Alicia Keys’s Zipped Lips: Personal Protection or Bad PR?
In the last month, it’s safe to say that singer/songwriter/humanitarian Alicia Keys has been a hot topic — at least in my world. From the pictures revealing her baby bump and pregnancy glow to her arriving at the BET Awards with her recently divorced fiance, Kaseem Dean, a.k.a. Swizz Beatz, and her seductive piano crawl during her tribute to Prince, she’s buzz worthy. (FTR: Pregnant or not, if I were singing “Adore,” I probably would have gotten up there, too. She was obviously feeling sexy, and if “Adore” doesn’t make you feel that way, something’s wrong.)
In that time, I’ve heard so many things. Either she’s a homewrecking, man-stealing hypocrite (How dare she stand there, big and pregnant, smiling after she’s caused another woman so much pain?) or just a woman in love, living life. (Swizz and his wife, Mashonda, were already on the outs, and you lose what wasn’t yours already, right?)
Fast-forward to her performance at the recent Essence Music Festival. She, the headliner for Saturday night’s concert, had a hard row to pull. She followed a tough act – Gladys Knight, who, though I missed her, was much too awesome to perform before Keys according to others. She took the stage and it was … weird. There was an undeniable silence in the crowd that I didn’t expect. I looked behind me to see a woman sitting two rows back among empty seats with her arms tightly folded. With a mean side-eye, she mouthed two words: man stealer. Wow.
Alicia put on a decent show, but something was missing in the atmosphere. The audience was lukewarm at best. During her performance, I checked Twitter. It was apparent that some people at the festival still weren’t happy about Keys’s indiscretions.
“Alicia Keys is almost working as hard as Breezy for redemption. Essence chicks aren’t fans of infidelity … no shade.”
“Hearing Alicia sing ‘Karma’ is … interesting.”
So that was the uncomfortable feeling I was getting. Did Keys feel it, too? Swizz Beats was officially divorced as of May. The two are clearly happy, and they plan to marry soon, according to entertainment reports. Even so, some of Keys’s most devoted fans have a serious problem with her publicized relationship with then-married Swizzy. My question is this: When is Keys going to address the issue of dating a married man, or should she at all?
The situation seems to mirror the Tiger Woods fiasco. All Woods owes us is a great game of golf, not a detailed, worldwide apology about something that directly affects his wife. Do celebrities’ indiscretions in their personal lives affect their business lives to the point where they owe their fans explanations or apologies? Will those two lines always cross for certain folks?
Let’s look back at Keys. Should she be expected to give her fans the lowdown on her relationship with Swizz Beatz (because it’s clearly complicated) or is she only required to make good music?
Unfortunately for celebrities, public relations is the name of the game these days, and it’s not hard to do. (Celebrities are using Twitter as a free publicity agent. Check out celebritytweets.com.) It’s clear that Keys has adopted the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy, and her career might be affected because of it.
I’m neutral on the issue, but for sure her involvement with a married man doesn’t support her platform on women’s empowerment. She recently launched a website, iamasuperwoman.com, where she writes on the homepage:
“Welcome to a powerful, passionate, radiant, exciting, addictive, compassionate, and loving virtual world called IAAS, which stands for I Am a Super Woman! For many of us, that is not just the title of a song but a mantra. My friends and I at AK Worldwide are launching a new venture and would like you to join us. We’re creating a fresh new source for positive and inspiring news, a destination which will empower and link female voices and unleash the super woman in us all.”
Does her behavior support her platform and the positive image she aspires for women? Really, who’s to blame here? Fallen celebrities or society for placing talented individuals on sky-high pedestals?
Put yourself in Alicia’s position. Would you hide out until you give birth then release a statement regarding your relationship, or keep your personal affairs just that — personal? She seems to have taken the latter approach but at what cost?
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You folks need to get a grip! This is a young woman, she did not break up the “happy” home. She fell in love with an man that has a few issues. We’re (I’m a black woman) always talking about getting a good man! How do we know hes not? Because he has had a couple failed relationships and some kids? Pleeeeeez, give me a break! Really sounds like hate if you ask me!
