Mary J. Blige’s husband hatin’ on Keyshia Cole

Posted January 22, 2009 by JJSaidIt Staff |Category: Mary J. Blige

R&B star’s husband sparks drama at awards show.

The recent BET Honors tribute to Mary J. Blige had way to many divas to go off without at least a little drama. Producers reportedly wanted Keyshia Cole to do one of Mary’s songs, but apparently Blige’s husband and manager, Kendu Isaacs, was pissed and made the BET staff change the lineup.

Said one event organizer, “He thought there was already too much comparison between Keyshia and Mary and he wanted to make sure that everybody knows that Keyshia is not on Mary’s level”.

The dispute was said to last more than an entire week until the BET staff finally buckled under pressure after threats from Blige’s camp to withdraw completely from the event.

Said the event organizer, “The disagreement escalated all the way up the BET chain of command. It got ugly.” In the end, Keyshia Cole wound up paying tribute to legendary choreographer Judith Jamison while Anita Baker and Monica sang the salute to Mary J.

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Comments

16 Comments »

tee cee's comment says
On January 22, 2009 at 8:25 am
people say he is a mess to work with and you have to beg him to get mary to do any projects that he doesnt want her to do…. mary is getting older and her career will soon be changing and the last thing he wants to do is burn bridges.
Pro's comment says
On January 22, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Ok… dont know the whole story and there is always two sides but come on man… what does it matter, if someone wants to pay tribute to you they proably intend to do things like you do. People get to gas on themselves… Plus kiesha cole is mary same just without the time in…. she should mentor and support not tear keisha down. I cant see how she wouldnt be grateful for kiesha to sing.
RD's comment says
On January 22, 2009 at 12:26 pm
It’s terrible that Kendu would not let Keyshia sing a tribute to honor Mary. Mary is definitely worthy of being honored as an artist and Keyshia as an up and coming artist that has come through tough times shinning brightly just as Mary, you would think they would have shown the young lady some “love”. Anyway Mary is an artist in her own right and for anyone to mistake that Keyshia is on her level is some BULL Kendu is putting out there. It should’ve been used as a vehicle to help an artist such as Keyshia to get to Mary’s level one day. You should never forget that no one gets to the top ALONE.
BrooklynsAngel's comment says
On January 22, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Im feeling Kendu because he is looking out for his wife. Keyshia Cole has been saying slick stuff about the comparison between her and Mary for years. I heard it personally on NY’s Hot 97 about 1.5 years ago. I was offended then and i’m offended now! Keyshia is feeling herself too much, just like the incident with her and Neyo on tour. To make ti work, she cant even perform live. Yes a nice voice, but her stage presence is horrible. She couldnt even perform her own sh*t on BET Awards. I say go Kendu!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mary is the Sh*t, Keyshia is the toilet! Holla, Man Down
1hunnie's comment says
On January 28, 2009 at 8:06 pm
As far as Keisha messing up her own s**t….well hate to take y’all back down memory lane, but I amemba back in da day when Ms. Mary would cut her own song to ribbons!! There were some awards shows in her not so distant past, I had to turn down the vloume! Don’t hate too hard until you clear the smoke and pass the toke. Mary couldn’t always sing either. She has come into her own in the last few years, but there was a time when she sounded like a cat getting skinned! Kendu betta check some old tapes or something, cause wifey wasn’t always Miss Thang! Stop hatin’ on the up and coming, give her a chance to shine.
stanley's comment says
On January 29, 2009 at 8:03 am
man im glad that keisha is not singing at b e t ,for mary,im so sick of her
(keisha)an that dumb reality show,thats why i did not buy her album this time.
jesse's comment says
On February 11, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I believe that every Artist is unique in their own way that is what make them an Artist. I think that it was a dumb move on Mary J Bliges part to not allow the newest Icon Keyshia Cole to sing one of her songs. Mary J you probably ministered to Keyshia during her rough times through your music. Mary J i thought was better then this, You just hurt one of your inspiriations. If Mary J is a mature woman now then why the drama with a dynamic singer. Keep in mind Husband of Mary J , what If God felt this way about You and how yall did Keyshia. That’s not cool. Yes Mary will always be a legend. But Keyshia Cole will also be too. Ms. Cole is young and vibant and is not as old as Mary J. So A reall artist have to deal with their competition and instead of turning it down, be a teacher . Mary J i thought you wanted to mentor or want the best for everybody, why dis Keisha. I thought you were a better woman than that. Keyshia Cole you are the better person, YOu had the chance to still sing that night on Bet in fron of their face and girl you sang!!! I know it felt good to sing your song in front of their face. LOL
