Social media users are not holding back on their thoughts and reactions after Summer Walker performed a tribute to Mary J. Blige.
More Details Regarding Summer Walker’s Tribute Performance
According to Sports Illustrated, Mary J. Blige was honored with the Entertainment Icon Award at the 2024 Urban One Honors award show. The event aired on Sunday, February 25. However, it occurred on January 20 in Atlanta, Georgia, per Billboard.
Michelle L. Rice, president of TV One and CleoTV, reportedly shared a statement regarding the singer’s accolade.
“Urban One is thrilled to honor the incomparable Mary J. Blige as our 2024 Entertainment Icon,” Rice explained, per Sports Illustrated. “Mary’s immeasurable talent and award-winning music has shaped our culture and has had a profound impact on artists and music across all genres, but most notably the elevation of female artists in both R&B and hip-hop across generations. She fully personifies the ‘Best in Black’ theme of this year’s Urban One Honors.”
As part of the tribute, Summer Walker graced the stage to honor Blige with two of her hit songs, ‘My Life‘ and ‘Real Love.’
Since then, social media users have entered The Shade Room’s comment section to weigh in on Walker’s tribute to Blige. Many appear underwhelmed.
Instagram user @therealchelasway wrote, “Summer wasn’t the right artist for that tribute”
While Instagram user @elgincharles added, “Summer has a beautiful voice — but she wasn’t the right artist for this particular tribute.”
Instagram user @petachencollection wrote, “She too scared to be doing tributes to any artist … she be nervous singing her own stuff”While Instagram user @the.shandawg added, “Mary looking like she wanted to do her own tribute
”Instagram user @coolsnook wrote, “I don’t Agree with y’all at all, Her Performance Was Dull and Boring, I’m Sorry They Picked The Wrong One To Sing MARY”While Instagram user @qw_red added, “We needed to see someone that was willing to do Mary’s wobbly leg, lean front and back off-balance dance ”Instagram user @squeeze__ wrote, “It’s giving she never listened to Mary J until she had to learn this song. NEXT…Im irritated”While Instagram user @_iamnanaj_ added, “It’s a No for me !!! She sounds like me in the shower”Instagram user @1tiaramy wrote, “Summer voice doesn’t fit the sound she has a beautiful voice but they needed someone with a more powerful, lower tone, raspy voice vibe who gone rock a stage like Mary herself”
Meanwhile, other social media users suggested other artists they felt should have been considered for the tribute.
Instagram user @agyeitate wrote, “Was Coco Jones or Jasmine Sullivan not available?!”While Instagram user @ladyinspiration added, “Queen Naija wouldve been a better fit! IMO 💛”Over on X, formerly known as Twitter, similar sentiments continued to be shared.
Another Musician Recently Went Viral While Paying Homage To Summer Walker
While on the topic of tributes, Summer Walker was actually given her own when musician and actor Chet Hanks paid homage to her earlier this year. As The Shade Room previously reported, in January, Hanks took to Instagram to flex his vocals on her song, ‘Session 32.’
At the time, social media users shared mixed reactions to Hanks’ rendition.