Mary J. Blige & Kendu Isaacs: The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Went on Tour Just to Pay Her Ex's Alimony
He managed her career, spent her money on his mistress, and then the court ordered her to keep paying his lifestyle
Key Facts
What Happened
Mary J. Blige is a nine-time Grammy winner and the undisputed Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. In 2003, she married Martin 'Kendu' Isaacs, who became her manager. For 12 years, Isaacs managed Blige's career and finances. When Blige filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences, the financial picture that emerged was devastating. Isaacs had allegedly been spending Blige's money on his mistress, running up enormous expenses while contributing relatively little to the household income.
Isaacs requested $129,319 per month in temporary spousal support to maintain the lifestyle he enjoyed during the marriage. In July 2017, a judge ordered Blige to pay $30,000 per month in temporary spousal support, plus $235,000 in retroactive payments and attorney fees. Blige was stunned. She later revealed that she was nearly bankrupt despite decades of hit records, because Isaacs had been managing — and spending — her money throughout the marriage.
To afford the alimony payments, Blige went back on tour. In a 2022 interview, she said: 'I had to go get that alimony money. I had to go get that money to survive. I was out there singing for my survival.' The irony was brutal: a woman worth millions on paper was performing concerts specifically to pay her ex-husband's lifestyle. The divorce was settled out of court in March 2018, avoiding a week-long trial. The specific settlement terms were sealed.
Blige channeled her rage and pain into her 2017 album 'Strength of a Woman,' which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She received an Oscar nomination for 'Mudbound' the same year. The divorce, while financially devastating, marked a creative and personal renaissance. Blige's case became a rallying cry for women who are the primary earners in their marriages, highlighting how spousal support laws designed to protect dependent spouses can sometimes be exploited by those who contributed little but spent much.
Legal Breakdown: Spousal Support
Spousal Support for the Non-Earning Manager Spouse
Isaacs served as Blige's manager during their marriage, which complicated the support calculation. Courts consider the 'marital standard of living' when setting spousal support, and a manager-spouse can argue their career sacrifice (managing their partner instead of building their own career) justifies substantial support. This creates a perverse incentive where the less you earn independently, the more you may receive.
Financial Dissipation During Marriage
Blige's legal team alleged that Isaacs spent marital funds on an extramarital affair. This is called 'dissipation of marital assets' — wasting shared money on non-marital purposes. In many states, dissipation can reduce the offending spouse's share of assets or reduce their support award. However, proving dissipation requires detailed financial records.
The Earning Spouse's Burden
When the higher-earning spouse is the woman, spousal support can feel especially unjust. However, spousal support laws are gender-neutral. The key factors are income disparity, marriage length, and lifestyle during the marriage — not which spouse earned the money. Blige's case highlights the importance of postnuptial agreements for high-earning spouses.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If your spouse is also your manager, maintain separate oversight of your finances. Never let one person control both the career and the money.
- →Document any evidence of financial waste or spending on extramarital affairs. 'Dissipation of assets' is a powerful argument in divorce court.
- →Spousal support is gender-neutral. If you're the higher earner — regardless of gender — protect yourself with a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.
- →Channeling divorce pain into your work or career can be transformative. Blige turned her worst year into an Oscar nomination and a #1 album.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.