An Open Letter to Mary J. Blige Re: Her Buffoonish Burger King Commercial

April 2nd, 2012 - By Renay Alize

Source: ddotomen.com

Dear Mary J.,

Gurl, you know we love you. Like for real. We love your triumph. We love your music. We love your passion. But we have no love whatsoever for the recent debacle you decided to lend your image and vocals to. Mary, sometimes ignorance really is bliss; because up until a few hours ago, I had nothing but warm fuzzy feelings for you. In fact, I was just rocking to one of your jams Madame Noire posted on their Facebook page this morning. I had no idea that just hours later, those warm, fuzzy feelings would be replaced with frosty disappointment in light of troubling new information.

I think you know what I’m referring to. No? Ok, let me refresh your memory:

Unfortunately, my co-worker brought this video to my attention. Even though he tried to warn me that what I was about to witness was going to be a bit unsettling, nothing could have prepared me for the utter buffoonery I saw in that commercial.

Why Mary, why?

This is so beneath you. This harmonizing about chicken is a move I would associate with someone whose glory days were far behind them. You still have so much more to contribute to the arts and entertainment game that there was no reason you had to stoop to stereotypes. And I know you may be thinking everybody, across the world, loves chicken. It’s true, most people get down with the poultry; but as a black woman, singing passionately about chicken is not the move!

Not to mention the way you interrupted the manager to thirstily inquire about the contents of this song-worthy chicken wrap was just too much for me to stomach. And to make a bad situation worse you used the melody from your own song “Don’t Mind.” Mary, boo this hurts my heart, truly. You don’t know how much I love this song. I love it so much I bought it when I’m typically an illegal download type of girl. But now you’ve cheapened it. From now on, every time I listen to this up tempo love song, I’ll associate it with crispy, chicken, three cheeses, lettuce and ranch dressing. Do you see what you’ve done, the ramifications of your actions? You compromised your art to sell chicken wraps for the man. Sigh.

Burger King got you gurl. It’s no secret that they’re losing when it comes to the fast food game. I mean Wendy’s beat their sales this year. They’re desperate. And you know what desperate execs do when they need to make money? They hurriedly throw together clichéd, often stereotypical, advertising campaigns. And that’s where you came in, Mary. Having a black woman sing about chicken was no mistake. They’re trying to reach the “urban” (aka black) demographic. And God knows black folk, won’t buy anything unless there’s a song, and preferably a dance, attached to it.

I know you know that was sarcasm, Mary.

At this point, what’s done is done. But gurl, this cannot happen again. You are the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, not a court jester for the so-called King of Burgers.

With [Tough] Love,

Renay

More on Madame Noire!

 

Tags:

, , , , , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • http://twitter.com/haroldgoodridge harold goodridge

    With all the issues to tackle and take on, you choose this? It’s a non issue. She’s singing about chicken!!! So what??? This is a good way to take attention away from real issues. Now the entire country has to watch this story on CNN like there’s something to it. This is the kind of thing that makes we as black folks appear to be confused, unfocused, and overly sensitive. STOP IT. Let Mary do her thing and stop taking our dialog into this area of REAL buffoonery.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7PIXEDWOHQWNYPHJM3YRMJ37OA KnowNow2

      Harold I agree 100% who is this Renay is she living in the same country as we are where a 17 is shot on the way home?

  • Knight69_199917

    Open letter to Renay,

    Get a life!! Are you kidding me? How does Mary J Blige singing on a Burger King commercial about chicken equate to anything stereotypical? Because she’s black? She’s a a recording super star. Would it have made any difference to you if it was Steven Tyler? Would it be stereotyping white people (white people love chicken just as much as black people, in case you didn’t know)? I seriously doubt they are trying to market solely to the African-America market, but for argument’s sake let’s say they were. Does that not say that BK values the African-American dollar just as much as the “white” dollar? Last I checked they were both green BTW. Perhaps you would rather they put up signs that say “Whites Only” and have the grand wizard from the kkk sing the song in the commercial?? Racism is clearly still a huge problem in this country and it does not need its importance diminished by you in writing such an ignorant piece.

    With Even Tougher Love,

    3atMor3Chicken

  • http://www.facebook.com/DarrinBones Darrin C. Winston Jr.

    Don’t be a “slave” to the money. 

  • Pingback: Today’s Music News: Musicians’ Favorite Opening Day Memories, Mary J. Blige’s Burger King Commercial Pulled, Refused’s Late Night TV Appearance | Call Me A Homo

  • Pingback: Mary J. Blige blasted for Burger King ad | Hot Entertainment News

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/LWEVFGQHXBVZK6UBLY3G5O27XM charlottec

    we do not own the RIGHTS to CHICKEN…black people are NOT the only people that eat chicken….the FREAKING world eats chicken….chicken breast, chicken drums, freaking chicken wraps….WTF….so white people shouldnt do commercials about mayonaise… and i guess popeyes shouldnt use black people either, because i NEVER see any WHITE people in popeyes ads…WTF…get some real issues to discuss, not this nonsense

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/LWEVFGQHXBVZK6UBLY3G5O27XM charlottec

    ok…are you guys SERIOUS….What about allllll the black people in Popeyes ad…..? everything is not racist…..find some real buisness

  • Pingback: Mary J. Blige blasted for Burger King ad - Breaking News Online

  • Julezz

    This post by Renay Alize is part of what’s wrong with America. It’s ridiculous and a damn shame.

