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Despite rumors that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Mary J. Blige are at odds over her role in the Lifetime movie, Betty and Coretta, the two met this weekend over lunch in California, where the award-winning artist presented the Minister with a personally autographed copy of her recent edition of L.A. Confidential magazine.

The magazine was signed by Blige with a sweet message that debunked the made-up beef:

“Thank you for everything. I love you.”

PHOTOS: Red Carpet At The Premiere Of “Betty & Coretta” At Tribeca Cinemas 

The movie details the story of the slain civil rights leaders’ wives and highlights a number of negatives about both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, including allegations that Min. Farrakhan had something to do with Malcolm’s death.

But in an interview posted in The Final Call, Min. Farrakhan gives his take on Blige both playing Betty Shabazz and executive producing the film.

“I cannot answer for Mary J. Blige except to say that when a person is famous or well-known, sometimes they will give such person “executive producer status” to add to the strength of the film. Mary J. Blige is my friend! And nothing that’s in this movie has diminished my love and respect for her.”

When asked why Hollywood would want to revisit the painful death of Malcolm X with mention of the Nation of Islam, Min. Farrakhan added:

“It is because the murder of Malcolm X is still alive in the hearts and minds of many, and they wish to charge me with that crime in order to seek to destroy my reputation with the people that love and admire me. And also, to plant the seed in the hearts of those who don’t know me that I am, in fact, a ‘murderer.’

I did not kill Malcolm X. Before too long, you will really find who is ‘exposed’—and it is those who want to put on me what no court, no judge, no jury, could put on me. And if my enemies had a chance to bring me before the courts, and put me in prison for such a crime, they would have done it a long time ago! No, I am not ‘exposed.’ But the wickedness of those behind my slander will be thoroughly exposed!”

He continued, reiterating his innocence:

“I am not guilty of killing Malcolm X. If I were, I would have been brought into a court of law and sent to prison.”

The interview also reveals that the producers of the movie failed to consult Min. Farrakhan, The Nation of Islam, or his family about the details related to him in the film.

Looks like there’s no bad blood between Mary J. Blige and the Minister, but there must be something said about Hollywood’s inaccurate take on his role in the death of Malcolm X.

Read the rest of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s interview here.

SOURCE: The Final Call

PHOTO SOURCE: The Final Call