Tina Knowles Exposes Unequal Treatment of Destiny’s Child vs. Britney and Jessica in New Memoir
If you thought the music industry had evolved beyond its petty, backward biases, think again. In her new memoir, “Matriarch,” Tina Knowles takes us on a disheartening trip down memory lane, revealing the cringe-worthy ways Destiny’s Child was treated compared to their blonde counterparts, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. Spoiler alert: it’s as unfair as you’d expect, and the revelations are enough to make any sane person question humanity’s capacity for progress.
Tina recounts a trip to Disney World in 2000, where, despite the undeniable star power of her daughter Beyoncé and her groupmates, they were relegated to second-class status behind Jessica Simpson. While Tina describes Simpson as a “nice person” and a family friend, she couldn’t help but notice the glaring disparities backstage—the kind that scream systemic bias louder than a pop anthem. Apparently, Jessica was granted a more spacious dressing room, while Destiny’s Child was treated like they were about to cause a scene. “There was an assumption that we were trouble,” Tina noted, and frankly, who can blame her for thinking so?
In a particularly rich moment, she shares how her then-husband, Matthew Knowles, donned a Goofy costume to lighten the mood, only to be swiftly reprimanded. Honestly, how dare he attempt to inject some joy into an event rife with tension? And just when you think it couldn’t get worse, during their performance, the police threatened to end the show if Beyoncé dared to toss a towel into the crowd again. Because nothing screams “dangerous” like a towel being thrown, right?
Unsurprisingly, the music industry’s elitist executives were more interested in molding Destiny’s Child to mirror the likes of Britney and Jessica rather than allowing them to shine in their authentic Texas style. The implication that their homemade outfits were holding back their success is a perfect example of how the industry often equates “popular” with “white.” Tina perfectly encapsulates this absurdity when she reflects on the executives’ words, revealing their not-so-subtle bias: “too Black.”
So, what’s next for the Knowles family? Will they continue to fight against a system that seems hell-bent on keeping them down? Or will they emerge victorious, basking in the glow of a more equitable industry? Honestly, at this point, can we even pretend to be surprised if it spirals further out of control?
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, PEOPLE.com
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
