I get that feeling. Imagine being in a group with Beyoncé—it’s easy to second-guess yourself, thinking things like, “I can’t wear this dress; they’ll say it’s trying to copy hers,” or “I can’t make a song like that; it sounds too much like something Beyoncé would do.” We all know Kelly Rowland has faced endless comparisons to Beyoncé over the years, but has Beyoncé really done enough to address it? Some might argue that it seems like she’s not very concerned about how it affects Kelly. Could it be that Kelly herself feels Beyoncé is not as supportive as she could be? That’s what we’re exploring today.
So, let’s dive in. It’s pretty frustrating to see that even though Kelly has achieved so much on her own—winning Grammys, writing a best-selling book, getting platinum records, landing movie roles, and earning production credits—she still gets asked about Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child in interviews. For example, during her chat on Ebro in the Morning with Laura Stylez and Rosenberg, the host kept pushing the idea that Kelly was always in Beyoncé’s shadow. “You were next to the brightest light on the planet. You think Big Boi from Outkast has it hard compared to André? You were with Beyoncé, and not only did you accept that, it seems like you embraced it and took it seriously.”
Kelly had a powerful response to always being seen as second to Beyoncé. She said, “Look, light attracts light. I’m my own beautiful, shining light, and I don’t think anyone’s light can dim someone else’s. When people start comparing us, it usually shows their own insecurities. I love Beyoncé and acknowledge her brilliance, but I know I have my own shine too.”
The conversation could have ended there, but the host pressed on about Kelly’s role in Destiny’s Child. Kelly didn’t hold back: “My sister has done incredible things, opening doors and creating opportunities for women who look like her, and especially for Black women. We’re all grateful for that, but we should remember that others helped her get there, and now we do the same for other brown girls. It’s all about supporting each other rather than comparing.”
Well said, Kelly. Just a few months ago, Kelly was on V103 Atlanta to chat about her Netflix thriller. Mid-interview, host Big Tigger asked her about Beyoncé’s Act 2 announcement and whether Act 3 might be a Destiny’s Child reunion album. Kelly’s response was, “Your sisters drop a whole new couple of songs, and it’s my understanding that Renaissance 2 might be country-based. There’s also a rumor that Renaissance 3 could either be rock-based or feature a DC reunion—but that’s Beyoncé’s business to talk about.”
But what really got on Kelly’s nerves was when host Jazzy MCB jumped in to defend the question. Jazzy said, “She’s always going to be asked about Destiny’s Child. I know it can be exhausting, but fans like me are really hoping for a DC reunion. That recent picture had me so excited and emotional. We never get to see you, so every time we do, we have to ask. Come on, now!”
Kelly Clarkson has really had to deal with a lot of Beyoncé comparisons over the years. In 2020, she opened up on The Voice Australia about how these comparisons have affected her. She admitted that, yes, they have bothered her, and there was a whole decade when it felt like this constant shadow looming over her. It must be exhausting to have to address it so often.
People are saying that Beyoncé hasn’t done enough to address the situation or support Kelly, and that’s why some think she’s a “fake friend.” There’s even talk about how Beyoncé seemed to enjoy the comparisons back in the Destiny’s Child days. And then there’s the added drama with Farrah Franklin’s claims about Beyoncé’s dad, Matthew Knowles, which just complicates things further. It’s definitely a lot to unpack!
On Wendy Williams’ show, Farrah dropped a bombshell about Destiny’s Child: the other members had to tan to look noticeably darker than Beyoncé. And surprisingly, Beyoncé saw it and was okay with it, which only made things worse. Former bandmates LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson have openly criticized Matthew Knowles for favoring Beyoncé, even suing him for their mistreatment. Michelle Williams also opened up about her struggles after leaving the group during an interview on The Talk in 2017. She revealed that she battled depression while in the band and received a pretty cold response from their manager. She recalled, “When I told our manager at the time, bless his heart, he said, ‘Y’all just signed a multi-million deal and you’re about to go on tour. What do you have to be depressed about?’ So I thought, ‘Maybe I’m just tired.’”
While Beyoncé isn’t solely to blame for how management treated the band, many people think her failure to speak up made the situation worse. She saw the mistreatment firsthand but never stood up for anyone, even Kelly, who practically grew up with her. Kelly had her own struggles, too. LaTavia mentioned that Matthew’s harsh criticism was tough to handle, especially for a young girl. “Matthew didn’t sugarcoat anything, and it was hard to deal with,” LaTavia said. “We tried not to let it affect us too much, but Kelly was more sensitive. Sometimes she’d go to her room and cry.”
People are talking about how Beyoncé might have influenced Kelly’s career path. Some think that while Kelly has done a lot on her own, Beyoncé’s support—or lack of it—could be a reason Kelly hasn’t reached even higher levels of success. There’s a belief that Beyoncé, who was in a great position to help Kelly during tough times, chose to step back for years. Although Beyoncé wasn’t obligated to help and everyone has to find their own way, fans feel she could have extended a helping hand.
Some people think Beyoncé might be a fake friend, and there are a few reasons for that. Beyoncé’s known for being super ambitious and competitive, always doing whatever it takes to stay on top. Whether she’d do that at Kelly’s expense is up to you to decide. Despite the comparisons, some folks say Kelly has always been the jealous one. Her song “Dirty Laundry” doesn’t help with that perception—it talks about her envy of Beyoncé’s success, her solo struggles, and a toxic relationship.
On top of that, Kelly reflected in 2023 on her biggest mistake: accidentally revealing the sex of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s first child during an interview with Bang Showbiz. She said, “That was the worst moment ever. It was bad because it was nobody’s business. I felt awful because it wasn’t my news. It was honestly the worst. It wasn’t my news to share, and I didn’t mean it like that. It just kind of slipped out.” Despite her explanation, some people still think she leaked the news on purpose out of jealousy.
What do you think, everyone? Do you believe Beyoncé has always been a fake friend to Kelly? Do you think she intentionally didn’t support Kelly’s career or avoided addressing the harmful comparisons between them? How solid do you think their friendship really is? Share your thoughts in the comments!
