For years, Mary J. Blige has been known for creating chart-topping anthems that act as a war cry for Black women and men alike, her funky 1-2 step kick dance moves and her impeccable boot game! Whether she’s riffing notes of her timeless hits like “Just Fine” or “Real Love,” Mary J. Blige is a testament to what remaining true to yourself while elevating your cultural cachet can do.

Over the weekend, Blige and Giuseppe Zanotti announced their collaboration together on metallic, copper-colored knee-high boots — titled The Mary Boot aptly — that have a crumpled and slouchy look at the calf and retail for $1,295. As soon as I laid eyes on the boots, it felt as though it was the perfect shoe. In my mind, it resonated with who I thought Blige to be, and the shoe is a sleek silhouette that speaks to the Italian designer’s knack for creating dynamic designs. But I quickly learned that was not the case for others.

The funny thing about Blige is that she’s a multi-hyphenate talent who has been able to transcend music, film, fashion and even libations (thanks to her wine brand Sun Goddess). But for fans who imagined being her core audience in one or more of these categories, this drop showed that Blige has a broader and wider audience than most expect (not shocked). Fans took to social media to air out their grievances, which led to discourse — we wouldn’t expect anything less from Twitter — I mean, “X.”

One user said, “Mary J. Blige is a legend, but her target audience is Steve Madden, not Giuseppe.” While another noted, “I love her, I really do, but ma’am.”

I love her I really do, but ma’am 😂 pic.twitter.com/aIODtXD438

— ItsLizzyBeach (@itslizzybeach) May 13, 2024

I’ve been a fan of Blige for as long as I remember. Her “The Breakthrough” album made me a certified super fan at nine. And as I scrolled on Twitter, I thought, “Why is everyone so shocked about the price of this collab?” The brand, boot silhouette and price fit into the realms of quality I’ve come to expect and admire from Blige.

From gritty, heartbreaking healing tunes like “Enough Cryin,” where Blige emphasizes, “Catch me with the B’s on the wheels, Giuseppe’s on the heels. Shoulda Marc Jacobs Fifi bagged me when you had me,” to deep cuts like “Grown Woman” where Blige affirms expeditiously on the track “Michael Kors gear on and Valentino; Yves St. Laurent Platforms — Malandrino; Full length sable way down to the carpet; Look good on the mannequin, but wait until I rock it.” This realization of seeing fans not understanding where Blige’s fashion lexicon sits baffled me.

So, my question for the tweety birds on Twitter is, do you think Mary has just been chatting for all these years, or were you just ignorant of the doll’s tastes and aesthetic? Ultimately, I want people to stop placing Black talent into a box of “affordability” when other races get chances to try and thrive at multiple price points. At this point in her lengthy career — I mean, Blige has been going strong since ’92. I would worry if her legacy didn’t have her at this juncture, but thankfully, it does! Her fanbase is older and is the “aunties” that have plenty of disposable income and don’t mind spending it on a sharp pair of boots.

Think about it — Mary is one of our legends. Why would she not work with some of the best in the fashion business on her FIRST boot design? Furthermore, the collection sold out after only two days of sales.

I think it's so funny that so many ppl are saying "Mary's whole brand is ghetto fabulous" while simultaneously not understanding that the "ghetto" part is not about the fashion it's about the attitude, the approach. The "fabulous" has always been about high fashion designers

— Saint Shannon (@shannon_sense) May 14, 2024

Affectionately given the colloquial identifier of “auntie,” this is what most people get wrong in terms of parasocial relationships. Y’all think because you give a celebrity a “label of love,” you think you know their business model better than they do — which is not only comical but disgruntling at times.

On the other end, some fans and fashion connoisseurs wanted to clear the air about the mystique of Blige. One said, “This woman whose bag never touched the floor was never selling us boots under $200, and I just wanted us to be realistic.” Another harped on the same message and said, “The problem is y’all think you’re the intended audience for everything, and you are not.”

This woman whose bag never touched the floor was never selling us boots under $200 and I just want us to be realistic. https://t.co/rnwTTkV25g pic.twitter.com/3tz0t3rpCH

— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) May 14, 2024

All in all, as a fashion lover and a Mary J. Blige fan, I’m happy to finally see this idea come to fruition, and I’m glad to see the price not be a determining factor of the launch’s success overall. I just hope people learn what’s for them and what’s not as it relates to their favorite artists. And please, Mary and Giuseppe Zanotti, if you see this, restock these boots before the girls have a fit!