Mary J. Blige just announced her upcoming tour, which seems to be a love letter to her fans. But the announcement itself became the starting point of a conversation about the reckoning that is rocking the music industry following last week's federal indictment of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“When all is said and done, it’s never all said and done, I owe my fans a gratitude that I can’t put into words so I expressed it in a show,” the “Family Affair” singer said Monday on Instagram, announcing the upcoming drop and pre-sale that begins Thursday.
The tour is scheduled for 2025 and will feature R&B superstars Ne-Yo and Mario. No confirmed dates have yet been announced.
In an appearance Monday on the season premiere of “Sherri,” Blige told host Sherri Shepherd that she will be heading out on tour in January and has a new album on the way, “Gratitude,” which is set for release Nov. 15.
“If you’re a Mary J. Blige fan, this is for you,” she said, later adding, “I mean, look at my life right now. I’m in a constant state of gratitude. I feel good. I have jobs and opportunities. I’m healthy. My family is healthy. I have people around me who care about me and love me and I have amazing fans. So I’m so grateful to my fans for all the years of love and support that they’ve given me.”
The singer of hits including “No More Drama” and “Real Love” is scheduled to perform Oct. 26 at the AZ Jazz Fest in Glendale, Arizona, according to her website, which now includes a sneak peek of her For My Fans Tour. The actress and singer, who performed with hip-hop legends Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at the 2022 Super Bowl, last embarked on a solo tour in late 2022. That tour, called Good Morning Gorgeous, was timed with her album of the same name, her first since her lengthy divorce from record producer Kendu Isaacs was finalized. The couple had been married for 15 years.
Blige's representatives did not immediately respond to The Times' requests for comment Monday.
With no details accompanying her tour announcement, fans of the nine-time Grammy winner took to the comments section of her post to make their own guesses. And much of their speculation concerned, not so subtly, the “Mudbound” star’s apparent silence on the allegations surrounding Bad Boy Entertainment co-founder Combs and some troubling rumors circulating this year surrounding Ne-Yo.
“Dude I hope and pray you had nothing to do with that Diddy crap!” one Instagram user wrote in anticipation of Blige’s tour.
“I'm trying to get that money before she says 'MOVE!'” said another.
“This is not the time to be hanging out with Neyo, aunt,” wrote another.
“Get rid of Neyo. He doesn’t look good at the moment,” demanded one fan.
“Dude, you could have done this tour alone without the other two,” one user replied.
“I hope this doesn’t turn into a legal fees tour,” mused another.
Blige, 53, who worked with Combs when he was a producer at Uptown Records early in his career, has been friends with him for years. She remained mum after the hip-hop mogul’s arrest last week and subsequent federal indictment on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution. But in March, after two of Diddy’s homes were raided, Blige posted a cryptic note that appeared to allude to the mounting allegations against Combs and sought to distance herself from his legal troubles.
“Unfortunately, many of you knew me when I had no boundaries and was accommodating to others,” she wrote. “Let me reintroduce myself, I burn bridges when necessary.”
The indictment, which was made public last week, alleges that Combs and his associates lured the women, often under the guise of a romantic relationship. Combs allegedly used force, threats of force, coercion and controlled substances to compel them to engage in sexual acts with male prostitutes during sessions Combs referred to as “freak offs.” Combs is accused of giving the women ketamine, ecstasy and GHB to “keep them compliant and docile” during the performances. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his attorney has maintained his innocence.
Like many celebrities who have been associated with Combs or attended his famous parties, Ne-Yo, 44, found himself back in the Diddy news cycle last week when a video from April resurfaced in which his ex, Sadé Bagnerise — the mother of his two children — referred to him as “Diddy Jr” and accused him of engaging in “crazy affairs.” Bagnerise, who has two children with the “So Sick” singer, also accused Ne-Yo of “body-slapping” her, neglecting their children and emulating Combs’ alleged misconduct, according to the Atlanta Black Star. However, after Bagnerise unleashed on her ex in April, she retracted her statements later that day and apologized for “bringing y’all into our business,” Shade Room reported at the time.
Ne-Yo's representatives declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by The Times on Monday.
Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, was also named in a civil lawsuit against Diddy that was filed by former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard earlier this month. In her complaint, Richard alleged that in late 2009 or early 2010 Ne-Yo, singer Usher and Jimmy Iovine, who was the CEO of Interscope Records at the time, were present at a dinner party hosted by Combs in West Hollywood. While there, she said, she witnessed Combs punch his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in the stomach. She argued that made the musicians and the record label “complicit in Mr. Combs’ conduct.”
Meanwhile, some of Blige's fans remained loyal to her side, celebrating the tour announcement, though not celebrating its unexpected timing.
“As usual. When have you seen Mary address internet gossip and rumors? Never! That’s why she continues to be successful,” wrote one user.
“Mary said she already had a reservation and was busy, so they shouldn’t bother her with that other mess,” said another.
“If you don’t like the lineup, move on. Leave Mary alone. We will not cancel her for any reason. True Mary fans will always support her,” wrote another.
