Aahana Swrup
‘Mary J. Blige’s Real Love’ is a Lifetime film in which a young woman traverses through life and love, and in the process, finds her own path. Kendra, a college freshman, drives the narrative as the protagonist, who is on the road to pursuing her passion for photography. Therefore, with her arrival at Hammon College, she’s prepared to give herself all to her classes and work and little else. Nonetheless, as the artist in her craves new adventures, she finds herself falling fast and hard for Ben Baldwin, a kind-hearted soul who has a deep love for the woman.
Even so, as the young couple take their first steps into a serious relationship, they face many challenges and learn about the true meaning of love. Throughout the story, Kendra’s character undergoes a tumultuous yet authentic life of a young adult, grounding herself in realistic fears and joys. Therefore, the same, paired with the Camrus Johnson film’s inherent connection to the popular singer Mary J. Blige, may compel the audience to wonder about the relationship between the on-screen heroine and the real-life artist.
Mary J. Blige’s Real Love is Based on a Song From 1992
For the most part, ‘Mary J. Blige’s Real Love’ is a largely fictitious tale penned by screenwriters Rachel Ingram and Sonja Warfield under Camrus Johnson’s direction. Yet, it holds certain roots and inspirations in real life that are worth exploring. The film is based on the single ‘Real Love,’ released in 1992 by the artist Mary J. Blige for her debut album ‘What’s the 411?’ The song itself found a heavy basis in reality, mining from the authentic emotions and journeys of the artist and her co-writers, Cory Rooney and Prince Markie Dee.
The song focuses on a quest for true love, in which one must showcase perseverance and tenacity in the face of life’s complications to make their way to a happy ending. These themes are prominently reflected in Kendra’s journey as she takes one blow after another but survives thanks to the different kinds of love she finds herself surrounded by. From a supporting family to ride-and-die friends and a whirlwind romance, the photography student is able to carve a support system for herself that stands by her through thick and thin. As a result, many will naturally be able to relate to the story and find real-life resonance in different parts as it depicts life’s complications.
Blige, who is an executive producer on the film, elaborated on the connection between Kendra and Ben’s love story and her song in an interview with Vibe. She said, “When I co-wrote ‘Real Love’ with Mark (Prince Markie Dee)and Cory Rooney, I wasn’t in a place of love, self-love. It was survival, self-hatred—move how you need to move, go hard as you can, but ignore yourself. But now I’m in a place where I found out where that love comes from and that love that didn’t come from searching for it in other people. It came from everything I went through and finding it in myself.” Thus, these realistic themes mined from the eponymous song help the on-screen narrative remain rooted in reality.
Mary J. Blige Likely Served as a Loose Inspiration For Kendra
Even though the Lifetime film isn’t autobiographical to Mary J. Blige’s life in the same way as the song, the protagonist, Kendra, still manages to hold some connections to the artist. From the get-go, the character has a different familial dynamic and make-up than Blige. Even so, the vital role that her family plays in her life seems reminiscent of the singer’s reality, in which her loved ones continue to be a source of comfort and support in the ups and downs of her life. Similarly, both Kendra and Blige rely heavily upon their artistic passion and have created a life around their love for the arts. Consequently, the various triumphs and obstacles of Kendra’s life seem to parallel the real-life artist.
Still, certain aspects of the character diverge her from Blige’s real life. The most prominent example of this remains in the road each of them takes on their path to success. While Kendra takes the college route and creates a life for herself in the more conventional way, the same isn’t true for the singer. In real life, Blige dropped out of high school—after reportedly struggling with substance abuse as a harmful coping mechanism. Eventually, after years of hard work, effort, and a dash of luck, she scored a meeting with a record executive and signed to a label in 2018. For the same reason, while Kendra holds certain similarities to Blige, it’s clear that the former isn’t a biographical portrayal.
In a 2023 interview, Blige got candid about how she can relate to the on-screen protagonist’s strong-willed and strong-minded personality. “She was not afraid to see who she is, so she can change. She always wanted more for herself. So that’s how I relate to Kendra,” she shared. Therefore, it seems that in the process of creating the original character, the screenwriters of ‘Mary J. Blige’s Real Love’ only drew from some aspects of Blige’s reality intentionally or otherwise, which remains evident in the reliability the singer-songwriter reportedly finds in Kendra’s character.
