GOSSIP & ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Fans couldn’t get enough of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s photographs for their new partnership with Tiffany & Co, but some people aren’t pleased with one aspect of the campaign.

Source: James Devaney / Getty

As you probably already saw up and down your Instagram timeline, the Carters are the faces of the new Tiffany & Co. “ABOUT LOVE” campaign, set to launch on September 2.

In a few of the campaign photos, Beyoncé and Jay-Z pose next to a long-unseen painting from Jean-Michel Basquiat’s private collection, Equals Pi. The painting features the brand’s signature Tiffany Blue hue, and because of that, it was reportedly acquired by the luxury conglomerate LVMH from a private seller.

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A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

After decades under wraps, this campaign marks the first public appearance for the painting. According to the release, the artwork was included because art serves as a “common thread throughout the Carters’ love story.” 

Plus, we all know how big a fan Hov is of Basquiat, referencing the artist in multiple songs and owning a $4.5 million Basquiat himself.

While this painting’s appearance in the campaign is a huge flex for Tiffany & Co. and for the couple, some people aren’t so pleased with the flaunting of wealth. Not only that, other critics are wondering the point of keeping such a prestigious work locked up for so long just to use it in an advertisement, thinking Basquiat would be upset over the decision.

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A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

Of course, these concerns were all over social media, with fans posting their opinions on the matter on Twitter.

insane to me that rich people can just buy art from artists who have passed and no one else gets to see it, kinda gross imo like these pieces should be able to be seen by everyone, thats literally what basquiat woulda wanted https://t.co/GVb3lRSkAE

— 🌷💫 (@__lukec) August 23, 2021

lol, two billionaires posing in a Tiffany ad while wearing a set of diamonds from a very violent & bloody colonial history would have Basquiat turning in his grave… https://t.co/GMWBcgmaLE

— Âbdallāh (@HypnagogicStryx) August 23, 2021

billionaires posing with a basquiat for tiffany and co is giving me heartburn https://t.co/lDL4kdCXX9

— Wilf: (@socialaskan) August 23, 2021

insane that rich people just get to hoard art and no one else gets access https://t.co/7PUN95Y8HV

— 🔅kara 🔆 (@spleen_bean) August 23, 2021

In the end, some people loved the photos and some people didn’t–but the campaign definitely has people talking…which is the whole point.