As a fan... I honestly don't think so. She has very wide hips so her having a larger-size-than-normal posterior is believable, and she yo-yo diets (especially in the past couple of years - money buys nutritionists, trainers, and better foods). We've seen her ass more uncovered in "Massive Attack" and in magazines. It looks believable. I think she wears butt pads from time to time (probably to mess with people). Just look at pics of her at her Thanksgiving concert, and at the Divas live special. Totally different. But she's got a nice ass without them.