  • Shannon

    Black people can NOT rap, sing or dance (especially tap dance) in reference to chicken. #period

  • Pingback: Mary J. Blige’s Burger King Commercial Pulled Due to Music Licensing Issues - News Trail | News Trail

  • Letsdostuff

    Hey, she’ll do or say almost anything if the money’s right!

  • thewolfkin

    Man this commercial is hard to find now.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1486717764 Lannetta Somerville

    While I love reading the articles on this site, turning a mole hill into a mountain on this particular
    topic/commercial is simply …. Simple. It’s almost as if the staff of Madame Noire was LOOKING for something to complain about, get the fans riled up, another reason to pull use “race” versus capitalism as a platform to preach. Compared to the likes of the Kia commercials (using rats in hoodies …i.e. “hood rats”), McDonald’s throwing rap into a commercial to sell smoothies, and even the Sierra Mist “Drop it Like Its Hot” advertising, Mary dropping her vocals for BK is merely a drop in the bucket. To go thru the whole “she’s selling out..” “…this is coonery…” debate is so weak. Reading some of the comments before actually seeing the video, one would think MJB was smacking on a chicken wrap, licked her fingers, and then sung a few bars of “dis shol is guud.” If you REALLY feel that strongly about the commercial, boycott Burger King and any other food chain which uses urban images/black culture to sell to you their products. But before you do that, let’s also keep in mind some of these same readers possibly dine at these establishments on a religious basis due in part to NOT wanting to cook after a hard day of work because it’s convenient – damn the subliminal messages delivered or the unhealthy options offered at their fave fast food spots.

    As a fan of this site, I implore you to focus on what’s NOT publicized about our people, what legislation is trying to encroach upon our communities, and what could possibly hinder the future of our kids.SO many bigger issues are going on which pertain to OUR livelihood, but aren’t
    being discussed. Continue to provide your readers with relative information regarding our health, wealth, and functionality as a race.  Observations such as this video are no more than smoke-and-mirrors for what truly needs to be discussed, dissected, and disseminated. #IJS

    Lah

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Menza/721432075 Mark Menza

    Renay, you’re a maroon.  Really?  This
    “hurts your heart “?!? 
    You can’t get it through your 2 dimensional skull that Mary J is so huge
    that she doesn’t have to take herself so seriously.  The humor is in the fact  that is IS her actually singing it.  And then you call her out because she
    interrupts the manager?  OMG what a
    “horror”! 
    Seriously?  She talks over
    the guy in what can only be described as somewhat well coordinated comedic
    timing.  And YEAH the joke doesn’t
    work if it’s not her actual tune! 
    This coming from someone who admits in the same article “I loved it
    so much that I bought it, when I’m typically an illegal download type of
    girl”.  The only crime on the
    table here is that you have the nerve to call out an artist when you regularly
    STEAL the art.  You loose ALL cred
    when you show who and what you really are.  Oh yeah, and your too dumb to get a joke!  Mary,  you go gurl. . . all the way to the bank.  You’re smart AND funny!

  • Zapcypher

    so if “The Man” is black, is it ok?  Can’t people of other “races” be offended by this?

  • Pingback: Burger King Pulls Controversial Mary J. Blige Ad | Soundabble

  • Dbrowm513123

    This is why white people think we’re dumb . Wtf cares she’s gettin payed and everyone likes chicken . Damn you goes are stupid

    • Suemod

       I’m “white” and I don’t think you’re dumb…but your statement is as broad and biased as the one you’re concerned about hearing.  My best friend in the U.S. isn’t “white”. In fact, I don’t know anyone who is “white” but mainly because I never ever use “black and white” to describe anyone.  Seems such a shame that America is still locked into these child like terms.

  • JillianXO

    A well-known celebrity is hired (presumably for excellent money) to make a commercial that appeals to a demographic?  This has happened for as long as commercials, celebrities and marketing specialists have existed.  Get over it.  And you’re an illegal download type of girl?  No wonder Mary (or another singer/celeb) has to take jobs in commercials!!!!  Shame on you, hypocrite!  I bet you don’t have anything bad to say about white celebs (whose music you illegally downloaded) who make commercials.

  • Lapaul

    Oh for God’s sakes…how ridiculous.  Are you saying black people cannot talk or sing about chicken now?  If you are saying that, it is YOU that is perpetuating a stereotype.  We, as a culture are far beyond this now and you are making a big deal out of absolutely nothing.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →