MagazinAisle

Blog

  • Trump calls Virginia election ‘rigged’ after redistricting referendum

    Trump calls Virginia election ‘rigged’ after redistricting referendum

    United States President Donald Trump has claimed that the Virginia election was “rigged”, without providing evidence, after voters narrowly approved a referendum to redraw the state’s congressional map.

    With most ballots counted on Tuesday, the measure passed by a slim margin, 51.45 percent voting in favour and 48.55 percent against, a result that could significantly reshape Virginia’s representation in the US House of Representatives and potentially benefit Democrats.

    Recommended Stories

    list of 1 itemend of list

    Trump’s comments came after the result on Wednesday, with the outcome expected to face legal challenges.

    “A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA!” Trump wrote in a post on TruthSocial.

    “All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive ‘Mail In Ballot Drop!’ Where have I heard that before – And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split,” he continued.

    Trump has made similar claims without evidence since the 2020 presidential election, when he lost to Joe Biden. Courts and election officials have confirmed the results.

    Part of a broader political battle

    The Virginia result is being closely watched nationally, as both Democrats and Republicans seek to shape congressional maps before the upcoming midterm elections.

    Redistricting – the process of drawing electoral boundaries – can directly influence which party wins seats in the US House.

    Democrats have framed the move as a way to counter Republican-led efforts in other states to redraw maps in their favour. Republicans, meanwhile, argue the process in Virginia raises concerns about fairness and transparency.

    The result could still face legal scrutiny. Courts are expected to review challenges to the referendum’s introduction and wording to determine whether it was clear to voters.

    Opponents argue the measure may not have followed proper procedures and that the ballot language could have been misleading.

    Virginia’s Supreme Court previously allowed the vote to proceed but indicated it could revisit these issues if the measure passed, leaving the outcome uncertain.

    Trump also criticised the referendum wording, saying he “had no idea what … they were talking about” and urging courts to intervene.

    Redistricting usually follows the national census every 10 years, but Trump last year urged Republican-led states to redraw maps mid-decade to protect the party’s fragile House majority. That triggered a tit-for-tat contest as both parties raced to squeeze out an extra advantage before November.

    Control of the US House depends on winning at least 218 seats, the simple majority needed in the 435-member chamber.

    “Democrats are on the cusp of the magic number of 218 in our ratings,” Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said in a statement sent to Al Jazeera.

    “However, there are other dominoes that might fall on redistricting, most notably in Florida, where Republicans are meeting in a special legislative session next week and may try to squeeze additional seats out of that state,”  he added.

    Democratic-backed organisations invested heavily in the contest, turning it into one of the costliest battles over electoral maps in the US.

    Spending on both sides has approached $100m, with a large share coming from so-called “dark money” groups, nonprofit entities that can channel significant funds into political campaigns without revealing their donors.

    Virginia election results
    Virginia election results
  • ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Renewed for Season 35; Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller Set as First Celebrity Contestants

    ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Renewed for Season 35; Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller Set as First Celebrity Contestants

    “Dancing With the Stars” is back for its 35th season — and it’s leaning into the women who may have been wronged by men on reality TV.

    The ABC reality competition series will return in the fall, they announced during the Get Real event on Wednesday. The first two cast members were revealed to be Maura Higgins, best known for her appearances on “The Traitors” and “Love Island,” and Ciara Miller, star of “Summer House.”

    Their partners and the full cast list will be announced at a later date.

    Higgins finished in second place on the latest season of Peacock’s “The Traitors” after she was blindisded by her best friend in the game, Rob Rausch, and he revealed he was a Traitor to win the game. Before competing, she became known for her part on “Love Island.” After participating in Season 5, she made history as the first UK cast member to cross into the U.S. series as host of both “Love Island USA: Aftersun” and “Love Island Games: Aftersun.”

    Miller is a former ICU nurse who also competed on “The Traitors,” one season before Higgins. However, she is best known for her role on Bravo’s “Summer House,” a show she’s appeared on for the last five seasons. She’s made headlines as of late after it was revealed that her best friend, Amanda Batula, was in a relationship with her ex, West Wilson.

