Dancehall musician Ishawna is supporting Ms. World (1976) Cindy Shakespeare in the face of criticism for being the proud mistress of the late Bob Marley, a reggae legend.
The 2020 snippet from Shakespeare’s 876 Questions series was published by the Everybody Need Someone singer in a brief post-and-delete, addressing individuals who still hold grudges against her for having an affair with Rita Marley’s husband.
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“Do you understand what a privilege it is to be intimately and inextricably associated with the greatest legacy that has come out of Jamaica in 100 years?” Breakspeare stated. “Do they understand what that feels like? What kind of blessing that is? You can’t wish that away. You wouldn’t want to take that away from anybody. You gon’ just have to stay over there and figure it out.”
The video then cut to an edited version of Ishawna’s “Cheerful Giver,” which was playing over a picture of Shakespeare and Marley. The track from 2015 claims that “a gyal haffi go share har man”, and praises spouses who give concubines space. Ishawna concluded the piece by writing, “The girls that get it get it! #OneCindy.”
A few admirers adopted the hashtag and reshared the message, but the Equal Rights hitman quickly removed it.
Breakspeare frequently posts a homage to Marley on her birthday, February 6, but this year’s piece was the first to be seen on American blogs.
In honor of Marley’s birthday on February 6, Breakspare shared a 2024 tribute post reminiscing about their meet-ups here, there, and everywhere. However, several internet users chastised her for discussing their affair in public when the Marley matriarch was still alive.
Robert Nest Markey popularly known as Bob Marley wedded Rita in 1966. In 1975, he began his affair with Breakspeare. Turn Your Lights Down Low and Waiting in Vain, two songs on which Rita contributed backing vocals as a member of her husband’s I-Threes group, are examples of his feelings for her. Recently, after she was criticized for her devotion to Bob, two of her children spoke up for her honor.
Breakspeare said that she was unaware that Bob Marley was still married until she gave birth to their son Damian “Jr Gong” Marley during the University of the West Indies’ 2014 Bob Marley lecture. The women stood by him during his battle with cancer, which he finally lost in 1981.
Breakspeare, who is presently married to artist Rupert Bent II and was formerly married to Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson, stated during that same 876 Questions session that her detractors will eventually come around to her life choices.
“Everybody get their life to live…” she noted. “How would I ever sit here and rather not have Damian in my life, or not have the awesome relationship that I had with Bob?”
She also paid homage to people who appreciated her sharing with the artist.
“I appreciate that support very much and it has been never-ending,” she noted. “I’ve gotten it all the time and it’s wonderful. There again, it’s just part of the blessings that have become the fabric of my life.”
