#Why Beyoncé protégées Chloe x Halle paused their second album release

Beyoncé protégées Chloe x Halle — the Grammy-nominated sister act of Chloe and Halle Bailey — pushed pause on the release of their second album, “Ungodly Hour,” originally scheduled to drop June 5, in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the resulting Black Lives Matter protests.

“We’ve been really heartbroken by what’s been going on, so we just felt like during this time it was more than us,” says Chloe, 21. “It was more than about our album, and we wanted to put the attention on the injustices [against] our people and getting proper justice.”

Adds Halle, 20: “These past weeks have just felt so much bigger and more important than releasing music at this time, which is why we decided to push it a week. Music has always been used [for] healing during difficult times. So that’s why we’re excited to release it this Friday. And hopefully it brings joy and hope to everyone.”

The sisters, who were signed to Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment after their YouTube cover of the pop diva’s “Pretty Hurts” went viral in 2013, have been stepping up to the cause.

“We have been signing any petition we possibly can,” says Chloe. “We’ve also been donating to important causes that mean a lot to us. And we’re continuing to talk about Breonna Taylor, because we don’t want her to be forgotten in all of this. Her justice still has not been served — her killers are still out there.”

As young black women, Chloe x Halle are embracing the responsibility to represent their race. “Our parents have always taught us to love ourselves and who we are since we were young girls,” says Chloe. “And knowing that black people aren’t given the same opportunities, we have learned to — whether it’s through our art or whether it’s meeting someone — we’re always representing ourselves and our black brothers and sisters. This isn’t just a trend happening with this Black Lives Matter movement. This is our life.”

The sisters are particularly mindful of their little brother, Branson, 14, as he grows up as a young black man. “A message we’re constantly telling him is what our parents have taught us as well: We always have to work 20 times harder than our counterparts,” says Chloe. “And even then, we may not end up in the same position as them.”

“And then also at this time,” says Halle, “just reminding him that he is beautiful. His skin is beautiful. And that just because somebody else may feel threatened by that, do not let that tear and wear on yourself and remember that you are absolutely perfect just the way you are — inside and out. We remind him of that every single day.”

Halle, who will play Ariel in the upcoming live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” — production of which was halted due to the pandemic while she was was in rehearsals in London — encountered some racist backlash about her casting. “ ‘The Little Mermaid’ has always been one of my favorite movies ever since I was a little girl,” she says. “And as far as the backlash, I try not to pay attention to that stuff. Some people are gonna have things to say. You can’t really do anything about that, but I will just walk forward in my power and keep my head up.”

The Bailey sisters, who also co-star on TV’s “Grown-ish,” have clearly learned from the best in Beyoncé. “Just like the entire world, we love Beyoncé with our whole hearts,” says Chloe. “She’s a fantastic businesswoman and she’s not afraid to take control and be the boss.”

“Nobody in the world cannot say that they have not been inspired by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter,” adds Halle. “I mean, she is just amazing inside and out. Just watching her — watching her work, watching her live — I mean, it’s inspirational. And we aspire to one day be like her.”