    “Dancing with the Stars,” produced by BBC Studios, had a record-breaking Season 34, ending in the show’s best season finale in 10 years, with 72 million votes. The series averaged 10 million total viewers with nearly half a billion votes across the season.

    Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return as hosts while Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli will serve as judges.

  • Massive HYPE outflows signal supply shock: So why is price still struggling?

    Massive HYPE outflows signal supply shock: So why is price still struggling?

    A major whale withdrew 40,000 $HYPE worth $1.64M, pushing total holdings to 324,557 $HYPE valued at $13.28M.

    This move reflected continued accumulation rather than distribution. Repeated withdrawals from Gate reinforced a pattern of capital moving off exchanges.

    As a result, available supply on trading platforms declined steadily. This behavior suggested long-term positioning instead of short-term speculation. In addition, the scale of accumulation highlighted strong conviction from large holders.

    However, price did not expand alongside this activity, indicating that demand had not matched the supply shift.

    Netflows flip positive as inflows return

    Spot flow data showed a positive netflow of $4.07M, indicating that tokens moved into exchanges, not out.

    This shift marked a clear change from prior periods dominated by heavy outflows. Earlier phases showed sustained negative netflows, which reduced sell-side pressure.

    However, the recent inflow suggested that some holders began positioning for potential selling or redistribution.

    As a result, exchange supply increased in the short term. This weakened the earlier supply-tightening narrative driven by whale accumulation.

    Although inflows did not yet dominate the broader trend, they introduced new sell-side risk. This transition reflected a more balanced environment, where supply was no longer consistently shrinking.

    Source: CoinGlass

    $HYPE stalls at $44 as support gets tested

    Price reached $44 resistance and faced rejection, then declined toward $40.64 while holding above $39.74 support.

    The ascending trendline continues to act as dynamic support, preserving the higher low structure.

    This keeps the broader trend intact for now. However, repeated rejection near resistance showed that buyers failed to sustain upward pressure.

    Price now trades within a tightening range between resistance and support. If the price breaks below $39.74, the downside would likely extend toward $35.29.

    On the other hand, if buyers regain control, price could retest the $44 resistance zone. The trendline remains the key level defining short-term structure. .

    DMI readings showed +DI at 18.60, -DI at 20.65, and ADX at 24.23, indicating a shift in control. Sellers moved ahead of buyers, reflecting weakening bullish strength.

    At the same time, ADX remained below strong trend thresholds, suggesting reduced directional intensity. This condition pointed to a cooling phase rather than a confirmed reversal.

    Source: TradingView

    Shorts increased exposure as funding turned negative

    The OI-Weighted Funding Rate dropped to -0.0013%, signaling a shift in derivatives positioning. Traders increasingly favored short exposure, as shorts paid to maintain positions.

    Earlier phases reflected positive funding, which aligned with bullish sentiment. However, the recent flip indicated rising skepticism toward further upside.

    Funding oscillated frequently between positive and negative values, highlighting unstable conviction. This behavior suggested that traders remained uncertain about direction.

    As a result, derivatives positioning did not fully support spot accumulation trends. The divergence between spot outflows and bearish funding added complexity to the structure.

    Source: CoinGlass

    Can whales drive a breakout?

    Whale accumulation reduced supply earlier, but recent inflows increased exchange balances. This shift showed that supply was no longer tightening consistently.

    If demand strengthens enough to absorb incoming tokens, $HYPE could attempt another move toward $44.

    However, if inflows continue building, price would likely remain capped or drift toward $39.74, with deeper downside still possible.

