conversation.@MaryJBlige and @HillaryClinton.#The411 coming September 30 on Apple Music.https://t.co/hbaWqf27NP pic.twitter.com/9nYv3G36MO
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 27, 2016
Like you’ve never seen them before.@MaryJBlige sits down with @HillaryClinton.#The411
Coming September 30th.https://t.co/hbaWqfjJcp pic.twitter.com/P2qpm3h3Pm— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 27, 2016
In the clip above, the singer-songwriter is seen crooning Bruce Springsteen’s song “American Skin (41 Shots).”
As she clasps hands with Clinton, Blige sings, “It ain’t no secret, my friend. You can get killed just for living in your American skin.”
But the lyric that has social media users puzzled is one about respectability politics.
“If an officer stops you, always be polite,” Blige sang. “And never ever run away. Promise mama you’ll keep your hands inside. Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet? This is your life.”
GAPeach pointed out the singer’s now-deleted hypocritical response to criticism.
Then, she compared it to Blige’s peaceful message.
https://twitter.com/PoliticsPeach/status/781127665654853632
Good guy shared a quizzical Michael Jackson GIF in reaction to Blige’s song.
https://twitter.com/stephansquiat/status/780614677621534720
Activist DeRay Mckesson thought the interview should be “interesting, to say the least” and said the look on Clinton’s face as Blige sang was “classic.”
The Mary J. Blige/Hillary interview should be interesting, to say the least. Hillary's face while MJB was singing was classic.
— deray (@deray) September 27, 2016
Nyasha pointed out Clinton’s stone-faced reaction to MJB’s tune made her worthy of becoming the next U.S. president.
Anyone who can keep a straight face while Mary J. Blige is singing at them like that deserves to be president
— nya. (@NyashaMC) September 27, 2016
Chihiro Ogino “felt secondhand embarrassment” from watching the clip.
https://twitter.com/WickedBeaute/status/780848390582173696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Referring to Blige’s song “Family Affair,” Kaeptain America imagined she would question the former U.S. secretary about the “hateration” and “holleration in this dancery of America.”
"Sec. Clinton what are you going to do about not just the hateration but also the holleration in this dancery of America?" -Mary J Blige
— cbr™️ (@cbenjaminrucker) September 27, 2016
Still, Blige is no stranger to Clinton. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the singer is a well-known supporter. Blige also debuted her newest song, “Strength of a Woman” at a fundraiser for the presidential candidate in March.
Additionally, she has interview experience though her Apple Beats Radio 1 show, “Real Talk.”
