MadameNoire Featured Video

We told you last week that Alicia Keys released a single called “Blended Family” that was an ode to Mashonda Tifrere and her son, Kaseem Dean, Jr, who Keys became stepmother to after marrying Swizz Beatz. As previously stated, it wasn’t easy for Keys and Tifrere to put aside their differences, but it was something they did to ensure the happiness of all the children involved.

As it turns out, Keys isn’t the only one working on a project highlighting the importance of a healthy blended family situation. As Tifrere shared with Essence Live, she’s been working on something for some time and felt that coming together with Keys to encourage reconciliation was important. Many people have been #TeamMashonda ever since Tifrere publicly scolded Keys years ago for interfering in her marriage with Beatz. Therefore, it’s important for those same people to see them make peace for a greater purpose.

“Once you are willing to let go of those feelings, forgiving becomes easy,” Tifrere said about moving forward after the painful end of her marriage and 2010 divorce. “It’s an evolution to know you can reach that point as a human being.”

Tifrere stated that she had to put her feelings aside for the sake of their children growing up in a healthy and happy environment. When they were able to do so, they found that they were all able to grow closer. “We had no real choice,” she said. “Having them involved means the world to me.”

But there have been hiccups on the road to reconciliation. When people saw that infamous image of Keys and Beatz locking lips on a beach in St. Barts while Tifrere sat nearby in 2014, many were bothered by it and called it disrespectful. In case you missed it:

Tifrere said she wasn’t bothered by the kiss because they weren’t actually on vacation together. In reality, she dropped in on their beach day while vacationing with a friend to see her son, Kaseem, who was traveling with Beatz and Keys. To Tifrere, they were doing what a married couple does and it didn’t concern her. That’s blended family life for you.

“So that’s funny because we didn’t plan to go on vacation together,” she said. “I was out there with my girlfriend for her birthday and my son was there for Swizz and Alicia for spring break. We all knew we were there together on the same island of St. Barts so I reached out and I was like, ‘Hey, let’s hook up, I want to see Kasseem.’ We made a play date type thing and I came to the beach and met them there. I didn’t know they were going to kiss. He leaned in, he kissed her, and that’s his wife! It didn’t bother me, it didn’t affect me. It’s so bizarre that people find that to be weird or awkward. It’s entertainment for them but it’s actually real life for us. It’s real life. Honestly, from the outside looking in it’s like, ‘Wow, how did you deal with that?’ ‘How could they do that?’ But it’s a natural thing. You kiss your wife, you kiss your husband, you kiss your child, and paparazzi caught the photo. It’s so funny how paparazzi caught that photo [laughs].”

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

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