    Final Summary

    • Whale accumulation reduced supply earlier, but recent inflows increased exchange sell pressure.
    • Price stalled below resistance as market structure weakened and demand failed to absorb supply.
  • SEC Faces Mounting Pressure to Turn DeFi Guidance Into Formal Rules

    SEC Faces Mounting Pressure to Turn DeFi Guidance Into Formal Rules

    Industry participants are urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to formalize its crypto guidance on decentralized tools, arguing clearer rules would reduce uncertainty and better align oversight with blockchain infrastructure.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Over 30 crypto industry participants urged SEC to formalize DeFi guidance.
    • Regulatory ambiguity around SEC broker rules threatens blockchain innovation.
    • Commissioner Hester Peirce backed rulemaking to align SEC policy with DeFi.

    Crypto Industry Participants Press SEC to Formalize DeFi Guidance

    The crypto industry is urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to turn recent guidance on decentralized tools into formal rules, a move supporters see as positive for long-term blockchain development. On April 21, DeFi Education Fund and over 30 organizations submitted a letter backing the agency’s position on certain crypto transaction interfaces while pressing for a formal regulatory framework that would provide lasting clarity.

    The coalition supported the regulator’s distinction on non-custodial tools, arguing that these interfaces serve as technical infrastructure rather than transaction intermediaries. DeFi Education Fund, a U.S.-based advocacy group, organized the response, while the other firms and organizations signed on as independent supporters. The position also aligns with Commissioner Hester Peirce’s broader push for modernized broker definitions that reflect crypto market structure. The letter stated:

    “We therefore respectfully urge the Commission to build upon the Statement through notice-and-comment rulemaking.”

    “Specifically, the Commission should consider adopting a principles-based framework that provides clear, objective criteria for when activity falls within the definition of ‘broker,’ iterating on the criteria in the Statement,” the letter added.

    Commissioner Peirce reinforced this direction in separate remarks, calling for a permanent overhaul of broker-dealer rules to better align with decentralized technologies. She emphasized that legacy definitions risk misclassifying software providers and infrastructure participants, signaling the need for a durable framework that reflects current crypto market realities. Her position adds weight to the industry’s argument that formal rulemaking, rather than guidance, is essential for long-term regulatory clarity.

    Formal Broker Framework Seen as Key to DeFi Expansion

    Rulemaking is central to the group’s argument because Staff guidance does not carry the same durability as a formal rule. The letter pointed to continuing debate over how the term “broker” should apply in decentralized markets and argued that infrastructure providers, including validators, data services, and communications networks, should be distinguished from entities that actively intermediate transactions. The signatories warned that regulatory ambiguity could chill blockchain development and reduce efficient market access for investors.

    The letter closed with a forward-looking appeal for a more stable, technology-neutral approach. The coalition wrote:

    “We are hopeful that formalizing the principles in the Statement into a durable, technology-neutral regulatory framework would provide lasting clarity and reinforce the approach outlined by the Staff, and we look forward to providing additional, detailed commentary in the future.”

    In the group’s view, codifying the SEC’s position would reduce uncertainty, limit future reinterpretation, and provide a stronger foundation for decentralized finance development.

  • Amazon’s Eero Exempted From FCC’s Foreign-Made Wi-Fi Router Ban

    Amazon’s Eero Exempted From FCC’s Foreign-Made Wi-Fi Router Ban

    Honest, Objective, Lab-Tested Reviews

    PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the
    latest
    products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better
    buying
    decisions and get more from technology.

  • Nick Fuentes Has a Type, and His Own Fans Ain’t It

    Nick Fuentes Has a Type, and His Own Fans Ain’t It

    Far-right pundit and content creator Nick Fuentes recently tested the bounds of his own vapidness — while simultaneously proving the loyalty of his core supporters — after two of the white nationalist’s followers taped a CNN segment, and one of the young men did not, according to the image-conscious pundit, look the “groyper” part.

    The all-too-revealing series of events began last week when two of Fuentes’s devoted “groypers” — the term coined for the very online, performatively white nationalist, anti-immigration, antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic and sexist gaggle of men whose currency is being obnoxious or inflammatory, but always attention-seeking — sat for an interview with CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan to discuss their growing online political movement.

