{blackbabes} Carey crosses picket line to eat

Mariah Carey is adamant she did not intentionally cross a picket line while dining out with her husband in New York over the weekend, insisting she has "nothing but respect for those in the struggle".

The singer and her partner Nick Cannon walked past striking restaurant workers on Sunday to eat at the Central Park Boathouse in Manhattan, and the famous couple endured jeers and boos from the crowd, who shouted "Shame on you!" at the pair.

Carey has now taken to her Twitter.com page to explain herself and express sympathies to the striking workers, who staged the walk-out as part of a contract dispute.

She writes, "Ok - obviously we didn't purposely dine at a restaurant w/a (with a) picket line... And clearly the issues the picketers are dealing with are issues we would never try to over look... So when you see a 'video' of me walking thru (through) a bunch of picketers as they say 'Shhhhaaame on yoooou' please understand - we respect... All people and have nothing but respect for those in the struggle."