Mary J. Blige, a Grammy-winning singer and actress, has spoken out about a disturbing part of her past – being molested as a child. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Blige shared that she was sexually abused by a family friend when she was only five years old.
The molestation left a deep scar on Blige, who grew up feeling worthless and guilty. She blamed herself for what happened and struggled to cope with the trauma.
“I didn’t know how to deal with it. I didn’t understand why it happened to me. I thought I did something wrong. I thought I was dirty and ugly,”
she said.
Blige’s teenage years were marked by turmoil and self-destruction. She sought solace in alcohol, drugs, and promiscuous sex, hoping to escape the pain and shame. She also got involved in abusive relationships with men who took advantage of her vulnerability.
“I was looking for love in all the wrong places. I was looking for someone to make me feel good about myself, but I only felt worse,”
she said.
But Blige’s life changed dramatically when she discovered her passion for music. She started singing in a local church choir and auditioned for a record label. She impressed the executives with her powerful voice and raw emotion and soon landed a contract. In 1992, she released her first album, “What’s the 411?“. The album was a big success and received a lot of praise.
Music became Blige’s salvation as she poured her heart and soul into her songs. She also sought professional help and joined a 12-step program to overcome her addiction. She learned to forgive herself and heal from her past. She also found love and married her longtime manager, Kendu Isaacs, in 2003.
Blige is currently an extremely successful musician. She has sold more than 80 million records all over the world and has won nine Grammy Awards. She has also ventured into acting, earning two Oscar nominations for her role in Mudbound (2017). She is widely regarded as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” and an icon of empowerment and resilience.
Blige said she decided to share her story to inspire others who have gone through similar experiences. She hopes to help them find their voice and strength and let them know they are not alone.
“I want to tell them that they are beautiful, worthy, and can overcome anything. I want to tell them that they have a purpose and a destiny, and that nothing can stop them from achieving it,”
she said.
