Mary J. Blige

“So I had to keep those people in my life and take responsibility. My responsibility was I was ignorant to a lot of things and blame it on everybody else. So I took full responsibility.”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige discussed taking responsibility for her ignorance rather than blaming others.

“I said a lot of things when I was younger, because I didn’t want them, kids. I saw a lot of people, I saw a lot of my family members needing babysitters and them not having a choice, and you know, no freedom. So when you’re younger, those are the choices you make, ‘I don’t want any kids,'”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige explained her earlier mindset regarding having children.

“When I was, like, ‘I’m still here, but my life is a mess and I need’ — and for some reason, certain people was coming into my life to help, while certain people were still there that was trying to destroy,”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige reflected on the people around her around the time of her 'No More Drama' album.

“And so I realized that I was being prideful and disrespectful to people and just different things that made me be like, 'Pump the brakes. I’m doing something wrong here. And I need to speak to people. I need to apologize to these people for my mistakes,'”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige explained realizing her own pride and deciding to apologize for her mistakes.

“I don't want to start labeling things, but everybody was looking out for themselves, and they were benefiting off of the fact that I was unaware,”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige described people taking advantage of her lack of awareness about industry finances.

“And that happened for a long time. So, when I woke up and realized, you know, Mary, you have to get educated. You have to stay on your business.”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige explained the realization that she had to educate herself and stay on top of her business.

“And I started listening to a lot of, like, TV pastors and people that had information, and pride and arrogance and all that stuff. A proud and haughty person won’t go further than this, you know? So it was a lot, I was getting a lot of information that caused me to pause and look at myself.”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige described listening to pastors who spoke on pride and arrogance.

“I used to get upset and curse everybody out because things weren’t working. And it wasn’t their fault. It was my fault,”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige discussed taking responsibility and apologizing to people who helped release her album.

“I think I prayed the prayer, 'Lord, show me myself.' You know, and I still pray that prayer. I got to see me,”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige shared a prayer she prayed to confront herself.

“It’s the spiritual side of things,”

Mary J. Blige · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-23

Mary J. Blige answered where she found the wherewithal to take accountability for her life and career.