Beyoncé is an enigma.
She's an international songstress who belts out "leave him, girl" anthems as her alter
ego, Sasha Fierce.
And then, there's her private life, which has been shrouded in controversy, including
husband Jay-Z's infidelity and allegations that she hasn't always been truthful about
her songwriting process.
While she appears to address some scandals head on, the Lemonade artist remains mum on
the hottest topics.
Let's dig into the double life of Beyoncé.
Run the World (Girls)
Many fans are drawn to Beyoncé because of her female-empowered hits, with lyrics that
vibe on how she can do with or without a man in her life.
This self-proclaimed "black Bill Gates in the making" settles for nothing.
And she doesn't stop there.
In 2017, the singer released a video in celebration of International Day of the Girl, featuring
girls from all corners of the globe singing her song "Freedom."
But while she skillfully uses her platform to build women up in all aspects of their
lives, fans were asking questions when it came to her hubby, Jay.
Drunk in Love
Infidelity allegations have plagued Beyoncé's marriage, and she appeared to address them
in 2016's Lemonade.
In her scathing track, "Sorry," she not only blasts her husband's alleged mistress, aka
"Becky with the good hair," but also seems to peace out on the relationship.
Then, when Jay-Z released 4:44 in 2017, rumors about his infidelity were all but confirmed.
He told The New York Times his issues are rooted in his inability to connect to women
emotionally, admitting...
"The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone's face that you caused and then have to deal
with yourself."
Despite Jay-Z's admissions and Beyoncé's fiercely independent brand, it looks like
this power couple is in it to win it.
Me, Myself, And I
Beyonce is the queen of keeping her private life private.
Vogue journalist Jason Gay once wrote,
"...an audience with Beyoncé can be as challenging to schedule as a tennis match with the pope."
As early as 2005, Queen B was outlining her reclusive approach to super-stardom, telling
Oprah,
"It's really hard to have privacy.
Sometimes, it gets a little overwhelming, but I now have learned to take time for myself."
But exactly where does she draw the line?
Dance For You
Despite craving privacy, Beyoncé joined Instagram in 2012, posting never-before-seen photos
of her glamorous lifestyle on and off the stage.
And as far as her music, Politini Media CEO Danielle Moodie-Mills called Lemonade…
"...the most vulnerable, raw, and artistic album that [Beyoncé] has ever made."
Though the project was considered highly biographical, Beyoncé was reluctant to detail her connection
to its content.
This tug of war over those missing pieces leaves some fans questioning her true intentions.
Flawless
Queen B is all about healthy living.
"It's all about balance, but absolutely I make better choices."
In 2011, she even lent a helping hand to former FLOTUS Michelle Obama's Let's Move!
Campaign with the song, "Get Me Bodied."
Then, in 2015, she took things a step further by partnering with her trainer, Marco Borges,
for 22 Days Nutrition.
The plant-based meal plan, along with strenuous workouts, was cited as the driving force behind
the singer's svelte bod.
Borges told E! News,
"She is all about health and wellness.
She just wants to feel good."
But was she really as healthy as she claimed?
Don't Hurt Yourself
Beyoncé played songstress Deena Jones in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical
Dreamgirls.
And to prep for her role, Beyoncé reportedly endured the infamous Master Cleanse.
She told Oprah,
"I figured in the '60s Twiggy was the hot model, and Diana [Ross] and Cher and all the
legends were thinner than I am...so I decided I wanted to lose weight and make a physical
transformation."
The 14-day cleanse — also known as "the lemonade diet" — consists of chugging maple
syrup, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and cayenne pepper to rid the body of toxins.
However, according to Health.com, the rapid weight loss from consuming less than 1,200
calories a day can lead to a slow metabolism and even cardiac stress.
Not exactly healthy.
Formation
When she wasn't spilling the tea about her marriage, Beyonce's Lemonade was celebrating
the beauty, pride, and achievements of black women.
And prior to the project's release, Bey delivered a powerful performance steeped in black power
references at the 2016 Super Bowl, sparking conversation about race relations in America
and spotlighting Black Lives Matter.
But none of that seems to jive with this...
Jealous
In the early-2000s, Latin sound was hot in the States, and nearly everyone was experimenting
with Spanish language music, including Beyoncé.
After the 2006 release of her super-successful hit "Irreplaceable," she released a Spanish
version of the track, then teamed up with Shakira for "Beautiful Liar" and its Spanish
counterpart.
But some thought the singer's love for the language went further than admiration.
She confirmed as much in 2008, telling Latina magazine,
"I'm just jealous that I wasn't born Latina.
I wish I had been because the culture is so beautiful.
I'm very grateful Latinos are embracing me."
All Night
Beyonce told Vanity Fair that "Crazy in Love," featuring Jay-Z...
"...was really hard to write...I had written—what?—seven, eight Number 1 songs with Destiny's Child,
in a row.
But I guess if you haven't written a Number 1 song in three months, you have to prove
yourself again."
But did Beyoncé exaggerate the role she played in writing that track — and more?
Beautiful Liar
Beyoncé's honesty regarding her songwriting process was called into question when MTV
News revealed "Crazy in Love" was actually the brainchild of producer Rich Harrison.
Harrison said he had the track ready to go and was just waiting for the right artist
to bring it to life.
When he linked up with Beyoncé, she supposedly loved the sample and told him,
"Now write the song.
I'll be back in two hours."
But Beyonce's controversial crediting stretches beyond just her songwriting.
She's been accused of modeling her maternity photos off rapper M.I.A.'s P.O.W.A. video,
copying Fuerza Bruta choreography, and ripping off Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist in her "Hold
Up" video.
In 2017, Business Insider, reported that Bey was "being sued for $20 million by the estate
of a late internet star who's sampled" in "Formation."
Is it simply an accident?
After all, imitation is a form of flattery.
Either way, it certainly adds to the complexity of her mysteriously magical life.
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