Beyoncé’s Father, Mathew Knowles, sparked online chatter after walking out of a recent interview when asked about his ex-wife Tina Knowles’ role in shaping Destiny’s Child. The discussion, meant to honor the group’s legacy, quickly became tense as Mathew questioned Tina’s contributions, leaving both the reporter and viewers stunned.
Beyoncé’s Father Mathew Knowles Sparks Tension Over Tina’s Role
During a January 30 interview with PIX11’s Kendis Gibson, Mathew Knowles, father of Beyoncé and Solange, grew visibly frustrated when Gibson credited Tina with helping launch Destiny’s Child. In a recently uncovered cut from the interview, “What work did she put in?” Mathew asked before abruptly stating, “We’ll stop now.”
Gibson attempted to explain Tina’s contributions, noting “the hair, the clothes,” to which Mathew eventually conceded, “You’re absolutely right. The styling, the imaging. You’re right.” The interviewer also highlighted Tina’s story of praying over the group’s name: she “put their picture in my NIV study bible and one day I opened it and said ‘destiny,’ and I said, ‘That’s the name,'” with Mathew adding “‘child’ to it.”
Despite this, when Gibson suggested that “getting Destiny’s Child off the ground was a joint effort,” Mathew laughed, stood up, and ended the interview. The host initially thought he was joking, asking, “Did I say something wrong?” Mathew assured him he did not and exited, Entertainment Weekly reports.
Online Backlash Against Mathew Knowles
The incident quickly ignited reactions online, with viewers criticizing Mathew’s defensiveness and inability to acknowledge Tina’s role. Many remarked on the fragility of his ego, pointing out that it seemed he resented Tina’s popularity and the affection fans hold for her.
Comments flooded in, noting, “Men are sooo emotional,” and mocking the idea that the effort wasn’t shared, with one user summing it up as, “peak divorced dad behavior. pathetic.” Others reflected more analytically, saying the incident highlights broader issues with male pride in co-parenting situations.
Mathew later defended his actions via Page Six, explaining that the interview was intended to focus on Destiny’s Child’s tribute concert, not his ex-wife. “How it starts is how it ends. It started on a bad note, and obviously ended on a bad note for him,” he said. “I politely ended the interview, shook his hand, and took a photograph.”
Though Beyoncé rarely addresses her parents’ divorce publicly, her 2014 song “Ring Off” paid homage to her mother’s independence, with lyrics like, “Mama, I understand your many sleepless nights / When you sit and you think about Father. / Or how you tried to be the perfect wife.”
