Beyoncé Admitted the Members of Destiny’s Child Were ‘Characters’ to Her

In 2004, Beyoncé, Michelle Williams, and Kelly Rowland released the final studio album for Destiny’s Child. They’d spent years in the group and were ready to focus on their solo careers. Some of the songs on their final album, Destiny Fulfilled, had different themes than on previous albums. Beyoncé said that this was because she felt they were playing characters on prior albums. She wanted to show a more human side to them on their final record as a group.

Beyoncé said she felt like she was playing a character in Destiny’s Child

On Destiny Fulfilled, Destiny’s Child sang songs like “Cater 2 U,” which is about women serving their romantic partners. In the past, the group released songs like “Independent Women.” Beyoncé shared the reason for the change in content. She wanted to show a different side of them on their last album.

“I thought [the members of Destiny’s Child] felt like characters…like we were so strong that we couldn’t have our hearts broken or we wouldn’t do things for a man,” she told Cosmopolitan in 2006. “But we’re human, and I wanted to show that on our last album. [I wrote songs] when I was hurt and vulnerable.”

Not long after the release of Destiny Fulfilled, the band announced they were going their separate ways.

“We have been working together as Destiny’s Child since we were 9, and touring together since we were 14,” they told fans in a message, per People. “After a lot of discussion and some deep soul searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny’s Child on a high note, united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other.”

They have reunited several times over the years. Most recently, Williams and Rowland joined Beyoncé onstage during her Cowboy Carter tour.