Clips from Mary J Blige’s upcoming interview with Hillary Clinton have been released… but they appear to have failed to impress social media users.
A teaser featuring the R&B star singing Bruce Springsteen’s American Skin (41 Shots), before clasping hands with the US presidential candidate, has been widely mocked online following its release.
Mary has interviewed Hillary for her new Apple Music show The 411.
In one clip, she tells the Democrat candidate that “a lot of people in my community think Obama was blocked in Congress because he was black”.
“How are you going to do what he wasn’t able to do?” the singer asks.
An intimate conversation.@MaryJBlige and @HillaryClinton.#The411 coming September 30 on Apple Music.https://t.co/hbaWqf27NP pic.twitter.com/9nYv3G36MO
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 27, 2016
But most of the ridicule was aimed at Mary’s performance of American Skin (41 Shots), which Bruce wrote about the 1999 police shooting death of Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo.
Like you’ve never seen them before.@MaryJBlige sits down with @HillaryClinton.#The411
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 27, 2016
Coming September 30th.https://t.co/hbaWqfjJcp pic.twitter.com/P2qpm3h3Pm
Many Twitter users were quick to comment on Mary’s “cringeworthy” one-to-one singing to Hillary.
That Mary J Blige/Hillary Clinton commercial is so cringeworthy & I felt secondhand embarrassment.
— Chihiro Ogino (@WickedBeaute) September 27, 2016
I know I was supposed to be moved by that Mary J Blige / Hillary video but the execution just has me cackling instead.
— Derrick Clifton (@DerrickClifton) September 27, 2016
Anyone who can keep a straight face while Mary J. Blige is singing at them like that deserves to be president
— Nyasha (@NyashaMC) September 27, 2016
I can't take Mary J Blige seriously to save my life lmaooooo.
— ASTRO (@astrog1rll) September 27, 2016
mary j blige gotta moderate the next debate. HAS TO
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) September 27, 2016
Apple is billing Mary’s interview as “an intimate conversation” in which viewers will see the singer “like you’ve never seen her”.
The 411 with Mary J Blige is available on Apple Music on Friday.
