Beyoncé has reportedly been 'running #MeToo checks' on producers and artists collaborating on her long-awaited seventh studio album, Renaissance.
The Grammy-winner allegedly made the decision to vet artists after her former collaborator Detail, who worked on her 2013 hit 'Drunk In Love', was charged with sexual assault in 2020. The producer vehemently denies the charges.
According to a new report, the 'Break My Soul' hitmaker has also rejected two songs from 'high-profile artists' in light of abuse and harassment allegations against them.
A source told The Sun: "Beyoncé was devastated when she found out Detail, one of her collaborators, was accused of rape and sexual assault.
"She stopped working with him and her team now run #MeToo checks on any potential collaborators. Two songs from high-profile artists have been rejected because of allegations they are facing.
Advert
"Although neither has been found guilty, she's sending a clear message to the industry in the wake of troubling cases from people like R Kelly and Harvey Weinstein."
The insider explained that while her decision has 'rubbed people up the wrong way', she 'doesn't care' because she 'wants to set an example that any abuse shouldn't be normalised'.
UNILAD has contacted Beyoncé’s rep for comment.
In July 2020, Detail was charged with 15 counts of sexual assault and five felony assaults, between 2010 and 2018.
At the time, the producer, whose real name is Noel Christopher Fisher, was held on nearly $6.3 million (£5.3 million) bail.
The year prior to his arrest, model and aspiring singer Kristina Buch was awarded $15 million (£12.6 million) in a Los Angeles lawsuit that accused him of abusing and raping her.
In 2019, a Los Angeles Superior Court ruled in favour of Buch after she alleged Fisher repeatedly raped and verbally abused her while acting as her mentor.
Detail won a Grammy in 2015 for co-writing the Beyoncé and Jay-Z hit 'Drunk in Love'. He has also produced hits for Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Wiz Khalifa.
Writing about the new, upcoming album online, Beyoncé said: “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world.
“It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving.
"My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking.
"A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in the music.”
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Lisa McLoughlin