What Talking Sh*t About Blue Ivy Says About You: Mental and Emotional Health Indicators Behind Criticism of a Teen’s Talent

Let’s talk about what it really says about your mental and emotional well-being when you find yourself compelled to publicly criticize a 13-year-old girl for dancing on stage.

Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, performed on tour stages across the world during the Renaissance World Tour and now Cowboy Carter Tour.

In an age where the internet never sleeps and every opinion feels like content, she became a lightning rod for both admiration and unwarranted scrutiny.

While many celebrated her courage, growth, and discipline, others—grown adults, mind you—chose to talk sh*t online. About a child.

This isn’t just about Blue Ivy.

It’s about the deeper issue: Why do some people feel the need to tear down a teenager putting in work, showing up, and improving in real time—on one of the biggest stages in the world?

Let’s explore the mental and emotional health indicators underneath this behavior and offer a few tips for how to manage those reactions in healthier, more healing ways.

What This Behavior Reveals

1. Unresolved Jealousy and Projection

   
   

   When someone’s success—especially a child’s—makes you feel small or resentful, it often signals unmet dreams or unresolved pain. You might not even realize that what’s triggering you isn’t her dancing, but your own lack of opportunity, support, or bravery to try something difficult and public.

   
   

2. Low Self-Worth Disguised as Critique

   
   

   Picking apart the efforts of someone still learning reflects a harsh inner critic. If your default mode is criticism over curiosity, you may be dealing with internal narratives that say you’renot good enough—and now you’re projecting that onto others.

   
   

3. Inability to Witness Growth Without Bitterness

   
   

   Blue Ivy didn’t come out doing triple pirouettes—she started where most of us do: awkwardly. But she showed up, again and again. If someone can’t tolerate witnessing growth in real time, it might be because they’re stuck in a cycle of not allowing themselves to be a beginner—and resenting those who do.

   
   

4. Adultification and Lack of Empathy for Black Girls

   
   

   Let’s also name it: there’s a particular lens through which the world views and critiques Black girls. Blue Ivy wasn’t allowed to just be a child trying something new. She was scrutinized like a grown woman. That speaks to the systemic emotional neglect and unfair expectations placed on young Black girls.

If You Feel The Urge to Criticize… Try This Instead

1. Pause and Check In:

   
   

   Ask yourself: What am I really feeling right now? Envy? Regret? Insecurity? What does her dancing activate in you?

   
   

2. Reflect on Your Inner Teen:

   
   

   That version of you that wanted to try out for the talent show, audition for the dance team, or speak up in class but didn’t—what did they need? Affirmation? Support? Safety? Give that to yourself now instead of hurling critiques at a kid.

3. Shift to Curiosity:

   
   

   Try asking, What can I learn from this moment? Maybe it’s admiration masked by cynicism. Maybe it’s a chance to reconnect with your own courage.

   
   

4. Try Silence as a Healing Practice:

   
   

   You don’t have to share your opinion online. Especially if it’s unkind, unasked for, or unfair. Minding your business can be both a boundary and a blessing.

   
   

5. Unpack Your Biases:

   
   

   Do you criticize other children this way—or just famous, talented Black girls? Be honest. Unlearning biases is hard work, but necessary.

Final Thoughts (With a Touch of Petty)

If your first reaction to seeing a teen girl do her thing on stage is, “She’s not that good,” rather than “Wow, she’s really brave,” that’s not just an opinion—it’s a red flag.

You’re not a talent scout.

You’re an adult on the internet with unresolved issues. And maybe… just maybe… it’s time to log off and go heal that.

Because whether it’s Blue Ivy, your coworker’s daughter, or the teen down the street building her dream on TikTok, your unsolicited shade says more about you than it ever will about them.

And if that stings a little? Good. Growth starts where defensiveness ends.

Let’s model something better.

Let’s be the adults we needed when we were out there trying, stumbling, and showing up anyway.

Because talent can be developed—but kindness, encouragement, and inner healing?

That’s the real work.