MARY J BLIGE - VIBE STRIKES BACK AT BLIGE

LATEST: The editor of Vibe magazine has hit back at MARY J BLIGE after the R+B star slammed the publication at last weekend's Vibe Awards.

The singer thanked MIMI VALDES for the Vlegend Award she was presented at the bash, but proceeded to embarrass the magazine bestowing the prize, by criticising its recent cover photo of her.

At the ceremony Blige said, "For so many years, Vibe has given me great, great, great covers, but I must say, I'm very, very disappointed at the cover this time, so Mimi, me and you really need to talk, as women. No disrespect, but I really hated the way you guys shaved off my head, pushed my forehead way back behind my ears. I'm just insulted."

Valdes angrily denies tampering with the picture and is furious at the manner in which Blige made "a private conversation public".

She writes in a letter on Vibe.com, "Dissing Vibe while accepting our VLegend Award was extremely disappointing. I'm sorry you find your most recent cover insulting. It was definitely not our intention.

"Besides your desire to make a private conversation public, your accusations are untrue. How your hair looks on that cover is between you and your hairstylist. I swear, your hairline is no different than the Polaroids you saw at the shoot or the snapshots we printed in my What's Good column.

"I'd be lying not to admit how hurt we were by the negativity you brought to our celebration, especially since you were being honoured."