*A viral TikTok video has positioned Beyoncé on the middle of an internet firestorm, with the daughter of the singer’s longtime stage supervisor claiming he was fired with out severance or help after his well being declined following 20 years of service.
Mairi Cooley, daughter of Terry Cooley, posted an emotional video circulating extensively since Feb. 16, alleging that her father — who labored with Beyoncé since her Future’s Little one days — was “reduce free” after struggling critical well being points tied to the grueling calls for of the job.
A profession spent on the street
In line with Mairi, Terry Cooley served as Beyoncé’s stage supervisor and manufacturing supervisor for greater than 20 years, serving to orchestrate the large international excursions which have cemented the celebrity’s popularity as some of the dynamic performers in music historical past.
The job got here at a steep private value. Mairi described her father working 22-hour days whereas on tour, sacrificing his well being and well-being to make sure Beyoncé’s performances ran flawlessly night time after night time.
“When COVID occurred, there have been no excursions and Terry was paid sporadically,” Mairi stated within the video. “He needed to drain his financial savings to pay the household’s payments. Terry offered the household residence and moved his household in together with his mom.”
The daughter of Terry Cooley (Beyoncé’s stage supervisor of 20+ years) has come ahead to disclose after working for Beyonce for over 2 a long time (with 22 hour work schedules) he was let go.
Why’s sinister is that Terry was apparently let go because of the state of his well being, which has… pic.twitter.com/OJgQR2ohqP
— Preserving Tradition Alive (@Q4quise) February 16, 2026
The breaking level
The scenario worsened after the pandemic when Cooley returned to work, together with touring with different artists reminiscent of Mariah Carey. He quickly suffered a well being collapse requiring hospitalization and surgical procedure, which docs attributed to the bodily calls for of his profession.
After his restoration, Mairi alleged, Beyoncé’s workforce decided her father “couldn’t sustain” and let him go.
“They reduce him free and fired him after 20-something years of service. After he gave his well being and his physique to serving to her succeed,” Mairi stated, combating again tears.
In line with Mairi, Cooley obtained no severance pay, no retirement bundle, and never even a get-well card or private message from Beyoncé.
“The place we’re at now’s my dad is struggling financially and he’s struggling emotionally,” she stated. “He’s in a horrible place.”
She urged viewers to tag Beyoncé on social media and ask her to “make issues proper” and “possibly apologize for disregarding the profession that that they had.”
On-line reactions divided
The video has sparked intense debate throughout social media platforms, with thousands and thousands of views and feedback divided alongside predictable traces.
Supporters of the Cooley household expressed outrage, notably given Beyoncé’s billionaire standing and public picture as an advocate for Black employees and empowerment.
One TikTok person wrote: “Beyoncé is a enterprise. They need to have retirement packages for workers like him.”
One other commented: “She may not be at fault for his harm however after 20+ years of working collectively, can she not help somebody in a tricky spot out of loyalty? like a billionaire, howdy?”
Nevertheless, many defended Beyoncé, noting the realities of the leisure business. Stage managers and manufacturing crew are sometimes impartial contractors employed on a per-project or per-tour foundation, not salaried workers entitled to advantages like severance beneath customary U.S. employment legislation.
One commenter wrote: “You stroll away with what you earn. That’s the draw back of ardour, and sadly it’s the chance you’re taking while you work exterior of the normal enterprise construction.”
Others famous that Cooley was compensated for his work over time, and that loyalty doesn’t assure ongoing employment if well being or efficiency points come up.
No response from Beyoncé
As of Feb. 18, Beyoncé, her representatives and Parkwood Leisure haven’t publicly responded to the allegations.
The incident suits a sample of occasional viral claims about high-profile artists’ therapy of behind-the-scenes workers. Whether or not extra particulars emerge — reminiscent of remark from Terry Cooley himself or potential authorized motion — stays to be seen.
For now, the story highlights the often-precarious place of crew members who pour a long time into constructing leisure empires with out the security nets afforded to conventional workers.