“We” “we’ “we” “we” ……I’m so sick of the boxes.
Speak for yourself!!!!
Mmmh you really sound like an idiot right now. Just as the poster said above me don’t include “we” because though Im a black woman, I definitely don’t agree. For any man to be married and sleep with someone else other than his wife just proves the lack of honesty in his character. Whether they were on the fritzs or not he started a new relationship before the one he had ended. In my book any man or person willing to do that is NOT a good person. So NO I wouldn’t consider him a good man by his actions that have been well documented and publicized. He has two children with a third on the way from three DIFFERENT women. Maybe you should do a self evaluation and anyone else who agree’s with you if you would call him a good man.
Alicia Keys and Jill Scott have both disappointed me by getting pregnant by BabyMaking Losers. They could have done SO.MUCH.BETTER. Black women, stop lowering your standards. You don’t have to be in relationship with a man who has BabyMamas. No, you really don’t have to.
SOCIETY has NOT put AK ON A PEDESTAL! AK put herself on this pedestal which she know needs to retire from because clearly her image and reality are conflicting. She is quoted saying she would never date anyone in the industry etc. and always came across as mature and classy if this was lil kim in this situation no one would give it a second thought.
Alicia doesn’t owe anybody an apology or explanation. It really doesn’t matter. We don’t know the complete story. I do admit it does seem obvious that AK and SB were messing around before Mashonda and SB were officially separated. The timeline of budding, romantic relationships generally don’t move THAT fast. LOL BUT…….regardless of what really went down, whether it was some “home-wrecking” business on AK’s part or whether it was “legit”, it is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. How many people you know who have done the same thing, or something very similar?? Did you stop talking to them? Did you turn your back on them?? Mmm hmm, I doubt it. You probably just stated your opinion on the matter and kept it moving. As long as Alicia Keys keeps putting out great music I will always be a fan. I was appalled and upset when I first heard the news but, like I said before, it really doesn’t matter. They are together NOW, so let them be. Who are we to judge? I’m just saying……..
I don’t really care but damn that his third baby mama… I’m like who long she is going to stay to get that child support geeeez
He has 3 baby momas plus her that makes it 4.A.Keys will get hers cuz what gose around comes around.
* how long
I love Alicia Keys, her talent beauty and socially conscious work in Africa far exceeds anyone I see out there. She owes no one an explanation and those folks at essence fest need to get a grip and worry about their own business. Better still, kick rocks.
We need to discuss this particular situation further. Not necessarily the Alicia Keys-Kaseem Dean Love, because the really seem to be in Love. But the hurt feeling some of us seem to have about what has happen when a man leaves one marriage and goes to another woman and marries her. Personally, it leaves me with questions. If I was in a marriage I would not want my husband to leave me either, but if he loves someone else and is persistent upon pursuing that love even if she is trying to avoid him in all aspects, what can they do? Do we believe that Love is so strong that when it happens you can’t avoid it, run from it, or turn away? I don’t think we as people go thru life intentionally breaking a person’s heart, but I do believe we make hasty decisions in our younger years (or at unstable times in our lives) that may not be the right decision and then when the time comes in our journey to change and make change someone is left out, left behind or just left period, now that hurts. Can you remain loyal to something you don’t love? Can you continue to be with someone who you don’t care for, desire, adore? This Love word is big but I the actions that accompany the word seem to weave into every aspect of our lives, from day to day, moment to moment. In my opinion Mashonda and Alicia need love, support and encouragement. As women we need to be positive, because we can’t answer the questions on LOVE especially if we have not experienced Love.
I would have to agree that there is a major issue surrounding love and the hurt feelings that inviduals develop when it comes to broken relationships. But then again isn’t love also about responsibilities as well? No matter how much you hate your job while in pursuit of another, you still ‘respectfully’ should provide your employer with at least a 2 week notice before engaging in another position. If you are/were really married and fall in love with another person, that love should still be there after you have closed the book on your current situation.