    John Lawrence was one of these two young men, both of whom proudly agreed to the interview with the cable news outlet. It’s unclear exactly what they discussed with O’Sullivan, but they surely sang the praises of their groyper king. After the still-unaired segment was in the can, Lawrence posted some stills to his Instagram account, which is reportedly devoted to groyper content and has amassed upwards of 40,000 followers. In one still with O’Sullivan, Lawrence even reportedly asserted that he and his companion were “mogging” the young host — meaning they looked better, hotter, more handsome and more masculine than the reporter.

    As other images of Lawrence and friends from CNN’s segment circulated online, the vibe shifted. Maybe they weren’t the hottest guys in the room; maybe these two representatives of the movement were too pudgy, too nerdy, too lame to be the self-appointed avatars for the movement — at least as far as CNN viewers are concerned.

    This was about when Fuentes dropped in to trash the two followers — young men so devoted to his particular brand of hatred that they were literally wearing T-shirts with his likeness emblazoned on them while appearing on national television.

    In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.

    “What the actual fuck is this,” Fuentes posted, feigning confusion at the young men — who are likely an accurate representation of his base — for agreeing to be representatives of his movement on a news segment.

    “Do not claim to represent me if you are dressed like that and are +25 BMI,” he wrote next, pulling no punches as he went for the jugular, before becoming defensive of his lucrative brand: “As a matter of fact nobody represent me at all.”

    Then came the mocking, hard-to-read-as-serious tone, alongside an image of the three men doing what looks like a walk-and-talk interview: “For CNN. Can’t wait for this lmao. For fucks sake. It just keeps getting better. I AM NEVER COMING BACK.”

    Then he went dark: “Everything I supported in the past, I am now against. Fuck goyim.”

    And darker: “Can someone come kill me immediately,” he wrote, alongside a close-up of Lawrence’s questionable footwear.

    He then posted an image of Family Guy‘s Peter Griffin falling from a window, probably to his death.

    The mob, of course, piled on. Soon enough, they were calling for Lawrence to be doxxed and have his life ruined. They even drew a mean caricature of him. Fuentes and his hateful mob — along with the rest of the world — are still waiting for the segment to air on CNN. That is, if they can stop tearing the subjects to shreds.

  • ‘The Testaments’ Actor Brad Alexander on Garth’s ‘Restrained Affection’ for Agnes, What His ‘Riskier Position’ Means for Her After the Ball

    ‘The Testaments’ Actor Brad Alexander on Garth’s ‘Restrained Affection’ for Agnes, What His ‘Riskier Position’ Means for Her After the Ball

    SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Episode 5 of “The Testaments,” titled “Ball,” now streaming on Hulu.

    While the girls in Gilead don’t get a prom, they get as close as possible to the quintessential teen experience on this week’s episode of “The Testaments.”

    In the new installment of “The Handmaid’s Tale” sequel series, aptly titled “Ball,” Agnes (Chase Infiniti) and her other “Green” friends who are now eligible for marriage attend a ball to be paraded in front of all the Commanders who are looking for a young wife. Agnes is particularly interested in one bachelor who has just become suitable for marriage: her guardian, Garth (played by Brad Alexander), who is being promoted to Commander in the coming weeks.

    Her hopes to marry for love intensify when Agnes has the chance to dance with Garth at the ball. A Commander suitor of Agnes’ asks Garth to cut in for him so that the Commander can attend to some business, and he and Agnes take full advantage of the rare moment of normal adolescence.


    Courtesy of Disney/Steve Wilkie

    “I think think he’s sort of swept up in it as well,” Alexander tells Variety. “You can tell Gilead is such a strict place, and they have this one night where it’s a bit looser. Like he says in the episode, I think tonight some of the rules kind of fall by the wayside. And he’s there observing and watching this dancing, this drinking, this partnership, and this romantic air. And I think, he’s frustrated, to be honest, that as a guardian, he can’t really get involved until he’s placed in it.”

