(AllHipHop News) Last night’s Golden Globe Awards were the first since the #MeToo movement ignited late last year following sexual assault and sexual harassment accusations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The evening was filled with celebrities speaking out against the mistreatment of women.
Best Supporting Actress nominee Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) was asked at the 2018 BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party about raising awareness around sexual misconduct. The Grammy-winning songstress discussed her own experiences of dealing with being harassed as a child.
“I’m actually happy and proud of these women. I mean, it is their time,” MJB told the Associated Press. “They’ve been hanging on to these things forever, for God knows how long, and now they’re speaking up and being set free. It’s a beautiful thing for us to see and for us to support because we need each other in that way.”
She added, “I’ve had the fight since I was five years old. I haven’t had anybody approach me like that since I’ve been in the music business, but ever since from 5 to 17, I’ve been going through hell with sexual harassment. So by the time I got to the music business it was like, ‘Don’t touch me or I’ll kill you.'”
During a roundtable discussion with Hollywood Reporter, Blige expressed that she never experienced harassment in Hollywood. However, she also talk about being a tomboy and how that played a part in her shielding herself from possible sexual abuse.
“I just wore baggier jeans and Timberlands and hats turned backward. It took me a very long time to even wear makeup and tight clothes because I had been through so much. And those secrets I still have to deal with. So hopefully these women are free because it hurts,” said the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.