Julius Malema Reacts To ODM Senator Meeting Beyonce In Dubai

South African Opposition Member of Parliament Julius Malema on Friday, November 10 gave his reaction to Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian opening up on her meeting with American music superstar Beyoncé Knowles in Dubai.

Speaking at Nairobi Serena Hotel in a forum jointly organised by the Kenya Young Parliamentarian's Association (KYPA) and Siasa Place, an NGO, Malema commended the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for what he believed was her maintainig her cool while meeting the Crazy In Love hitmaker in person.

According to the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Hezena viewed Beyonce as merely a human being and believed that everyone can achieve the accolades she has amassed in her illustrious music career.

"We must join them in producing our own movies and music and do away with Beyonce. I saw Senator Hezena saying she saw Beyonce in Dubai and did not even get starstruck.

"It's supposed to be like that. She's a human being so we're seeing one of our own but you do that once you start having self-respect to know that we are all her and we can do what they are doing," he encouraged.

During a recent interview with Pulse, the Senator opened up on her encounter with Beyonce in Dubai even though they were on separate yachts, and owing to her high self-esteem, she didn't feel overexcited.

"I have never met somebody who has got me starstruck. I was one time at a beach in Dubai on a different yacht and Beyonce was on another yacht and I felt like I was not starstruck, probably because I am always the star," she stated.

Beyonce's estimated net worth is $500 million (Ksh62.3 billion). Having risen to fame as the lead singer in girl group Destiny's Child, the 41-year-old has established herself as a solo artiste, earning 88 Grammy Award nominations in the process.

Known as "Queen Bey", she has been recognized for her boundary-pushing artistry, vocals, and performances. Named one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone, her contributions to music and visual media and her concert performances have led her to become a prominent cultural icon of the 21st century.

Some of Beyoncé's most successful songs include Crazy in Love, Baby Boy, Irreplaceable, If I Were a Boy, Halo, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Run the World (Girls), Love On Top, Drunk in Love, Formation, Break My Soul, and Cuff It.

Her collaborative music ventures include Everything Is Love (2018), an album with her husband Jay-Z, as the Carters, and the musical film Black Is King (2020), inspired by the music of the film soundtrack The Lion King: The Gift (2019).

Having sold over 200 million records worldwide, Beyoncé is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her accolades include 32 Grammy Awards (the most Grammys won by any artist), 26 MTV Video Music Awards (including the 2014 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), 24 NAACP Image Awards, 35 BET Awards, and 17 Soul Train Music Awards, all of which are more than any other artist in the music industry.

Her success during the 2000s earned her recognition as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)'s Top Certified Artist of the Decade and Billboard's Top Female Artist of the Decade.

In 2014, Billboard named her the highest-earning black musician of all time. She is the most successful black touring act in history and received the Pollstar Touring Artist of the Decade award in 2021.

Time magazine included her as one of the 100 women who defined the 21st century.

Beyonce performs onstage during the Renaissance world tour. /HARPER'S BAZAAR