    Though Agnes’ feelings for Garth are quite obvious to viewers — and her pearl-girl friend Daisy (Lucy Halliday ), who also happens to have Garth as her Mayday handler — what Garth thinks about Agnes is much less clear. Alexander says that’s because Garth himself, having grown up in Gilead and now serving as a double agent for the rebels in Canada, doesn’t have the words for it.

    “I think, at least in this season, it’s sort of a restrained affection,” Alexander says. “He definitely thinks that she is vivid and alive, and has a real personality beyond the Gileadian sort of dress. But I think he’s in this position where his goals are clear, and it’s to take down Gilead as part of Mayday.”

    Courtesy of Disney/Steve Wilkie

    He adds: “His conception of romantic love is nil. He doesn’t really understand what it even is, so all of these feelings he’s confronting for the first time, and I think he has no idea what’s happening within his own body.”

    While the odds might still be against Agnes in her desire to marry Garth, he is now at least in the running as a potential husband thanks to his soon-to-be Commander status. But this promotion comes with strings that tie him more deeply to Gilead.

    “I think Garth is really excited by this change, which is perhaps a little bit naive,” Alexander says. “He’s being made a Commander, and to him, that means he can advance Mayday’s goals more aggressively. But what I think he doesn’t realize is that it puts him in actually a riskier position: He’s gaining more intel and more information, insider information. But that in itself is a vulnerability to him. He’s happy about the change, but maybe he shouldn’t be.”

    And Garth has certainly not expected this position could lead to romance.

    Courtesy of Disney/Steve Wilkie

    “I think he’s always conceived that he would marry, but just not in the sense that we would understand it,” Alexander says. “His conception of marriage is dynastic. He thinks that marriage is a way to equalize houses and privilege and money and economics. It’s not a romantic thing for him, so he doesn’t have that conception in his mind. I think he idealized marriage, as you do in Gilead, but it’s not something that’s related to love or affection.”

    As for how and why Garth became involved in Mayday in the first place, Alexander says “the mechanics of it are still something of a mystery,” but reveals there were “two really big influences” on Garth’s choice.

    “One is just the simple moral realization of the truth,” Alexander says. “He’s having these experiences with these girls for the first time. And he’s seeing firsthand how their personalities are being diminished, just so they can fit into this patriarchal world. So I think he has had a sincere moral realization about how wrong Gilead is.”

    Garth is also driven by something that the audience will learn later in the season, according to Alexander: that his father “was a very well-renowned Commander and a fighter of Gilead, up until the Boston moment.”

    Alexander reveals that Garth’s father was injured in the event, which viewers saw at the end of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” As a result, Garth is also “angry at the system that raised him,” he says.

  • Bitcoin Hits an 11-Week High Above $78,000 but Analysts Say the Rally Is a Squeeze, Not a Shift

    Bitcoin Hits an 11-Week High Above $78,000 but Analysts Say the Rally Is a Squeeze, Not a Shift

    Bitcoin climbed above $78,000 on April 22, reaching its highest price in 11 weeks, as a wave of short liquidations and improved macro sentiment following Trump’s ceasefire extension combined to push the asset to a key technical level that had resisted multiple breakout attempts.

    Bitcoin rose above $78,000 on April 22 for the first time since early February, touching an 11-week high as easing geopolitical tensions and a concentrated cluster of short liquidations above the level combined to push price through resistance that had turned back multiple attempts in recent weeks. According to Fortune’s April 22 price data, BTC was trading at $78,194 as of 9:15 a.m. ET, up approximately $2,293 from the prior morning.

    Bitcoin 11-Week High Fueled by Short Liquidations and Macro Relief

    CoinDesk reported that approximately $180 million in short futures positions were sitting above the $78,000 level heading into the session, according to CoinGlass liquidation heatmap data, creating significant upside fuel if price could clear the threshold. The broader catalyst was Trump’s extension of the Iran ceasefire announced on April 21, which lifted risk sentiment across equities and crypto simultaneously. Crypto futures open interest rose more than 4% to $126 billion in the 24 hours surrounding the move, with funding rates flipping positive across most major tokens, signaling renewed demand for leveraged long exposure.

