Beyoncé appears to drop Jay-Z's surname amid shock rape allegation

Music icon Beyoncé was named in Forbes' list of Most Powerful Women of 2024 and fans rushed to social media to point out a 'change' they spotted

Beyoncé fans were in shock after her joint surname with husband Jay-Z was supposedly 'changed'.

The iconic singer is married to Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, who is accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean 'Diddy' Combs at a party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The Roc Nation founder vehemently denies the claim in a strong statement posted on social media.

Amid the controversy, fans noticed that Forbes - who named Beyoncé as one of the year's most powerful women - listed her as Beyoncé Knowles instead of her official married name 'Beyoncé Knowles-Carter'. Some fans believe it was a move for a 'soft launch name change'.

Fans took to social media to share screenshots of her profile and pointed out the 'name change'. One user said: "My good sis where’s your hyphen," while another posted: "Look how she don’t want Carter associated with her now." One fan added: "When did Beyonce change her last name?"

One viral tweet read: "The soft launch name change." Another posted: "The soft launch name change is a clever way to tease something new!" One fan claimed Forbes always referred to her as 'Beyoncé' or 'Beyoncé Knowles' and never 'Beyoncé Knowles-Carter'.

"Forbes has ALWAYS gone by just Beyoncé-Knowles. This is NOT new. Why are you trying to come up with a false narrative?" a fan commented. However, in September, Forbes published a story calling the singer by her married name, 'Beyoncé Knowles-Carter' as she launched her Whisky brand, SirDavis.

Beyoncé, who has embraced her Carter surname for over a decade, recently toured as 'Mrs. Carter' and named her recent album Cowboy Carter.

Meanwhile, after news of the rape claim against Jay-Z emerged, he responded to it in a strong statement published on social media. He called the claim against him 'so heinous in nature' and slammed Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee, who is representing 120 alleged victims of Sean 'Diddy' Combs. He said: "These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.

"This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics! I have no idea how you have come to be such a deplorable human Mr. Buzbee, but I promise you I have seen your kind many times over. I'm more than prepared to deal with your type. You claim to be a marine?! Marines are known for their valor, you have neither honor nor dignity."

Jay-Z went on to say how it was "unfair" that his family will also be affected by the lawsuit. "My only heartbreak is for my family," he wrote. "My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.

"I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit. My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit."

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