AceShowbiz - Mary J. Blige has spoken out about the lasting damage caused by a controversial Burger King commercial from 2012, alleging the fast food giant deliberately orchestrated the situation to harm her career.

In a recent interview, the renowned R&B singer expressed her belief that the chain aired an unfinished version of her advertisement on purpose, triggering negative reactions that significantly impacted her professional and personal life.

The commercial featured Blige performing a jingle describing a menu item with the lyrics mentioning "crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla." Critics quickly accused the ad of reinforcing harmful stereotypes, leading Burger King to pull it within 24 hours. However, by then, the damage to Blige's reputation was already done.

"I would never laugh at that, because my true, honest fans did not think that was funny," Blige said, highlighting how the ad’s execution was flawed and seemed designed to provoke the negative press it received. She strongly implied that the entire scenario was a calculated move to generate controversy.

The fallout extended beyond public criticism, deeply affecting Blige's personal relationships. She revealed that many people she considered friends distanced themselves from her following the commercial’s release, treating her as if she were untouchable.

"A lot of my so-called friends are not around anymore. I was like a disease to people. Nobody wanted to be affiliated," she lamented.

In addition to blaming Burger King, Blige also criticized her own management team, saying they failed her by allowing her to participate in the ad without adequate oversight.

At the time of the incident, Burger King issued an apology directed at Blige and her fans, explaining, "We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final." The company attributed the premature release of the commercial to a contract issue.

This episode remains a sore point for Mary J. Blige, who continues to feel the adverse effects of what she sees as a deliberate attempt to undermine her career through misleading publicity.