Beyonce Knowles' father has claimed
his daughter and Jay Z orchestrated divorce rumours to "ignite"
ticket sales.
The couple have been hit by
speculation their marriage is on the rocks in recent weeks but Matthew Knowles
insists the rumours are simply a "Jedi mind trick" to boost ticket
sales for Beyonce and Jay's joint 'On The Run' tour.
Speaking on the Roula & Ryan
show on radio station 104.1 KRBE in Houston, Matthew – who used to manage
Beyonce and girl group Destiny's Child – said: "I know, because we’ve done
this. From experience, there’s a tour going on.
“So you sometimes have to ignite
that tour. It’s called a Jedi mind trick. The Jedi mind trick fools you a lot.”
The 63-year-old businessman also
hinted footage of the infamous elevator incident between Beyonce's sister
Solange Knowles and Jay, which saw her lash out at her brother-in-law in a lift
following a Met Ball after-party, was leaked to improve the trio's ticket and
album sales.
He added: “All I know is the Jedi
mind trick. Everyone’s talking about it. Ticket sales went up. Solange’s album
sales went up 200 per cent!”
Beyonce and Jay appeared to play down
rumours they are set to get divorced when their 'On The Run' tour comes to an
end in September by making a family appearance at the MTV VMAs on Sunday night
(24.08.14).
The couple took to the stage with
their two-year-old daughter Blue Ivy at the ceremony at The Forum in California
when Beyonce collected her Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
As the 'Single Ladies' hit maker's
family presented Beyonce with the lifetime achievement award, Blue voiced her
approval, shouting: "Yay, mommy!"