Sounds Like A Cult – The Cult of Beyoncé

Episode Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Chelsea Charles
Guest: Kathleen Newman-Bremang

Episode Overview

This episode of “Sounds Like A Cult” delves into the world of Beyoncé and her devoted fanbase, the Beyhive, exploring the “cultish” qualities of Beyoncé’s influence and legacy. Host Chelsea Charles and guest Kathleen Newman-Bremang—writer, editor, and cultural critic—unpack what makes Beyoncé’s fandom tick: the ritualistic devotion, public discourse over her persona, and the cultural and political power of her artistry. The episode scrutinizes both the empowering and problematic elements of the “cult of Beyoncé,” ultimately asking: Is this just good fandom, or does it cross into cult territory?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining the “Cult” of Beyoncé

• Chelsea introduces Beyoncé’s fanbase as a full-blown “faith-based system” where “every move is dissected like scripture” and devotion borders on worship.

  • “The Beyhive isn’t just a fan base, it’s a full blown faith-based system. Beyoncé is the flawless, untouchable deity. Every move is dissected like scripture. Her concerts are sacred rites...” (06:45)

• Kathleen identifies with Beyoncé as a formative figure:

  • “My relationship with Beyoncé feels a little bit like my relationship with myself...” (09:05)
  • She admits to having her own “B fund” to spend on Beyoncé releases and tours.

Memorable moment:

• Kathleen on concert experiences:
  “Some of my favorite memories of my life are seeing Beyoncé live with my favorite people...I have been worshipping at the altar of Beyoncé in my personal life…” (10:00)

2. Beyoncé’s Shifting Image & Strategic Mystique

• Both hosts discuss how Beyoncé curated her public mystique by gradually withdrawing from interviews and controlling her narrative with highly produced, self-directed documentaries and limited, often email-only interviews.
  • “We know a lot about her, but we actually don’t know a lot about her. And that's by design.” (15:00)

Notable quote:

• “We’re seeing images and sound bites of Beyoncé molded by Beyoncé, and it makes it really easy...to project whatever we want onto her.” – Kathleen (15:30)

3. Impact on Black Womanhood, Body Image, and Representation

• Kathleen reflects on Beyoncé’s complex role in shaping ideas of black excellence, body image, and beauty standards—acknowledging both positive and negative impacts:
  • “Beyoncé has molded a very specific image of blackness, of black womanhood, of body image, of beauty ideals throughout our lives that I don’t think is always positive...” (13:00)
  • Discusses the dual-edged sword of growing up aspiring to Beyoncé’s look and achievements.

4. Fandom as Worship and Its Limits

• The fervor, expense, and ritualism of being a Beyhive member is acknowledged as “culty.”

  • “I’m wearing the most expensive Beyoncé merch I own, which is a T-shirt from the Renaissance tour, which was a collaboration with Balmain, and it was $450...I genuinely used to have a B fund.” (14:30)

• Hosts discuss necessity for critique vs. blind loyalty:

  • “If I didn't, I would just be one of those delusional Beyhive stans who…is like, she can do no wrong.” (10:20)

5. Beyoncé’s Feminism: Empowering or Performative?

• Kathleen considers Beyoncé's brand of feminism both empowering and performative:
  • “Beyoncé is a performance in everything she does…That doesn’t mean it can’t be empowering.” (21:10)
• Cites the impact of “Formation” and “Lemonade,” but also notes the limitations and inconsistencies in Beyoncé’s activism.
  • “When you do quote a Nina Simone [about an artist's duty to reflect the times], and then you continue to be a Beyoncé who has not reflected the times in certain aspects...that’s when you have to say…it's a performance, and you have to be able to call it out.” (22:40)

6. Lemonade, Black Spirituality, and Misconceptions

• Chelsea and Kathleen dissect “Lemonade” and “Black Is King,” especially the use of African religious symbolism.

  • Kathleen critiques Western, especially Christian, framing that demonizes African spiritual traditions, linking it to colonialism.
    • “Those spiritual practices...predate Christianity in so many African cultures…If you’re not strictly adhering to a very westernized view of religion, it’s demonic, it’s satanic, and that’s just colonization at work.” (29:03)

• Discussion on conflating African spirituality with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati:

  • “It’s always this idea that [Black success] had to do some kind of weird, strange demonic witchcraft in order to reach this level of success.” – Chelsea (31:25)

Memorable moment:

• Kathleen joking about Beyoncé as a deity:
  • “There are times when I jokingly call Beyoncé my Lord and savior. I say thank Beyoncé instead of thank God…” (32:25)

7. The Cowboy Carter Era and Cultural Reclamation

• Chelsea and Kathleen talk about "Cowboy Carter" as both a personal artistic statement and a pointed intervention in country music’s exclusion of Black women.
  • Kathleen: “On the heels of another Trump presidency, on the heels of so much blatant anti-blackness in pop culture…it’s the perfect time [for Cowboy Carter].” (37:34)
  • Beyoncé’s infamous CMAs performance with the Dixie Chicks is revisited as a precursor to the album’s themes of reclamation and pride.

