Los Angeles, Nov 17 (IANS): Singer Mary J. Blige filed for divorce because her husband Kendu Isaacs didn't respect her.

The "No more drama" hitmaker split from Kendu Isaacs in July after 12 years of marriage and says she needed to end the relationship in order to save herself, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"The breaking point was when I kept asking over and over and over again for respect and to be respected. If I can't get respect in the relationship, then I have to move on to save myself," Blige said on an American TV show.

"No one wants to go through this. This is hard. I'm hanging in there. I have to stay strong and I have to be the strength for myself. I had to save myself and I'm saving myself now," she added.

The 45-year-old singer is thankful for all the support she has received in the wake of the split.

"What is getting me through is God, is prayer, is my family, my fans. Just getting that self awareness and putting myself in a place that I can see clearly," she said.

Amid claims Isaacs has requested $130,000-a-month in spousal support, Blige has urged others in her position to take responsibility for their own affairs.

"My message to those women that are going through the same thing is you cannot rely on people to handle your business.

"You have to handle your business. You have to take responsibility and stay on top of it, because things like this will happen if you don't," Blige said.