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Mufasa: The Lion King director Barry Jenkins has unbelievably claimed Beyoncé and Jay-Z were not 'involved' in their daughter Blue Ivy Carter getting a role in his movie.
The new film is a prequel to Disney's 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King, which featured Beyoncé in the leading female voice role of the lioness Nala.
Now Jenkins, who helmed the Oscar-winning drama Moonlight, has cast Blue Ivy, 12, in his new movie as Nala's daughter Kiara.
Blue Ivy's parents both appeared on the red carpet to support their daughter at Mufasa's Los Angeles premiere on Monday - in the wake of a shock allegation that Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2000.
Two days later, Jenkins has sensationally insisted that Blue Ivy's 'parents weren't involved in her booking this film,' via People.
He maintained that he heard Blue Ivy narrating the 2020 audio version of Matthew A. Cherry's children's book Hair Love and 'just really loved her voice.'
Mufasa's director has claimed Beyoncé and Jay-Z were not involved in their daughter Blue Ivy Carter getting a role in his movie; the family are pictured at the film's premiere Monday
'You know, she had read this book, this audiobook Hair Love with my friend Matthew Cherry. And I just really loved her voice,' Jenkins said.
He noted that as the 'movie begins, it's all voices,' and gushed about Blue Ivy: 'I could just tell that she was going to bring this really wonderful innocence, but also the knowingness of a highly evolved child.'
Jenkins added that 'the children in the audience, they're going to see themselves in the character she plays, Kiara. She just brought all the complexity that it demanded.'
After praising her acting talent, Jenkins also vaunted Blue Ivy's professionalism, saying: 'It was great working with her. She came extremely prepared.'
His comments come as an insiders clamed to DailyMail.com that Beyoncé and Jay-Z's marriage has been under 'strain' ever since the bombshell allegations against Diddy were exposed – but she is determined to 'keep their family together' despite the shock accusation now levelled against her own husband.
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean 'Diddy' Combs in September 2000, in a lawsuit filed on Sunday.
The world-famous rapper, 55, branded the allegations 'heinous' and 'idiotic' as he slammed attorney Tony Buzbee, who has filed several lawsuits in recent months accusing Combs, also 55, of assault and rape.
Carter joined Beyoncé, 43, some 24 hours after the news broke, with the pair putting on a united front to support Blue Ivy at the premiere of her new film Mufasa: The Lion King in Los Angeles on Monday night.
Blue Ivy's parents both appeared on the red carpet to support their daughter at Mufasa's premiere on Monday
Two days later, Jenkins - pictured at Mufasa's London premiere Wednesday - has insisted that Blue Ivy's 'parents weren't involved in her booking this film,' via People
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's marriage has been under 'strain' ever since the bombshell allegations against Diddy were exposed, insiders have told DailyMail.com
The Cowboy Carter singer, who is reportedly working with a crisis specialist, is believed to have 'forced' her accused spouse to attend as she wants to face the accusations 'head on.'
'Beyoncé forced Jay-Z to go to the premiere last night,' an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'They are working with a crisis specialist who is advising them on how to handle this.
'Beyoncé believes that the best way is to face it head on. Blue Ivy is well aware of what is going on and is intent on supporting her father in any way she can. She was there in solidarity with her dad and mom.
'Beyoncé will do anything she can to keep their family together but is also concerned that more women will come forward with lies.'
Beyoncé anticipated Carter would get dragged into the scandal surrounding Combs as the rappers have been friendly rivals for decades, with her husband often in attendance at his famous White Parties.
In September, Combs was charged with racketeering, 'sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion' and 'transportation to engage in prostitution.'
Despite their long history, Carter remained silent as his friend was locked behind bars at a Brooklyn detention center and denied bail multiple times.
Fellow rapper 50 Cent highlighted Carter's silence in a series of barbed Instagram posts and also mocked his attendance at last night's premiere.
'This has been hanging over their head since Diddy's arrest,' the source said of Beyoncé and Carter.
'It has been causing a strain on their marriage since the tape surfaced of Diddy assaulting Cassie. They have had many discussions about how it would play out if Jay were to ever be convicted of anything surrounding Diddy.
The Cowboy Carter singer, who is reportedly working with a crisis specialist, is believed to have 'forced' her accused spouse to attend as she wants to face the accusations 'head on'
'He has been his best friend for over two decades.'
Roc Nation founder Carter released a furious statement denying and condemning the allegations, describing it as a 'blackmail attempt.'
He attacked Buzbee, suggesting he was not a legitimate lawyer, and launched a slew of insults, calling him a 'deplorable human' and an 'ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.'
The rapper then mentioned how it is 'unfair' that his family, particularly his eldest daughter Blue Ivy, will also be affected.
'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.'
He added: 'Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.'
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean 'Diddy' Combs in September 2000, in a lawsuit filed on Sunday
'This has been hanging over their head since Diddy's arrest,' the source said of Beyoncé and Carter who have been married since 2008 (pictured in 2002)
Carter is accused of assaulting a woman, who identifies as Jane Doe in the legal documents, at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party on September 7, 2000 - the same year he started dating Beyoncé.
The suit claims she was driven to a house party and offered a drink that made her feel 'woozy, lightheaded and felt [like] she needed to lie down.'
Combs and Carter are then alleged to have entered the room with Combs declaring: 'You are ready to party!'
She claims Carter then removed her clothes, held her down and raped her while Combs and an unnamed female celebrity watched.
She says Combs also raped her as Carter and the woman looked on.
The lawsuit was originally filed in New York's Southern District this past October against Combs.
It was refiled on Sunday naming Carter as a defendant.
Beyoncé is being consoled by her close friend, and former Destiny's Child bandmate, Michelle Williams, 45, who has been praying with the singer and acting as her 'rock.'
Beyoncé is being consoled by her close friend, and former Destiny's Child bandmate, Michelle Williams, 45, who has been praying with the singer and acting as her 'rock'
Beyoncé married the billionaire rapper in 2008. They welcomed Blue Ivy in 2012 and seven-year-old twins Rumi and Sir in 2017.
They were plagued by cheating rumors in 2014 when footage of Beyoncé's sister Solange Knowles seemingly attacking Carter in an elevator at a Met Gala afterparty leaked online.
Two years later, Beyoncé appeared to hint at infidelity and a marriage in crisis on her Lemonade album.
Carter's album 4:44, released 14 months later, told the story of a woman being cheated on and featured the lyric: 'I apologize, often womanize... I don't deserve you.'
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