Because I do not know personally the situation that surrounds AK and her new relationship I do not intend to pass judgement, but I do believe that as adults someone had the responsibility to tie up all the loose ends before taking part in a new and very public venture. As celebrities individuals sign on to live their lives in the public eye, and AK does not owe the public an explanation but she will be scrutinized for her behavior. There’s no way to escape the attention. Those of us who don’t want our lives to be front page blog news tend to live more reserved and ‘average’ lives. AK is going to have to live with her decisions, how they are being percieved, and the ramifications to her career/name…real love or not.
Good article!! I think Alicia should not speak on this instead focus on her health and that of her unborn child. I feel that eventually in her own way she will address the things that need to be addressed, she knows what it looks like. Right now it is a juicier read if you focus on the negative. If you notice no matter what is reported the blogs find a negative spin to put on it. For example her split from management- the official report said they are still partners musically but Jeff and Alicia are branching out so they restructured their relationship not ended it. But what did the blogs report- swizz fires jeff. I am sorry but I didn’t believe all of Mashonda’s Vibe interview. I felt like she spoke for effect and drama. So Alicia should let everyone have their say, make their accusations, make their assumptions then say what she feels need to be said then keep it moving. You can not expect any person to reply to every little thing written in the media, it is not possible. We will never know every detail of any situation simply because we were not there.
Alicia Keys owes no one an explanation for personal life. I love how people who have their own skeletons are sitting in judgement of someone they don’t know and will never know.
@ Lisa I couldn’t agree more!
And what about Swizzy? Wasn’t he the married one in this situation? I don’t see a big backlash against him. But no one wants to talk about that….
It’s mind boggling to me how people continually project their own standards and beliefs onto others and sit in judgement of people they don’t even know! To label her a hypocrite is erroneuous. It’s to say that she can’t do any good deeds just because she supposedly had an affair. We all live our life in contradictory ways in some form of another and I don’t know anyone who is all bad or all good
If Alicia Keys is keeping her mouth closed…good for her! She owes no one an explanation.
I’ve lost all respect for her. What a way to bring a child into this world. What makes her think this fool won’t leave her the same way? I refuse to listen to any of her songs. I expect this from the hood rat female rappers, not Alicia keys. Skank!
All I gotta say is…..WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE?
That is all…
I’m LOL’ing so horribly at the comments on here and how bitter and angry so many of you sound. The bottom line is what she does in her PRIVATE life has nothing to do with her CAREER. She’s done a FABULOUS job at keeping the two seperated – hence, she still remains tightlipped as she should. And at the end of the day, I don’t know her, and I’m sure most of you on this page don’t know her either so we can’t say anything about something we know nothing about. Many blessings to her and her blooming family.
is that what you were saying about chris brown? that’s what baffles me the most… the number of women jumping up and saying what alicia keys does in her private life has nothing to do with her music… but had no problem calling chris brown a monster for beating up rihanna and flaming his music mercilessly.
i definitely think celebrities public and private lives are related, as image is the nature of their profession. while i am team breezy (sue me), i do feel that its awkward to sing songs about loving women when youre beating up on them… so how can you sing songs about karma when youre sleeping with another womans husband?
plain and simple.
@serenissima – In actuality, I have the same stance for Chris Brown and any celebrity, or individual whose every move is recorded on blogs, in magazines, and the nightly news. Same thing could be said about Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade and their relationship, or Shaq & Shaunie. My point is that not I, anyone else who is outside of these individuals’ circles, can pass judgement about something that I(we) have NO personal insight on. The ONLY information that any of us have regarding AK & SB, or Rihanna and CB, or Whitney and Bobby for that matter, is what’s fed to us from the media.
And I absolutely do not believe or feel that just because someone is a celebrity, just because they’re on tv or we hear their names dropped more than we hear our own, that this gives us the right to know their personal business. Whatsoever. If their job is to make good music and keep me singing along when I’m driving to and from work, then who they’re have relations with, whether extramarital or not, or what color panties they’re wearing, or what they ate for breakfast, is not of my concern – just their job, just the music or movie or photoshoot.