8. Capitalism, Brand Partnerships, and Hypocrisy

• Both hosts grapple with Beyoncé’s position as a billionaire and her participation in endorsements (e.g., Tiffany & Co.) that sometimes contradict her political messaging.

  • “She is participating in this capitalist system that she was critiquing...by making us pay $450 for the T-shirt…thousands of dollars to watch her critique America…” – Kathleen (43:12)
  • They discuss the “cult of Black excellence” and problematic “firsts” (e.g., “first Black woman to wear the Tiffany necklace”).

• The hosts agree it’s important to be able to critique Beyoncé and recognize her missteps publicly, such as the Buffalo Soldiers controversy and the general trend of swift PR corrections.

9. Fandom Responsibility & Separating Art from Artist

• The episode examines the personal responsibility fans feel to “protect” Beyoncé versus acknowledging her humanity and flaws.
  • “There are times when I do feel very protective of her legacy as a musical icon, but not necessarily Beyoncé the person...” – Kathleen (49:37)
  • Both agree on critiquing favorite artists deeply but healthily, and being willing to “break up” with them if dealbreakers arise (e.g., Kanye West).

10. Culty or Just Cringe? [Game Segment]

• Fans decoding “Lemonade” visuals like scripture: Culty, but not negatively so. (56:31)
• Beyoncé trademarking Blue Ivy: “Cringe” (56:57)
• Beehive flooding Keri Hilson’s socials: Culty and cringe, “all of the above” (57:26)
• Wearing themed outfits to concerts: “A bit culty…but I did it and I loved it.” (58:07)
• Reading Beyoncé’s silence as divine wisdom: “That’s—you’re in a cult. Sorry to tell you.” (58:54)

11. Final Verdict: Live Your Life, Watch Your Back, or Get the F* Out?**

• Kathleen’s Verdict:
  • “Live your life, sis. We’re good...Being a part of the Beyhive has brought me a lot of joy...but watch out for the warning signs that you are in a cult.” (59:20)
• Chelsea’s Addendum:
  • “It’s always a cusp. It’s like, live your life, but watch your back a little bit.” (59:53)

Notable Quotes

• “The cult of Beyoncé is the cult of black excellence and thinking that we can excellent our way out of certain systems or certain ways in which pop culture hurts and shapes us negatively.”
  – Kathleen (13:00)

• “Everything [Beyoncé] does is branded. Everything is curated. That doesn't mean it can't be empowering.”
  – Kathleen (21:10)

• “As much as we love her, she doesn’t need you to be treating her critiques like they’re your critiques… She’s okay. I promise, she’s all right. She doesn’t need you to be doing all that.”
  – Kathleen (34:00)

• “If someone says something bad about Beyoncé, they are not saying something bad about me. And I think that is what's happening: Stans think if you critique Beyoncé, you are critiquing me.”
  – Kathleen (33:27)

• “Part of being a fan is actually engaging with this person and with their persona in a smart way.”
  – Kathleen (47:52)

• “No one is above reproach, including Beyoncé. But I do think there are certain critiques that she gets that feel [rooted in] just because she’s a Black woman.”
  – Kathleen (36:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Background and framework on Beyoncé as a “cult leader” – 06:45–09:00
• Kathleen’s personal and critiquing relationship to Beyoncé – 09:05–11:46
• The ritual, mystique, and merch of the Beyhive – 14:22–16:44
• On Beyoncé’s evolving feminism – 20:42–23:49
• Lemonade, Black spirituality, and the Illuminati conspiracy theory – 27:44–35:37
• Cowboy Carter, country music, and cultural reclamation – 37:34–41:01
• Capitalism and criticisms of Beyoncé’s brand – 42:03–47:17
• Fandom responsibility and separating art from artist – 49:27–55:03
• Culty or Just Cringe Game – 56:06–58:59
• Final verdict: cult status classification – 58:59–60:17

Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode blends affection, humor, and critical analysis as Chelsea and Kathleen dissect why Beyoncé’s fandom is uniquely powerful—and sometimes problematic. With honest, nuanced discussion, they urge listeners to appreciate Beyoncé’s artistry, celebrate her cultural impact, yet remain vigilant against uncritical devotion that tips from fandom into cultish territory.

Final message:
Enjoy the Beyhive, “live your life,” but always “watch your back” for the warning signs of losing perspective and critical thought.