Beyoncé A No-Show At Jay-Z’s 40/40

Ah well, at least it got everyone’s excitement up, for even just a minute.

Yesterday, rumors were flying that superstar Beyoncé was set to make an appearance at the reopening of Jay-Z’s 40/40 nightclub inManhattan, but we eventually learned that she decided to stay home.

According to Perez Hilton, Jay arrived solo to the event and smiled and shook hands with everyone while welcoming them into his club. He also spent the evening showing friends pictures of his new little daughter Blue Ivy on his phone. To be expected! Very sweet.

Apparently Beyoncé is still resting pretty at LenoxHillHospital, which–to be honest–is a little strange. I get having the best treatment out there for the birth, but it’s eleven days later! I’m thinking it’s time for her to make room for some other patients; don’t you? By eleven days, you should already be settled into your baby-filled home!

But knowing Beyoncé, she will do everything in her own time. In the meantime, Jay seemed like the happiest, proudest parent ever, and I’m sure had a great time last night with Swizz Beatz, Russell Simmons, Selita Ebanks and Ashanti. Not too shabby for friends!

So I guess the first glimpse of post-baby Beyoncé will be another time. But don’t fret, fans! We will see her out and about eventually. She’s gotta come out of that hospital one of these days! So Beyoncé was a no-show at Jay-Z’s 40/40. But we’ll be sure to see her soon!

DIRTRIBUTOR: Sam

Gossip Heavy

Beyoncé’s life has clearly been gossip heavy lately, with the news of the birth of her daughter spreading like wildfire across the world. But you know what’s gossip heavy this week? Promo photos released of the star for her already-out album 4.

Media outlets are starting to comment on the still released recently, which is for a new advertising campaign for the singer’s album. So what’s causing all of the controversy? The same thing that was a problem back in 2008 with her L’Oreal ads. It appears as though Photoshop is back again. (Ha. As if it went anywhere.) Beyoncé is looking noticeably lighter in the ad than she does in real life. Like, unnaturally so. This was also the problem with the L’Oreal ads, and the company took some heat for making her look lighter than her skin tone actually is.

So this time, I’m totally confused because this is not a specific company or endorsement doing it. It’s Beyoncé’s people doing it. And I know some people will say, “Oh, it’s the lighting.” Well, it’s not. Sure, they’ve definitely got her under some serious lights for the shot, which features her in a black netted bikini, sprawled across a leopard print couch.

But to say it’s just lighting is silly. If you look at only her top half, she actually looks Caucasian. And of course the blonde hair isn’t helping. The bottom half (her legs) looks a tiny bit better. But that top half? You can’t be trying to selling Beyoncé CDs by trying to make her look white! It’s causing quite the controversy.

And now I’m sure people will say that perhaps that was the point–her album needed a little controversy. But I’m not buying it. I think this was a classic case of execs hoping that nobody would really notice but on a subconscious level, they would. Hmm. Sounds sneaky to us, dudes!

What do YOU think about the whole thing? On purpose, or not? And if it was on purpose, what are your thoughts on that?

To me, that kind of thing is never cool and shouldn’t be tolerated at all. In the same way that you can’t photoshop a white artist to make her look a little darker, there’s something just weird and creepy and straight up wrong about making B look lighter.

You’d think they would have learned from the L’Oreal fiasco, too! People notice these kinds of things, and it doesn’t make them happy!

DIRTRIBUTOR: Sam