    Diana Pires, Chief Business Officer at sFOX, said, “Bitcoin reaching an 11-week high and testing the $78,000 level is being framed as a macro-driven move, but the move appears largely driven by positioning, with a significant amount of short liquidations sitting above the market. This is a squeeze dynamic more than a fundamental shift in demand.”

    Altcoins Join the Rally, But the Breadth Tells Its Own Story

    The Bitcoin move pulled altcoins higher across the board, with memecoins leading gains and higher-beta assets outperforming. As crypto.news documented, a similar dynamic played out during the earlier $225 million short squeeze in mid-April, where forced buying in derivatives markets accelerated a price move that ultimately failed to hold. The current rally’s altcoin participation pattern drew cautious readings from analysts watching for signs of genuine capital reallocation versus tactical risk-on positioning.

    According to Diana, “Participation is expanding into altcoins, but it’s concentrated in higher-beta, more speculative segments. That’s consistent with a short-term risk-on reaction, not a broad reallocation of capital.”

    Whether the Move Can Hold Is the Real Question

    Bitcoin spent more than 46 consecutive days below $76,000 before this week’s move, building up one of the largest concentrations of short positioning in recent history, as crypto.news tracked. K33 Research head of research Vetle Lunde noted that comparable risk-off regimes with negative funding and rising open interest have historically preceded significant recoveries once short sellers were forced to unwind. That structural setup provided the technical conditions for the current move, but analysts are watching closely whether spot demand can sustain price above $78,000 once the immediate liquidation fuel is exhausted. The FOMC meeting on April 28 and 29 is the next major macro test, with rate cut expectations still largely absent from the near-term calendar.

    “What matters now is whether this move can sustain without continued positioning support. Liquidity conditions remain tight, and capital is still selective in how it allocates to risk assets. Until that participation deepens and proves durable, this type of price action is more reflective of short-term positioning than a broader shift in market structure,” Diana explained.

  • International Finance Bank Confirms XRP as a Payment Rail Within ILP Stream Protocol

    IFB Presentation Reveals $XRP’s Role as a Bank Payment Rail in ILP STREAM Protocol

    A newly surfaced internal presentation from International Finance Bank (IFB), highlighted by crypto researcher SMQKE, is reinforcing a growing narrative that $XRP goes beyond theory, positioning it as a live payment rail within the Interledger Protocol (ILP) rather than just a conceptual banking framework.

    The document, prepared for IFB’s technical and risk teams, details how banks can integrate with Ripple’s ILP framework. It highlights the STREAM protocol as a core layer enabling real-time value and data transfer across disparate ledgers.

    Notably, $XRP is explicitly identified as the settlement mechanism powering that exchange of value.

    This distinction is important because ILP is built to be asset-agnostic, routing value across different currencies and networks.

    Nevertheless, IFB’s implementation points to a more specific role for $XRP within STREAM, functioning as the bridge asset that moves value between systems. In practice, it serves as the liquidity layer that enables fast, efficient settlement across otherwise disconnected networks.

    IFB’s Multi-Rail Payment Strategy Reveals $XRP’s Real Institutional Role

    Even more revealing is how IFB frames its payment architecture as a multi-rail system, where different networks are used depending on need, much like choosing between PayPal, Apple Pay, or a bank transfer.

    Within this setup, RippleNet, ILP, and Mojaloop sit alongside legacy rails such as SWIFT and SEPA.

    Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, IFB applies selective routing. RippleNet—and by extension $XRP, is deployed only where counterparties are already within Ripple’s ecosystem or where it offers clear FX and settlement efficiency.

    The takeaway is straightforward that $XRP isn’t used universally, but strategically, wherever it delivers measurable economic advantage.

    Interoperability is also of the essence and IFB confirms that ILP can run alongside SWIFT gpi Instant, underscoring a broader reality that blockchain isn’t replacing traditional finance overnight, but embedding itself within it. The result is a hybrid infrastructure where legacy rails and blockchain networks increasingly work in parallel rather than in opposition.

