Beyoncé turned 45 yesterday, September 4, and celebrated by making a whopping $2 million donation. The donation comes amid backlash after she revealed pricey merchandise to honor the 20th anniversary of her second album, “B’DAY.”
According to PRNewswire, Beyoncé donated $2 million to the historic Studio Museum in Harlem. Founded in the late ’60s, the Studio Museum is the “nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally, and internationally.”
“Art tells all our stories; the past and the present, but is not always accessible to everyone,” said Beyoncé. “I have always been impressed with the Studio Museum in Harlem because of its intention to make the museum an integral part of the community. I have been introduced to several of my favorite young and upcoming Black artists through exhibits at the Museum. It is a place of inspiration where all audiences can discover new stories through the canvases of diverse storytellers that reflect our humanity.”
More About The Studio Museum In Harlem, New York
A diverse group of artists and activists founded The Studio Museum, which is known for promoting the work of Black creatives. The studio’s new location is on West 125th Street in New York and opened in November 2025.
The creative space is open to the public and features a range of interactive programming, such as Adult Programs, Studio Sundays, Uptown Fridays, Kids and Families, Group Visits, and more.
Beyoncé Releases Deluxe Edition Of Beloved Album
Also on her birthday, Beyoncé released a deluxe edition of her second album, “B’DAY,” to honor the project’s 20th anniversary. The new album features archive tracks, remastered vocals, and visuals.
“I wanted the album to be big, percussive, hard, up-tempo, and energized, and it was important to me that we used live instrumentation,” she said, per The Blast. “The goal was to blend those two worlds through the art of sampling. I loved the minimalism of a beautiful vocal arrangement over a simple drum loop or a classic guitar like ‘Irreplaceable’…but only if that 808 was banging underneath.”
Queen Bey Under Fire
Beyoncé didn’t get big smiles from everyone on her birthday. According to another report from The Blast, the “RENAISSANCE” singer came under fire after releasing limited-edition merch ranging from $40 to $1,000.
The priciest item is a Bey Keeper Collector’s Box, designed to hold a collection of Beyoncé’s vinyls. It’s a pine box with green velvet lining, a faux alligator-skin strap, and gold-plated hardware. Beyond the price tag, the Bey Keeper Collector’s Box does not come with the singer’s expansive vinyl collection.
“You can make that w/ kids on a Saturday morning at Home Depot,” someone wrote on Instagram. “Baby, y’all will buy anything, which is why they can sell y’all anything,” another said.
“Vinyls not included!?? Who’s paying $1k for a box full of air??? Now Beyoncé. Was this Jay-Z’s idea?” a third wrote, while a fourth added, “Pine is the cheapest wood, and the same box is on Amazon for $60-90 btw. She’s playing in y’all face atp.”
Bey Is A Billionaire
Other users also questioned why the singer would sell such an expensive item, citing her billionaire status. “Beyoncé being a greedy a** billionaire, what’s new,” they wrote, while another said being a billionaire is exactly why she’s selling the item. “Her rich fans are [the targeted audience]. You’ll be okay, I promise,” they posted.
Beyoncé joined the billionaire club in December 2025 after achieving commercial success with her eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” The singer’s accompanying tour, which sold 1.6 million tickets, became the highest-grossing country tour of all time and earned the 45-year-old several additional accolades, per The Blast.
