Everyone loves Beyoncé, right? Well, not exactly. While she has millions of fans, there are plenty of people who aren’t crazy in love with her.
Most folks don’t really care if Beyoncé is actually sitting down with a pen and paper to write her classic hits. What really bothers some people is that she often takes credit for writing songs when she’s not even part of the creative process. This kind of embellishment has been going on since her days with Destiny’s Child. In an interview with GQ Magazine, she said, “You know, when I was writing the Destiny’s Child songs, it was a big thing to be that young and taking control.”
The problem is, none of the songs on Destiny’s Child’s albums list Beyoncé as the sole songwriter. Producer Rob Fusari, who worked with Destiny’s Child in the early 2000s, came up with the idea to use a guitar riff from Stevie Nicks’ song “Edge of Seventeen” to create the beat for their 2001 hit “Bootylicious.” Fusari was shocked when he saw Beyoncé in an interview on The Late Barbara Walters Show, where she claimed she came up with the idea for the track. He told Billboard Magazine that he called Beyoncé’s dad, Matthew Knowles, to ask why Beyoncé was taking credit. Fusari remembered Matthew’s response clearly: “People don’t want to hear about Rob Fusari, producer from Livingston, New Jersey. No offense, but that’s not what sells records. What sells records is people believing that the artist is everything.”
During a 2014 Reddit Q&A, singer and songwriter Linda Perry was asked about accusations that Beyoncé changed one word in a song to get a writing credit. Perry responded, “Some artists think that without them, your song wouldn’t get noticed, so they take a cut just because of who they are. But everyone knows the real truth, even Beyoncé.”
This wasn’t the first time Beyoncé’s songwriting skills were criticized. In 2022, Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren tweeted about the 24 writers credited on Beyoncé’s song “Alien Superstar,” expressing her confusion. Many, including The-Dream and the Beyhive, defended Beyoncé. After hours of backlash, Warren apologized, tweeting, “I meant no disrespect to Beyoncé, who I’ve worked with and admire. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”
While fans might be surprised to find out that Beyoncé isn’t the sole songwriter behind all her hits, people in the music industry don’t mind at all. Ne-Yo, who wrote her song “Irreplaceable,” said on The Breakfast Club, “If you listen to my version of ‘Irreplaceable’ and then listen to Beyoncé’s, they’re totally different songs. She added all the harmonies and extra stuff, so yeah, I gave her writer’s credit because that counts as writing.” Bangladesh, a producer who worked with her on “Diva” and “Video Phone,” told Bossip, “People want to be involved in what she’s doing. Whether she wrote it or just puts her name on it, that’s the kind of influence she has.”
One person who doesn’t seem to be a fan of Beyoncé is Wendy Williams. In a 2011 episode of her show, Wendy showed a viral clip of Beyoncé on an Australian talk show, where her baby bump appeared to collapse. This footage made many people, including Wendy, question if Beyoncé was really pregnant. Wendy joked, “What was that, B? Beyoncé’s belly looked like she was giving birth to a frisbee or Stewie from Family Guy.”
Wendy went on to discuss conspiracy theories about Beyoncé’s pregnancy, claiming that the singer would do anything for attention. In another segment in 2012, Wendy continued her criticism, saying she was looking forward to watching Beyoncé’s upcoming documentary with subtitles because, according to Wendy, “You know Beyoncé can’t talk. She sounds like she has a fifth-grade education.”
Over the years, Wendy kept throwing shade at Beyoncé until her TV show got the axe in 2022.
Before the birth of her daughter Blue Ivy in January 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z stirred up quite the controversy among fellow parents and hospital staff at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Rumors circulated that the power couple had splurged on an entire hospital floor for a whopping $1.3 million. Though a hospital spokesperson downplayed the figure, they remained tight-lipped about the actual expenditure. According to reports from the New York Post, the Carters’ team swooped in months prior to Blue Ivy’s arrival to spruce up and fortify a whole wing of the hospital. But the real drama unfolded on the eve of Beyoncé’s delivery. Staff blacked out windows in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with tape and makeshift curtains to shield the Carters’ comings and goings. The hospital even acknowledged temporarily covering security cameras for extra privacy. Beyoncé reportedly beefed up security using both hospital guards and her own detail. Some parents claimed they were politely asked to clear out of the NICU to accommodate Beyoncé’s privacy needs. Those allowed to stay were effectively confined to their rooms, unable to venture out while Beyoncé’s entourage roamed the hallways. It didn’t sit well with many parents, who felt sidelined from their ailing newborns just because Beyoncé was in the building. Billboard reported two complaints filed by individuals alleging mistreatment due to Beyoncé’s presence, but they were ultimately dismissed.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Kid Rock voiced his skepticism about Beyoncé’s music, questioning the hype surrounding her due to what he perceived as a lack of classic songs in her repertoire. His comments didn’t stop there; he also made derogatory remarks about Beyoncé’s physical appearance, stating his preference for a different body type. While Beyoncé chose not to dignify his remarks with a response, her loyal fanbase, known as the Beyhive, swiftly came to her defense. In a bid to deflect the backlash, Kid Rock posted an image referencing insecticide, suggesting a desire to eradicate the Beyhive.
