Beyoncé’s latest album cover for Act II: Cowboy Carter has sparked a social media storm, with Erykah Badu appearing to throw shade at the superstar for allegedly copying her iconic style. However, Beyoncé’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, has subtly clapped back at the criticism, and the Beyhive has come out in full force to defend their queen.
Badu’s repost of Beyoncé’s album cover on her Instagram Story, accompanied by a cryptic “hmmm” caption, ignited speculation that she was seeking recognition for inspiring Beyoncé’s braided hairstyle, reminiscent of Badu’s own signature look. The move prompted Noel-Schure to step in with a history lesson, showcasing a carousel of childhood photos of Beyoncé sporting various braided styles long before her Destiny’s Child days.
Noel-Schure captioned the post, “She slays. She slays. Now. Then. Always. act ii COWBOY CARTER 3.29 #criticswithoutcredentials,” seemingly shutting down any suggestion of imitation.
Despite the Beyhive’s fierce defense and Noel-Schure’s subtle clapback, Badu playfully reached out to Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, on social media, jokingly asking him to intervene in the brewing controversy. However, neither Beyoncé nor Jay-Z have directly responded to Badu’s comments, maintaining their silence amidst the online uproar.
This isn’t the first time Badu has publicly critiqued Beyoncé’s style. In a previous incident, Badu hinted at Beyoncé copying her oversized hat style, reigniting speculation about artistic inspiration and imitation in the music industry.
Beyoncé, meanwhile, has been focused on promoting her upcoming album, Cowboy Carter, which she has described as a deeply personal project years in the making. In a recent Instagram post, she thanked her fans for their support and reflected on the significance of her success in breaking barriers in the music industry.