    This convergence narrative is reinforced by estimates suggesting that 60% of SWIFT-connected banks already have some level of exposure to Ripple-related technology.

    Looking forward, some within the $XRP Ledger community see $XRP expanding beyond cross-border payments into decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. If that trajectory continues, its role could shift from a liquidity bridge to a core component of emerging financial infrastructure.

    In conclusion, IFB’s documentation stands out for its practical framing of $XRP as a functional infrastructure within institutional payment systems.

  • Tina Knowles Reflects on Her Career at Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit, Says Hair Care Business Cécred was a ‘Dream for Me and Beyoncé’

    Tina Knowles has worked as a businesswoman, fashion designer, and hairstylist, but the job she’s proudest of is her role as “Matriarch,” which is also the apt title of her 2025 autobiography. At Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte, Knowles and Variety’s Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson dove into her history and talked about what inspired her business decisions and collaborating with her family, including her daughter Beyoncé.

    When she was freshly divorced, Knowles began chronicling her life as a personal project. She credited writing the book with helping her navigate her insecurities and grief over the relationship ending.

    “I was 59 years old, which is really funny, because I’m 72 now and that’s not old, but back at 59 I was like, ‘Oh my God, my life is over,’” said Knowles. “I started recording into my telephone, not for a book, but to leave it to my kids, because I felt my mortality. If I die, my children wouldn’t know anything about their history, because they are just not very interested in it. I would try to tell them stories, and they wouldn’t listen. So, I was like, they’re gonna be real sorry one day.”

    “Matriarch” also reflected on Knowles’ career trajectory, with Knowles noting she often worked out of necessity and didn’t receive proper credit for her contributions.

    Knowles says she has finally learned to take credit for her achievements, including her House of Deréon clothing line with Beyoncé, and previous work designing costumes for Destiny’s Child, something the band’s label was not happy with.

    “They were constantly trying to get rid of me,” said Knowles, who explains the label often saw her costumes as “country.” “Some of them, I look back on [and] I don’t know what the hell I was thinking, but a lot of them were amazing, and it set them apart. I think that was a big part of what made them special and different, aside from the talent, because they were super talented, and I’m not taking away from that, but the imaging had a lot to do with it.  Sometimes I get sad about it, because I look back at pictures and I’m like, that was really good. But the record label was constantly tearing it down and saying, ‘They need to look like Britney Spears, and they need to have on a midriff top and some jeans.’ They even tried to get rid of me a couple of times, which didn’t work, thank God.”

    House of Deréon was not the duo’s last business endeavor, as the mother/daughter team launched the hair care line Cécred in 2024.

    “With textured hair, we needed lots of oils and butter, so I would mix up in my salon hot oil treatments with egg whites and things like that,” said Knowles, who ran a hair salon in Texas for many years. “It was always a dream for me and Beyoncé, because she grew up in the salon, that we would have a product that would do all of that.”

    After an extensive testing process, the pair launched their line of products, which Knowles says they both use. “Our customers did videos and TikToks, and they advertise, and they sell the product for us. We’ve won like 64 awards, and we’ve all been out less than two years. It was the number one launch at Ulta, and that is huge. And we did it with the help of our customers; they’ve come along with us through the journey.”

    Starting a haircare line felt “authentic” to Knowles, who said that the support and camaraderie she found at her salon made the business “way more than a hair salon.” Knowles hopes to keep that sense of community going, giving away 10 beauty school scholarships each year through Cécred. She says her role as “Mama Tina” means the most to her of all her titles, allowing her to help guide young people.

    Wrapping up the conversation, Knowles mentioned her new venture, Badass Teenie B Productions, and emphasized the value of staying authentic and taking pride in your achievements.

    “It’s something about turning 70 that lets you know that you should take credit,” Knowles said. “It’s a difference between being humble and not getting your just due. It’s a difference, and I wish I would have known that earlier in life.”