Beyoncé’s performance at the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show was widely praised, but it also drew criticism from conservative circles. Her rendition of “Formation,” a song with themes of empowerment and social justice, accompanied by dancers paying homage to the Black Panther Party, sparked controversy. Former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani accused her of using the platform to attack law enforcement, while some conservative commentators accused her of being divisive. The fallout led to plans for an anti-Beyoncé protest rally at NFL headquarters and a #BoycottBeyoncé social media campaign led by right-wing activists. In response, Beyoncé clarified in an interview with Elle Magazine that her message was not anti-police and reaffirmed her pride in celebrating her Black heritage. She maintained that any offense taken was a matter of individual interpretation, emphasizing her commitment to artistic expression and social commentary.
In 2016, Beyoncé faced yet another scandal when reports surfaced claiming her clothing line, Ivy Park, in partnership with Topshop, was allegedly produced in a Sri Lankan sweatshop. According to an exposé by The Sun, the workers, predominantly young women, were reportedly earning a mere 64 cents per hour, struggling to make ends meet with exhausting 60-hour workweeks and limited accommodation options. One worker, speaking anonymously, revealed the bleak reality, stating, “All we do is work, sleep, work, sleep.” While Beyoncé herself remained silent, Ivy Park issued a statement through WWD, asserting their commitment to ethical trading practices and promising to enforce compliance and conduct factory inspections. Despite efforts to address the controversy, public outcry persisted, with some accusing Beyoncé of hypocrisy, given her advocacy for humanitarian and feminist causes. Beyoncé continued her collaboration with Topshop until 2018, eventually transitioning to a partnership with Adidas. However, this relationship ultimately soured, leading to Beyoncé and Adidas parting ways in 2023.
When Chloe Bailey’s debut album, “In Pieces,” hit the shelves in March 2023, the buzz was palpable, especially considering her association with Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment. However, the album’s first-week sales of just 10,000 units and its debut at 119 on the Billboard 200 left fans and industry insiders scratching their heads. While it wouldn’t be fair to pin the album’s lukewarm reception solely on Beyoncé, the underwhelming numbers have certainly cast a shadow over her role in Chloe’s career.
Beyoncé, often touted for her knack in molding stars, now faces questions about her ability to propel emerging talents like Chloe to stardom. Some voices in the comment section of our Beyoncé video speculate whether Beyoncé’s own success might be hindering Chloe’s rise. Others suggest that Chloe might fare better under a label that offers more direct support and guidance.
The revelation from RRG that Chloe isn’t the only artist struggling under Parkwood adds fuel to the fire. Sophie Beem and Ingrid Burley, despite their talent, faced similar challenges launching their debut albums. This has led to speculation about Beyoncé’s management style and whether she might be inadvertently stifling the careers of her signees or lacking the business acumen needed to navigate the complexities of the music industry.
Back in 2013, Jay-Z made headlines when he declared he was going vegan, and Beyoncé decided to join him. But despite their efforts to embrace a plant-based lifestyle, Beyoncé’s fashion sense seemed to contradict their dietary choices. During one outing to a vegan restaurant, she was photographed wearing a jacket with a fox fur collar, leather pants, and a cowhide top, raising eyebrows and drawing criticism from the vegan community. They accused her of hypocrisy and questioned her commitment to the cause, especially when she continued to flaunt fur and animal skin clothing, even at high-profile events like the Super Bowl. PETA didn’t hold back either, expressing disappointment and urging her to consider the growing popularity of cruelty-free fashion alternatives. Despite their efforts to educate her, Beyoncé’s persistent choice of animal-derived attire led to accusations of being a “fake vegan,” with critics suggesting she was prioritizing her image over ethical concerns. In a scathing article on Medium, one writer went as far as to label her a narcissist, accusing her of profiting from the suffering of innocent animals.