Mary J. Blige has hit out at the music industry, claiming it hates "strong and independent women".
The singer slammed the treatment of female artists, saying she's "fought hard" against attempts from industry bosses that encouraged her to sleep around to get to the top.
Speaking to Stella magazine she explained: "They hate strong and independent women.
"I never slept with anyone to get where I am, but they were after me to do that. I fought hard over that."
Despite breaking into the industry over 20 years back in 1992, Mary insists the problem is worse than ever, and confesses that when she started out she didn't feel "comfortable" as an artist.
"This is the best time in my life. I'm becoming freer, I'm accepting the things I can't change and I'm not going to apologise for who I am. In my twenties, I wasn't comfortable in my own skin. I didn't like the way I looked, I didn't like me, and I always played myself short to make everybody else happy."
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