Mary J. Blige is arguing against paying her ex-husband, Kendu Isaacs, any form of spousal support and faults him for her financial woes. In court documents obtained by The Blast, Blige revealed that despite receiving Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Song in Mudbound, she did earn a profit. The singer’s expenses outweighed what she was paid for the role.
In the documents, Blige says her primary source of income comes from touring. The Strength of a Woman Tour in 2017 was her last headlining concert series and grossed $15 million. As a “legacy artist,” she has mentioned there is a limitation on the amount of money that can be earned. “There is no market for her to embark on a major world tour every year,” states the report. The veteran singer takes on TV and film roles knowing there is little monetary gain as a way to keep her brand and image relevant.
Blige asserts that it is necessary for her to seek out new sources of income and other projects as she is in massive debt. She owes approximately $25 million in record label advances and does not own the rights to her music catalog. While married, the couple accrued $12 million in debt, which Blige is paying off herself as Isaacs is unemployed.
According to Isaacs, her former husband and manager, the stress of their public divorce caused his hospitalization. He also says he is “unemployable.”
The “No More Drama” singer initially filed for divorce in July 2016. In the bitter dispute over alimony, Blige was ordered to pay Isaacs $30,000 a month in spousal support of the $129,000 he requested. He is currently seeking more money.
