TEENA MARIE at the BET Awards held at the Kodak Theatre. Los Angeles, California - 28.06.05

The comic came up with his famous "I'm Rick James, b**ch!" for a skit on his CHAPPELLE'S SHOW - but Teena Marie didn't find it amusing.

She's upset that her ex-lover's legacy has been tainted by his comedy portrayal as a pimp.

The FIRE + DESIRE singer says, "It affected me negatively because Rick never said, 'I'm Rick James, b**ch!' He said, 'I'm Rick MF James.'

"They took their own thing and made it up, because I guess they wanted to make the money. It's an affront to me and his memory to think that's who he was."

The Dave Chapelle Show (Rick James' Skit)