Tina Knowles unveils her life story in her compelling new memoir, Matriarch, officially released on April 22. In this deeply personal narrative, the influential matriarch behind two of the music industry’s most celebrated artists candidly shares her experiences during one of the most challenging chapters in her life. This tumultuous period coincided with her daughter Beyoncé‘s pregnancy with her first child, Blue Ivy. Additionally, the renowned celebrity mother reveals some surprising details about her romantic encounters with her ex-husband, Mathew Knowles, shortly after they filed for divorce in 2009.
Source: Axelle/Bauer-GriffinIn a revealing interview with PEOPLE, published on Tuesday, Knowles discussed the emotional burden she carried when online bullies circulated a damaging rumor in 2011, falsely alleging that Beyoncé had fabricated her pregnancy with Blue Ivy. The protective mother and former hairdresser described the overwhelming sense of dread that engulfed her after a viral video appeared to show Beyoncé’s pregnant belly flattening as she sat down for an interview with an Australian media outlet. The false claims escalated dramatically until Blue Ivy was born in 2012, highlighting the viciousness of public scrutiny.
“My family is incredibly precious to me, and babies represent the purest form of love and life. To hear people spread such horrendous lies and suggest that my entire family was involved in a conspiracy to deceive the public about something so sacred was deeply upsetting,” Knowles expressed.
Knowles revealed that the experience was particularly tormenting because she felt voiceless amidst the chaos. Beyoncé believed that addressing the media would only exacerbate the situation, leaving Tina to bear the weight of her emotions in silence.
“It was the worst because I couldn’t say anything,” she confided to PEOPLE. “My daughter advised me, ‘No, you’re going to make the story bigger.’ But the rumors persisted for a long time. It remains one of the most painful experiences of my life, realizing that people can be so cruel.”
Even today, when new rumors about her family surface, it remains challenging for her to witness, but she has learned to manage her reactions more effectively when faced with such issues.
“I constantly deal with lies. I’m currently navigating falsehoods, trying to keep my mouth shut about things because there are always these outrageous rumors circulating. People feel free to lie without facing any consequences, which is incredibly disheartening,” she added.
Tina Knowles Reveals Secret Encounters with Ex-Husband Mathew Knowles Post-Divorce Filing
Matriarch also features a shocking revelation regarding Mathew Knowles, Tina’s former spouse from 1980 to 2011.
In her memoir, the dedicated mother, who shares Beyoncé and her sister Solange with the music executive, disclosed that she secretly rekindled her relationship with Mathew several times before their divorce was finalized.
After filing for divorce in 2009 due to Mathew’s infidelity, Knowles admitted that she briefly reconsidered her decision when he visited her in New York City just three months after the filing. Tina noted that Mathew seemed to show signs of genuine change, which momentarily clouded her judgment.
“He’d changed after attending new counseling,” she wrote, as reported by US Weekly. “I didn’t fully trust him, but he was persistent, demonstrating that he had sought help, and as he courted me, I found myself falling in love with him again. The magnetic connection between us, this cosmic bond I had tried to sever time and again, felt stronger than ever.”
Knowles recounted how she began “sneakin’” around town with Mathew, keeping their renewed relationship a secret from everyone, including her daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, for almost a year. However, in 2010, she decided to come clean about their hidden meetings after a close encounter. While her daughters were in Galveston for Mother’s Day, they almost ran into Mathew at her house. He quickly exited before they arrived, prompting Tina to realize it was time to reveal the truth. According to her, “Beyoncé was more understanding than Solange.”
“They each had their own unique relationships with their dad, and I sometimes felt my youngest mirrored her father’s flaws so profoundly that she internalized his failures on a deeper level,” she reflected.
You can secure your copy of Matriarch at a bookstore near you or conveniently order it online.
