*Beyoncé took to Instagram on Tuesday (Dec. 18) to celebrate the success of the Global Citizen Festival, which she headlined in South Africa earlier this month.
Her post included a video montage that showed her performing in various breathtaking outfits alongside guests including Ed Sheeran and husband JAY-Z.
In addition to raising funds to end poverty, this year’s festival honored Nelson Mandela.
“After settling in at home from a beautiful trip to South Africa and India, I am still in awe that 7.1 BILLION dollars was raised to aid Global Citizen in its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty,” she wrote, then thanking everyone who made the event possible. “Now their efforts and the money raised will help improve education, healthcare, sanitation, women’s rights, and countless other causes for millions across the globe.”
“I felt so much positivity and pride in the audience at Global Citizen: Mandela 100,” she continued. “Madiba, Johannesburg, and all of my African sisters and brothers, we hope we made you as proud as you all make us. South Africa was an extraordinary trip for me and my family. God bless.”
But one Twitter user wrote: “This sounds awesome, but where exactly is the money going? We need facts, not just “we raised 7.1 billion dollars” yet Africa, India, and etc. remain poor and don’t receive any aid. How many global citizen festivals have they had now? What has improved?”
While another said: “Global Citizen earned 7.1 billion dollars to help eradicate extreme poverty. The umpteenth proof Beyoncé really cares about charity.”
And another joked: “According to Beyoncé Global Citizen: Mandela 100 raised 7.1 BILLION dollars to eradicate poverty globally. There’s 7 billion humans in the planet? Does this mean no one is gonna [be] poor anymore? Beyoncé saved the world!”
View Queen Bey’s Instagram post below.