I don’t know what the facts are, if anyone involved in this situation is lying, if there was a legal or verbal seperation – zilch, nada, nothing. So I’m not (and don’t have to right to either) going to judge someone or people on something I know nothing about. Not my place.
As stated originally, many blessings to Alicia Keys and her blooming family.
AK does not owe anyone an apology, however, she is a celebrity so, having your personal life spilled out on the front page of magazines, etc, etc is a part of the game. Celebs just do not get the same privacy that we regular people get. I’m not saying they shouldn’t, but again, it’s part of the game. If you don’t want it, don’t sign up for it.
For many fans (me included) it’s more than just the music coming from the artist that makes us fans to begin with. For me, it’s the whole package, I liked AK because A – she was talented, B – she was smart, C – came across as humble (like you could sit and chat with her without feeling like you had to kiss her pinky ring first), and D – she stood for woman-empowerment, self love and respect. There are many artists out there that are incredibly talented, but because of their lifestyles or lack of morality, integrity or character I am not a fan, no matter how many awards they are nominated on Grammy night. And while I do not know the details of the SB/AK romance drama, based on what I have seen/heard, she has lost me as a fan. I am disappointed. So, in lieu of her current “situation” and the choices she made, she doesn’t owe anybody an apology, but I hope she realizes that her good music alone will not be enough to maintain some of her fan base.
I can’t believe the judgement I’ve read in several of the comments posted. It never ceases to amaze me that folks think they have a right to say what should go down in other folks business! I agree, she may have made a bad decision in getting with SB, but ITS NOT YOUR BUSINESS!!! Stop buying her music, if you are so disgusted with her actions. BUT please oh please stop making blanket judgments, not one of the posters is innocent of some sort life changing infraction! Get a life!
What a lot of folks don’t realize that Jada Pinkett Smith was dating Will Smith…..while he was still legally married to his first wife Sheree. However, being the boss lady that Jada was, she advised Will to go back and make sure that all “t’s were crossed and i’s were dotted” so that he wouldn’t be bringing baggage into their relationship. We are not owed any explanation, reason and/or editorial from Alicia Keys whatsoever. Mashonda(Swizz’s former wife), chose to air it all out in public for whatever her reasons were and I do not judge her for that. I will not judge Alicia for her relationship because we are not privy to the intricacies of what happened, how it happened and why it happened……we just know that “ish” happens! With all that being said we live in a hyper media crazed society now, where everything is about celebrities opening up their “bootie cakes” and showing us what they had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Therefore, we as a society have this false righteousness as well as haughtyness, and assume(erroneously) that these celebs from Alicia, Chris Brown, Tiger Woods , Lebron James, etc have to put it all on blast to appease us. If we spent more time looking at how our actions have an affect on our OWN world…..we would make better decisions. I am looking at the “Clutchette” in the mirror and asking her to change her ways, because that is where the most damage in my life is done. After Alicia, there will come another so called scandal for us to tweet, fb and blog over…..it just never stops….but don’t we need to? I am just sayin.
What happened to that guy Krucial that Alicia was dating for so long? Why get involved with a man with 3 baby mamas? That’s what I can’t understand.
Here we go. Was any of us there? AK knows what she gotten herself into. SB knows what he is. AK knows what SB is. MT ( SB ex knows what SB is) SB ex was 5 months preg when he had his oldest son before she miscarraige and she stayed with him(he was a cheater then)before AK.Then he had a baby girl while he was with AK(AK was beside him during the dna test)he cheated again on her too..so SB must b doing something good in the eyes of these woman that they like. They know whats he does and it doesn’t matter to them so why should it matter to YOU???I’ts not costing u 1 red cent and i bet u every one of u thats has something to say have been in the same boat 1 time or another before.Has cheated or been cheated on. LOL,LOL, GO AHEAD AND TELL THE TRUTH…GO ON OUT THERE AND BUY ANOTHER 1 OF ALICIA KEYS CD….AND STOP THE HATING…JAJAJA…SHARE A LOT OF LOVE AMERICA