Beyoncé has spent decades building a legacy of artistry, discipline, and near-mythic influence, but even she isn’t immune to the relentless storm of gossip and scandal. The latest controversy to swirl around the Carter family comes courtesy of celebrity blogger Jason Lee, who is being accused of making veiled blackmail threats involving Beyoncé’s twins, Rumi and Sir Carter.

The drama reignited shortly after Beyoncé wrapped her record-breaking Cowboy Carter tour. Lee, founder of Hollywood Unlocked, took to a live broadcast claiming he had “receipts” on Beyoncé—information he hinted would be made public unless his demands were met. The demand in question? Securing an interview with Beyoncé’s longtime friend and Destiny’s Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland.

“If I don’t get Kelly Rowland for an interview, then it’s going to be a problem. Then I’m putting out receipts,” Lee warned. He never specified the details, but given the timing and context, many believe the alleged “receipts” involve personal information about Beyoncé’s children—specifically her rarely seen son, Sir Carter.

This isn’t the first time speculation has surrounded the Carter twins. Since their birth in 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have kept Rumi and Sir largely out of the public eye, a decision fans interpreted as either a protective measure or an attempt to hide something. Rumors intensified when Kanye West, in a now-deleted series of tweets, made offensive and unsubstantiated claims about the twins’ developmental health.

The speculation didn’t stop there. In interviews, Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles described Sir as “very quiet and very smart” and “into all of the number stuff,” comments that some internet commentators seized on to fuel autism rumors. A handful of viral videos showing the twins in public settings—clips that critics claimed showed “atypical behaviors”—only added to the frenzy.

Layered on top of this is a long-running and bizarre narrative tying Beyoncé to witchcraft. These allegations trace back to 2018, when her former drummer accused her of practicing “extreme witchcraft” in a failed legal bid for a restraining order. Conspiracy theorists have linked these claims to the twins’ supposed health conditions, with critics like Jaguar Wright suggesting—without evidence—that the children’s alleged autism was the result of a “ritual gone wrong.”

While none of these rumors have been substantiated, they’ve created fertile ground for bloggers like Lee to make insinuations with maximum shock value.

Beyoncé’s camp has remained publicly silent on Lee’s latest comments, but her mother was quick to clap back after Kanye’s earlier attacks. “It’s hard to remain positive and classy in the face of ignorance and evil,” Tina Knowles wrote on Instagram. “But I know that no weapon formed against me or my family shall prosper.”

Privately, sources say the Carters have considered legal action—not just against Kanye but potentially against Jason Lee as well. “They will absolutely not stand for it,” one insider said. “This crosses a line.”

Interestingly, Beyoncé appeared to address the controversy in her own way during the Cowboy Carter tour, incorporating more appearances from her children into the production. While Rumi and Blue Ivy have been seen more frequently, Sir’s appearances remain rare. Some fans believe this was a strategic move to counter rumors; others saw it as a cautious first step toward more openness.

Still, the situation raises troubling questions about the ethics of celebrity journalism. Leveraging sensitive—and possibly fabricated—information about a public figure’s children for personal gain is a move many see as beyond the pale. The blending of ableism, racial bias, and misogyny in the attacks against Beyoncé’s family underscores the toxic culture that can emerge when gossip becomes a form of currency.

For Beyoncé, whose career has thrived on both her artistry and her careful control of her image, this may be one of her most difficult balancing acts yet: protecting her children’s privacy while facing an online culture that thrives on tearing down even the most private walls.

Whether Jason Lee follows through on his threats or not, the uproar surrounding his comments has already become a case study in the darker side of fame—where personal boundaries are ignored, children are treated as pawns, and rumor often drowns out truth.