Internet divided after Blue Ivy Carter, 13, performs on Beyoncé’s tour
One moment, she’s Beyoncé’s little girl trailing behind her at public events, the next, she’s commanding the stage with the same bold energy that made her mother a global icon.
However, while some are appreciative, others are not pleased with this development.
Keep reading to learn more about what transpired and divided the internet.
At just 13 years old, Blue Ivy Carter made a striking return to the spotlight during the opening night of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit Tour, proving once again that she’s no stranger to the stage.
Social media erupted with reactions. While many fans praised her stage presence and predicted she’d become the “most successful nepo baby” of her generation, critics were less impressed, arguing she’s too young for such high-profile performances.
Blue Ivy wasn’t alone this time either. Her younger sister, Rumi Carter, 7, also made her stage debut at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday night, joining Beyoncé during her performance of Protector.
Throughout the show, Blue Ivy appeared multiple times, dancing to fan-favourite tracks like Déjà Vu — a 2006 hit by Beyoncé and Jay-Z — and America Has a Problem. Her polished performance left audiences in awe, but online discourse quickly turned divisive.
Some commenters voiced concern about her age, saying things like, “Let her be a kid, ffs,” and “13 going on 23, too young to be out there.” One person even claimed, “She looks like a 40-year-old mom working a double shift at IHOP.”
Others went further, accusing Beyoncé of “grooming” her daughter for fame. “Ruined childhood, nothing else. Blame the parents,” one critic wrote.
But not everyone was negative. Supporters applauded Blue Ivy’s discipline and charisma, calling her a born performer. “She’s a star and a hard worker just like her parents,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Blue Ivy is going to be the most successful nepo baby of her generation, I just know it.”
This isn’t Blue Ivy’s first time in the spotlight. In 2023, she joined her mother as a backup dancer during the Renaissance World Tour, and performed again at the NFL’s Christmas Gameday halftime show in Houston in 2024.
Despite her now-regular appearances, Beyoncé previously admitted she was hesitant about letting her daughter perform. In Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, the singer revealed that Blue Ivy asked to be part of the tour — and Beyoncé initially said no.
“She told me she was ready to perform, and I told her no,” Beyoncé said in the film.
According to Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, Blue Ivy saw some of the online backlash after her first performance. Speaking on The Run Through podcast, Tina said a friend had shown Blue some of the negative comments — and it became a “great life lesson.”
“Her mom basically said, ‘If you let this get you down, then they win. So go out, work harder, and prove them wrong.’ And she did,” Tina recalled, adding that her granddaughter “grew so much” from the experience.
Beyoncé’s former bandmate and close family friend Kelly Rowland also defended Blue Ivy’s dedication. “She works very freaking hard, period,” Rowland told E! News. “She sees her mother in action, and her father, and how they apply hard work to everything.”
Whether praised or criticised, one thing is clear: Blue Ivy isn’t just walking in her parents’ footsteps… She’s already carving out her own!
