Alicia Keys’ sterling reputation took direct shots when she courted, married and then had a child with superproducer Swizz Beatz. Her fan base and pop culture watchers were torn from the appearance of impropriety when, from the outside looking in, seemed to walk into an established marriage, steal another woman’s man and ride out to a fairytale wedding.
The musical savant decries the catcalls of “home wrecker” in the latest issue of JET magazine where she sets the record straight on when and how they became an inseparable item.
Keys, 31, became enamored with Swizz Beatz while he was the husband of R&B singer Mashonda, but announced their divorce after just four years.
“…[They] were apart for some time before we ever got together…that doesn’t matter to those who take pleasure in trying to knock others down…there’s no need to fight what’s not true,” she tells JET.
The couple wed in July 2010 and Keys gave birth to Egypt in October of that year.
“I’d never met a person where I could be fully myself…Swizz and I live in each other’s shadow. So we occupy the same space and there is nothing but equality,” she said. “There’s something really powerful about that.”
In addition to releasing her fifth studio album later this month (Nov. 27), Keys will lend her star power to the Hurricane Sandy “12.12.12″ benefit concert to provide money and materials to tri-state organizations helping those affected by the disaster.
She will be joined by Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Who, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters and Jon Bon Jovi.
The new issue of JET will hit newsstands Nov. 19
