Beyoncé has disclosed the challenges she went through when she first started dating Jay-Z, as she reflected on the evolution of technology while also touching on parenthood and privacy. Contrasting her upbringing with her children, the 43-year-old singer noted that her kids have instant access to information and connectivity.
“We live in a world of access. We have access to so much information – some facts, and some complete bullshit disguised as truth. Our children can FaceTime and see their friends at any given moment,” she told the October edition of GQ.
But she quickly compared it to the old days, adding: “My husband and I? We used calling cards and Skype when we were falling in love.”
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“I couldn’t afford the international hotel bills, so I literally would get international calling cards to call him. Just recently, I heard an AI song that sounded so much like me it scared me. It’s impossible to truly know what’s real and what’s not.”
The music icon has “worked extremely hard” to shield her family’s lives from the effects of the spotlight. “It’s very easy for celebrities to turn our lives into performance art. I have made an extreme effort to stay true to my boundaries and protect myself and my family.”
“No amount of money is worth my peace,” she added.
During her Renaissance world tour, which spanned from Europe to the U.S. between March and September 2023, the favorite couple’s 12-year-old daughter, Blue-Ivy Carter, became a regular presence at her mother’s live performances.
Despite initial reluctance, the superstar eventually allowed Blue-Ivy to join her onstage, starting with a surprise appearance at Stade De France on May 26, where she danced with her mother during performances of “My Power” and “Black Parade.”
Beyoncé, who usually keeps her role as a working mother separate from her career as an international star, reflected on the rare choice to have her daughter take center stage.
The R&B superstar, also a mother to six-year-old twins Rumi and Sir, explained that her daughter’s tour appearances were made possible by scheduling 56 shows over five months, aligning with the children’s school holidays.
“I try to only tour when my kids are out of school,” she said. “I always dreamt of a life where I could see the world with my family and expose them to different languages, architecture, and lifestyles.
“Raising three kids isn’t easy….I love it. It’s grounding and fulfilling. My kids come with me everywhere I go. They come to my office after school, and they are in the studio with me. They are in dance rehearsals.”
