ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 13: Summer Walker performs onstage during Strength of a Woman's 'Purpose Ball: Bridging the Gap' in Partnership with Mary J. Blige, Pepsi, and Live Nation Urban on May 13, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit) ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Mary J.Blige arrives at the 2024 Urban One Honors: Best In Black at Coca-Cola Roxy on January 20, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joi Stokes/WireImage)
Social media users are not holding back on their thoughts and reactions after Summer Walker performed a tribute to Mary J. Blige.
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.’
Swipe below to check out her performance.
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.”
Meanwhile, other social media users suggested other artists they felt should have been considered for the tribute.
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.