Dee's comment says
On February 12, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Now now we all know that Keyshia Cole is not another Mary J but she can be a Beyonce. Mary J desires more but we’re always looking at her faults not the fact that every show she has ever given has sold out and been well worth the dollars. You can always tell who can really sing by their live performances and Keyshia doesn’t sound to well. Don’t get me wrong love her CD’s but just not the live thing. The only reason why her husband didn’t want Keyshia to sing was enlight of her recent slander of Mary J. He is suppose to protect the one he loves.
FeNdIFLEE's comment says
On February 14, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I feel that kendu is wrong….Y punish keyshia for being great and good at what she do. Keyshia is not someone u should be ashamed of if someone says that she remind them of Mary J. Keyshia is keyshia not Mary and she knows that, and so does everyone else, but u cant deny that their struggles are quite the same. Kendu no one is taking Marys place. The tribute was for her not Keyshia so of course Mary is higher then keyshia… As time go on Mary will began to fade black, and it up to the younger generation to bring the past generation back to life. U cant knock Keyshia for wanting to be great and to be in the footsteps of a great woman.
SEXY GRANNY 50's comment says
On February 15, 2009 at 12:39 am
I’VE LOVED MARY SINCE THE 411 HIT THE AIR WAVES.HAVE BEEN TO ALL HER CONCERTS N CONCORD CA. ALL HER MUSIC(CD’S) BUT NOW I DON’T KNOW IT’S LIKE SHE 4GOT WHERE SHE COME FROM SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD TO HELP KEYSHIA COLE SOMEONE HELPED HER @ HER HUSBAND HAD’NT EVEN BEEN THROUGHT OF GOD DON’T LIKE ULGY AND MONICA DID’NT DO A GOOD JOB OF SINGING THAT SONG I’VE RECORDED THE HONORS BUT I CUT THAT PART OUT AND KEYSHIA DID HER THANG SINGING MY FAVORITE SON ON HER OWN CD YOU COMPLETE ME THAT’S MY SONG NOW I PRAY SHE(KEYSHIA)COME TO CONCORD SO I CAN GIVE HER MY MONEY MARY U NEED 2 CHECK YASELF B4 U B BY YASELF WHEN U STARTED WHO DID PEOPLE COMPARE U 2.
mj's comment says
On March 19, 2009 at 7:49 am
i thot kendu was supose to be a pastor or xtian whtever…
Malcolm S's comment says
On April 14, 2009 at 7:12 am
i love mary j blige so much, but hen she first came out A LOT of people didnt agree that she could sing. most people didnt start feeling mary until the album My Life came out, and then after that they came out they started buying her first album too. For awhile her live performances werent 2 great and etc. Even now sometimes she can be a little pitchy its just that so many people respect her so they dont want to be honest about that. and honestly they messed up by having monica do that tribute because it seemed to me that she was trying to hard, it didnt fit monica’s husky alot voice , which is beautiful. keyshias alto/soprano voice would have been perfect and delivering the emotion to the set. So like i said before Kendu might want to wake up and understand that Mary didnt start out at the top either and that we know that there are comparisons. people used to compare mary’s style to anita baker so whats the difference? as long as ur a artist ur style will always be compared to the bes and thats it. i only pray Keyshia’s career blossoms becuz the amount of haterz that artists receive while they’re in the industry is sickening
Yazmar's comment says
On April 14, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Geffen has done everything in their power to market Keisha’s career after Mary’s, and for that I can feel Kendu…however to get in a verbal uproar about the situation as sources have suggested between Mary’s folk and Keisha’s people is ridiculous…No one can take anything away from either artist…I see no comparison between the Mary and Keisha , just two women that make great music!
Shunta's comment says
On August 29, 2009 at 7:41 am
I think her husband need to mind his own business. BET is grateful to have a blck woman representing women all over the world. You are be selfish and ignorant to the fact that it is not about you BET is honoring. Maybe you need to tune in your wife music “no more drama” you are bringing drama. I love you Mary but sometime your own people can stab you in the back.
newmelissa2008's comment says
On January 18, 2010 at 5:11 pm
They know Keyshia will do a better job than Mary herself. It’s really bad when someone can sing your song better than you can.
dmoon29's comment says
On May 17, 2010 at 11:04 am
first of all they can’t melt mary junkie blige down and pour her into KEYSHIA’S league.KEYSHIA has it all,beauty brains,and most of all a gift of uniqueness from GOD that you can’t teach, buy, or learn.IF their lives were switched Keyshia would have received the things junkie is getting now 10 years ago, she would be lost today in this world of made up no talent having cardboard singers of today!!!!!!!!!!!!