Beyoncé Accused of Firing Loyal Stage Manager After 20+ Years — Daughter Says He Was ‘Cut Loose’ After Health Collapse
A heartbreaking TikTok video is going viral, and it’s putting global superstar Beyoncé at the center of a growing controversy.
Mairi Cooley, the daughter of Beyoncé’s longtime stage manager Terry Cooley, posted an emotional video claiming that her father was fired after more than two decades of loyal service to the singer. According to Mairi, her father dedicated his life to helping build Beyoncé’s legendary career — only to be left struggling financially and emotionally after suffering serious health issues.
“He gave his heart and soul to Beyoncé’s career,” Mairi said through tears. “And they cut him loose after 20 something years.”
According to Mairi, Terry worked with Beyoncé dating all the way back to her early days as a member of Destiny’s Child, long before she became one of the biggest solo artists in music history. Over the years, he served as both her stage manager and production manager, helping coordinate massive global tours that generated hundreds of millions of dollars.
She says the job came at a tremendous personal cost.
Mairi claimed her father regularly worked extreme hours, sometimes putting in 22 hour days while on tour. She described the touring lifestyle as physically and emotionally exhausting, saying Terry sacrificed his health to help ensure Beyoncé’s performances ran flawlessly night after night.
Then everything changed.
When COVID shut down the touring industry, Terry reportedly lost his steady income. Mairi said he was only paid sporadically during that time and was eventually forced to drain his savings just to survive. The financial pressure became so severe that Terry allegedly had to sell his family’s home and move his family in with his mother.
But the most devastating moment, according to Mairi, came after Terry suffered a health collapse and underwent surgery.
“They decided he couldn’t keep up,” she said, explaining that he was fired shortly after his medical issues. She claims he did not receive a severance package, financial support, or even a personal message of appreciation from Beyoncé.
“Here we are in 2026, and my dad has been out of work for years,” she said. “He’s suffering financially and emotionally. He’s in a terrible place.”
Mairi ended her video with a direct appeal to fans, urging them to tag Beyoncé on social media and ask her to “make things right” and acknowledge her father’s decades of service.
The video has sparked intense debate online.
Many fans expressed sympathy for Terry, arguing that someone who helped build Beyoncé’s touring empire deserved better treatment after decades of loyalty. Some suggested he should write a book exposing behind the scenes stories from his time working with one of the world’s most powerful entertainers.
Others pointed out the harsh reality of the entertainment business.
“Beyoncé is a business,” one commenter wrote. “This is why employees need contracts, retirement plans, and protections.”
But not everyone agrees that Beyoncé is responsible.
Some fans defended the superstar, arguing that employment relationships, even long ones, do not automatically guarantee lifelong financial support. Others noted that business decisions are often handled by management teams, not the artist personally.
So far, Beyoncé has not publicly responded to the viral TikTok or the allegations.
Still, the emotional video has struck a nerve, raising uncomfortable questions about loyalty, health, and what happens behind the scenes of billion dollar entertainment empires.
For now, Terry Cooley’s story continues to spread — and fans are watching closely to see whether Beyoncé will respond.