Wed 4 Apr 2012
Mary J. Blige Releases Official Statement on Controversial Burger King Ad
Posted by Mr.North under hmmm....? , interview , quotes[19] Comments
There’s been a lot of backlash aimed at Mary J. Blige the past two days. On Monday, a new Burger King ad promoting their new crispy chicken snack wrap released online. Among the many celebrities featured in the new commercials with MJB were David Beckham, Selma Hayek, and Jay Leno. Soon after the feature hit negative criticism followed as viewers questioned Mary’s decision process joining a campaign which many felt brought up stereotypes about African-Americans and chicken. Branding and marketing guru Steve Stoute even took to Twitter to voice his opinion on the 30-second viral spot the following afternoon. Today, the ad was removed by Burger King with a press release explaining the ad was released prematurely. While just a few moments ago The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul issued a statement on the puzzling ad.
“I agreed to be a part of a fun and creative campaign that was supposed to feature a dream sequence. Unfortunately, that’s not what was happening in that clip. I understand my fans being upset by what they saw. But, if you’re a Mary fan, you have to know I would never allow an unfinished spot like the one you saw go out.”
Burger King confirms the ad was removed and has since issued an apology. Expect the final version to drop in the near future.
“We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final.”
via TMZ
If you missed the ad you can watch it after the jump….
Thanks to Hip Hop Wired for the video

April 4th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
there’s nothing wrong with that commercial, it’s just corny.
she doesn’t even know what she’s apologizing for, she’s just doing it so people shut up.
she obviously sang those lyrics in a burger king, what was “added” that wasn’t up to her standards?
Reply
honest guage Reply:
April 5th, 2012 at 2:20 am
Slepton if your black I feel sorry for you, and the ones that influence you. Dont take it personal, but you have digging to do. She made her statement as to why she did it. “HER PERFORMANCE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FOR A DREAM SEQUENCE”. Whch means once she did her set as a “Dream” she thought they would get KHLOE & KAMAR or somebody to act out a dream, with them having the #1 (black) soul voice of the now, sing about chicken. Instead they scrap the idea of a dream, and just used her as the face of their campain. It came out tacky, and she should sue, fuck BK’s sorries. BK gettin that ass whopped by WENDYS, and their looking sloppy tring to keep up.
Reply
April 4th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Here’s what I dont get how the hell are all these unfinished videos, premature commercials, and leaked songs getting out there? Everyday something is being put out there that supposedly wasnt intended to be seen…..how?
Reply
Rhyme & Reason Reply:
April 4th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Exactly!! N where are the assualt charges n arrests at because a dozen somebodies was supposed to had been got they ass whooped!! Matter of fact ask Dj Vlad how he feels about being the only one to be singled out for spilling the beans. LMAO Im just sayin!!
Reply
April 4th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
It’s official! I got my new ringtone! gyeah!
Reply
Miss Info Reply:
April 4th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
omg. you are lying!!! you really turned it into a ringtone??
Reply
jtets Reply:
April 5th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I couldn’t resist, the world makes it too easy with an iphone and a ringtone app!
Reply
April 4th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
A commercial with Rick Ross rapping about McChickens would of made my day, and possibly a heart attack from all the sandwiches that I would be eating. Wait… That’s McDonald’s. Well you heard it here first then.
Reply
one3rd Reply:
April 4th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
9 piece!!!
Reply
Big D Reply:
April 5th, 2012 at 8:23 am
im talking 8 bones!
Reply
April 4th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
don’t see anything wrong with this. not worse than the racist minstrel cupcake commercial.
Reply
Miss Info Reply:
April 4th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
omg. what is the racist cupcake ad? Hahahaa….what I was discussing with ppl is that what about that other MJB car commercial? Not racial at all….but kind of funny
Reply
AlacrityAmir Reply:
April 5th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
I actually googled “racist minstrel cupcake commercial”, because its what most technology savy human beings do first…LOL…and this was one: http://youtu.be/6-7vpabBoLM
They did a parody on the Kimmel show too.
Reply
April 5th, 2012 at 4:27 am
i honestly, dont think this commercial is all too offensive. i mean, you could definitely interpret it as perpetuating black stereotypes and fried chicken, but i think you could just as easily (and possibly even more readily) see it as a harmless yet corny ad with a jingle about chicken. almost like a revamped “two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onion on a sesame seed bun” jingle.
if i heard this commercial as a radio ad and didnt recognize the voice, there would be literally absolutely no racist over or undertones whatsoever.
perhaps im taking this to the extreme but, by being upset at this commercial, it almost seems that we could then have the grounds to be upset over literally any commercial that involves black people and fried chicken no matter the context, because it doesnt get much tamer than this.
im not black, so maybe i just see it in a different light.
Reply
Chris Reply:
April 5th, 2012 at 4:45 am
upon further research online, it seems the only people extolling the racist overtones of this commercial are news outlets, who have the tendency to like doing things like that.
everyone else is talking about why would mary j blige hop onto such a tacky advertising campaign. well, no arguments here. this shits mad corny.
Reply
April 5th, 2012 at 5:59 am
this seem like the perfect plan to distract black people
get mad about one favorite star sing about chicken
and have them fir get about a bigger stroy that deal with real issues like trayvon martin the election that up coming
Reply
April 5th, 2012 at 10:24 am
C’mon MARY. I get that you want to cover yourself but singing those corny lyrics is the real problem. Your fans will support you, so just keep it real. Its a wack commercial, but the check was decent, so you accepted it. Upon further review you realized just how bad the p.r. is, and regret participating but wanna keep the check (which u have managed to do). As for all the race baiters out there, black folks have far greater concerns then a chicken commercial. Nobody is offended by this ad, at least not on racial lines unless you’re walking around with a slave/inferiority complex.
Reply
April 5th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
damn! smh at black people with that “love me massa” syndrome! c’mon, chicken is universal…that commercial had all these uncle toms up in arms! I work with whiteboys, I’ll be damned if on some lunch breaks we don’t hit up a chicken spot & I’ll fuck that food up RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM! not because I’m conditioned to, or because it’s cliche…the shit is good! period. and THEY go hard on it too! I don’t understand the outrage. I thought it was some funny shit that was gonna get laughed off but damn! so many black people always scared of what whitey thinks about them, I feel bad for them. oh and PS Welch’s grape soda just happens to be one the best tasting sodas on earth! Another thing I would guzzle in ANY white person’s face!
Reply
Flowdini Reply:
June 28th, 2012 at 9:05 am
church. puerto rican 100% here , and i’ll tear up some rice and beans like it’s pu$$y in front of any one. by the way , the same people who were offened are the same people who let they white friends say nigga like it’s cool … foh. ps. i love grape soda and cheese doodles too !!!
Reply