On this episode of ‘Stepping Into The Shade Room,’ singer and performer Mario steps in to discuss it all with host Thembi. From his viral tiff with Cam Newton and Jacquees to counting down toward his new chapter of fatherhood and the speculation surrounding his dating life — Mario doesn’t hold back on any of it and even doubles down on why he’s the undeniable “R&B Emperor.” Scroll below to watch.
Mario Reacts To Jacquees
About 14 minutes into their sitdown, Mario got candid about his recent rift with fellow R&B singer Jacquees. As some folks would recall, he and Cam Newton caught Jacquees’ attention when he appeared on ‘Funky Friday’ and Newton seemingly downplayed Jacquees‘ singing skills. Clips from the interview led Jacquees to send a spicy message to the pair, telling them to keep his name out of their mouths. Furthermore, Jacquees even pulled out his gold and platinum plaques, defending his skills.
“He just wanted to promote his project — y’all know that. Stop playing,” Mario told Thembi about the ordeal.
From there, Mario went on to share his thoughts on everyone having “different ears.” Additionally, he explained that he and his fellow singers are aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, he knows, like they do, that “some people are great performers… some people are great singers.” So “they all know what’s up.”
The “R&B Emperor” Talks Fatherhood, Marriage & His Dating Preferences
Outside of his tiff with Jacquees, Mario’s dating life has also made headlines. About 41 minutes into the interview, Mario opened up about his current relationship with a woman named Esperalda, and making the conscious decision to welcome a child and step into fatherhood with her.
“When we first started dating, it was never really at the top of my list — as far as what I wanted for my life… [but] it was safety and comfort and timing [that changed],” Mario explained.
Despite this, Mario opened up about why he’s still taking his time when it comes to marriage. Scroll above to watch as he breaks this down while also tackling the rumor that he has a dating preference or even “hates” Black women.
