Here are some photos of Beyonce out and about last Thursday, I just never got around to posting them. I like the idea of hot pink short-shorts more than I like the execution here. I think it’s the pleating that’s throwing it off? Anyway, there has been a sudden influx of Beyonce & Jay-Z stories the past few days, so let’s go through them. Note: over the past year especially, some of the older African-American activists (like Harry Belafonte) have been calling on the younger generation of African-American entertainers, specifically Beyonce and Jay-Z, to become more engaged in social justice movements.
Bey and Jay visited Haiti, apparently. They went with the consent of the Haitian government, and Beyonce posted photos to her Instagram. Some photos were also posted on the American Embassy in Haiti’s website, and the New York Times points out that many people saw B&J’s visit as little more than a short-sighted photo-op. The goal of the visit was to highlight the progress made following the 2010 earthquake, but the coverage around the visit is just about “Bey & Jay want to look charitable.”
Bey and Jay anonymously donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Allegedly. This came from activist (and Jay-Z’s ghost-writer?) Dream Hampton in what are now deleted social media posts. Hampton claimed that Bey and Jay donated thousands to bail out jailed protesters in Ferguson and Baltimore AND that Bey and Jay have quietly funded some local chapters of Black Lives Matter across the country. If true… good for them. If true, they should get credit for it and it would be great if they were even more public in their support.
Bey and Jay visited Freddie Grey’s family. Grey was the young man killed in police custody in Baltimore, setting off a chain reaction of awfulness in Baltimore. Bey and Jay visited Grey’s family more than a week ago.
Bey and Nicki Minaj released a teaser. It’s for their new single, “Feeling Myself.” The song is being released through Tidal? And Tidal released this clip of the music video. It’s actually pretty cute – I like Bey a lot more when she’s acting silly with girlfriends, like the “7/11” music video. Minaj looks really pretty here too.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
The full video is already on youtube I believe. Also, I think its great if they donated money – hopefully its true. Even though people can do what they please with their wealth, I always wonder why they dont do more (thousands of dollars is chump change for them)….maybe they put most of their money in their business ventures. I just cant imagine having that much money and influence its literally like living in another world.
Apparently, they donate a lot of time and money to these causes on the low. People found out about them visiting the Grey family because a friend of the family shared the photo, after BnJ requested that they not. Not sure how recent their overall charity has been, but it’s nice to know they are involved and not saturating us w news of it.
I really really love that video tho! I need a Knicks version of that Bulls swimsuit.
Ratchetyonce is the best.
Really “ratchetyonce”?? That doesn’t even make sense. Do you even know the meaning of ratchet? LMAO
If true, good for them. But, everything they do just seems PR strategies, I’d even bet Jay leaked the info.
As others have pointed out this rumor has been around for awhile. I first read it on a call to action blog thats run by a bunch of guys who couldnt be further off from celebrity culture. This is obviously not PR protocol unless ofcourse you are one of those people determined to hate evidence be damned.
PR or not, they helped
I think it’s probably true. From what I’ve read/heard, they’re being low key about it because they want to keep the focus on the protesters/issue. For example, they showed up at a rally for Trayvon Martin IN NYC a while back, but ended up leaving because people were focusing on their presence instead of the issues surrounding Martin’s death.
Yeah, I have to cop to being a little impressed.
If they did, good on them. Some of the protesters got higher bail amounts than the officers involved in the actual death. One judge in particular (Judge Owen) seemed to make it his mission to stick it to the protesters – repeatedly increasing bail amounts requested by the state’s attorney by up to five times (i.e. from $10,000 to $50,000).
Seriously?
UGH!!!
And people still say we just make up these claims of systemic racism. Smmfh
I’ve been hearing for months that Bey and Jay quietly donated big money to the Black Lives Matter movement. I believe it, and I think it’s good of them to not distract by drawing attention to themselves unnecessarily. I’m a fan though, so I’m biased to think well of them.
I agree. Donate away, but don’t call the paps everytime you do. Make it about the cause and not your PR.
No one called the paparazzi lol what are you talking about? Bey and Jay are trying to do it lowkey because last time when they attended the Trayvon Martin rally everyone was more focused on them than what the rally was about.
Some of you guys are so ridiculous and hateful. The whole #blacklivesmatter movement is really personal for a lot of black people so to accuse them of doing it for PR is really offensive. It’s funny how if it’s a negative story about Bey or one where she’s criticized there’s hundreds of comments but if it’s about something positive there’s barely anyone reading it. Some of you guys are very transparent with who you criticize and really go after.
Yes @ Anna.
Loved everything you said.
It’s been rumored for months and i think it’s true.
Beyonce could cure cancer and people would still say she did as a stunt. Seriously? I’m no Stan by any means but credit where credit is due.
And random, anyone see the Vice episode on Hati? One of the most depressing things ever.
Oh come on now. You’re lying and being lame to prove a point. You don’t like them, fine. But she has not been 30 for the last 8 yrs. of all the things to criticize this woman over… Tuh.
I’m sad for myself because they made me really cynical about everything they do.
I think it wasn’t just protestors, there were rioters and looters who destroyed many businesses, which creates jobs in this struggling community. Bad behaviour shouldn’t be rewarded, there needs to be consequences, if not, there will be more of the same.
Buildings are not more important than actual lives.
Businesses can always be rebuilt; but Freddie Gray is gone forever. People’s lives matter. That is the point of these ongoing protests.
Hoods and thugs. I am sure everyone was happy to sacrifice their homes and livelihoods to the cause.
Oh screw you.
screw you right back
No thanks, I don’t congregate with bigots.
Wow.
I agree. The looters were looting because they wanted things they couldn’t or wouldn’t pay for. The burning and looting wasn’t necessary, they burned down their own neighborhood and deprived themselves and others of the minimal services they once had. POC need to learn how to work within the system, not burn down our own houses. AND calling someone a bigot because they see things differently isn’t helpful.
@anon321 and Carole you guys should be on Fox News! You would fit right in 🙂
If I am being ridiculed for encouraging employment, self sufficiency and responsibility, geez, then I KNOW I’m doing something right in this lifetime.
The highly successful civil rights movement did not include burning down businesses or destroying homes.
@Anon so protesting racism, police brutality, and horrible social-economic conditions in disinvested and disadvantaged communities around the country something that’s accomplished exclusively by “POC” now?
Was the recent Waco biker riots that left 9 dead and countless injured our fault too?
Maybe you should try getting your news from sources other than Fox.
I am a black female. I know nothing of the biker riots or why you shoehorned it into the conversation. I am stating that destroying your own neighborhood and businesses that supply goods, services and jobs to people who live in that neighborhood is stupid as hell.
In my area civic organizations are holding public meetings on how to respond when approached by law enforcement as well as job fairs. There is also a movement to encourage witnesses and people with information to cooperate with the police to solve the many, many black on black crimes that plague the area. Every night at least one black person is murdered, sometimes three or four over a seven city area. Where is the indignation? The mob? The anger? Where are the cries of racism and disrespect? Where are Al and Jesse? Oh, that only applies when white people shoot at us. When we kill each other it’s nothing but a thing.
I’ve never been crazy about these two, but if this is true then I think I might have to change my mind about them.
Celebrities tend to chose “safe” causes for their activism, so good for them for choosing something controversial and actually relevant!
I’ve heard rumblings about this for a while. I’m glad they’re contributing.