Beyonce is facing backlash from members of her own fan base after her company, Parkwood Entertainment, began selling a limited-edition wooden box for $948.01 that contains nothing but the box itself.
The "Bey keeper collector's box" was released in a run limited to 500 to mark Beyonce's 45th birthday and the 20th anniversary of her album B'Day. Fans reacted with anger on Parkwood Entertainment's Instagram page, where the release was announced.
BeyHive Calls Box a 'Disgusting Display of Greed'
One fan branded the release a "disgusting display of greed" by an artist with an estimated net worth of $1 billion.
"$1K and it's an empty box. Beyonce, you have lost your damn mind!" another commenter wrote. A third said: "For that price I need you to pop out the box and perform."
Beyonce's fans are known as "The BeyHive" for their devotion to the singer, and they typically rush to her defense rather than criticize her.
Beyonce has one of the most loyal fanbases in the world, but some have turned against her for selling an empty wooden box for nearly $1,000.
The megastar celebrated her 45th birthday and B'Day's 20th anniversary with the limited-edition box, priced at $948.01.
Product Description Doesn't Match What's Inside
One of the more confusing elements of the item is that its product description says it is a collector's box "designed to house and display your Beyonce vinyl collection," yet it does not come with a record of B'Day or any other album.
Beyhive members were also frustrated by the choice of pine for the box, since it is considered a cheap type of wood.
The $948.01 price does carry some meaning, since Beyonce was born on September 4, 1981. Some fans argued that, following that logic, the price should have been $94.81 instead.
B'Day's 20th Anniversary Reissue
Despite the missing vinyl, Beyonce did release a 31-track reissue of B'Day for its 20th anniversary. It includes several previously unreleased tracks, among them Lost Yo Mind, Creole, Back Up, My First Time, and Can I Watch You featuring Pharrell Williams.
The reissue also features Spanish-language versions of songs, including Get Me Bodied (Mueve el Cuerpo) with Colombian reggaeton star Maluma, and Irreplaceable featuring a sample of the late Tejano singer Selena.
B'Day was a major hit when it was released in 2006, selling more than eight million copies worldwide and producing singles including Irreplaceable, Ring the Alarm, Deja Vu and Green Light. The album won Beyonce a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
One of Beyonce's loyal followers branded the box a "disgusting display of greed" by an artist with an estimated $1 billion net worth.
Destiny's Child Teases New Music
Beyonce fans nostalgic for the 2000s have something else to look forward to, as her former girl group Destiny's Child is preparing to drop new music for its 30th anniversary, according to Beyonce's father, Mathew Knowles.
In February, the 74-year-old music executive posted an Instagram photo aboard a luxury boat with Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, sparking speculation about a possible reunion.
Knowles told TMZ in July that the group has recorded 10 to 15 remixes, including an urban mix and a dance mix. He said it remains unclear whether the new material will form a full album, but that all three performers are on board for the new era. He added that the group is also sitting on never-before-seen video and never-heard-before audio that is in the process of being released. Fans should not expect a tour, however, as Knowles said there are no current plans for the group to perform together.
Knowles created and managed Destiny's Child when it formed in Houston, Texas, in the 1990s. It has been nearly 22 years since the group released new music, with its last album, Destiny Fulfilled, arriving in November 2004 before the three singers pursued solo careers.
Destiny's Child announced its breakup in 2005 in the middle of a world tour, but the singers have remained close. They reunited for a performance on the final night of Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour in July last year, appearing in chaps, glitter and gold.
