The internet was recently awash with memes from fans of pop icon Beyonc, following rumors that she would perform at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The speculation suggested that the superstar would publicly endorse Kamala Harris for the presidency and entertain the convention crowd with a performance. However, Beyonc was a no-show, leading to a flurry of humorous and sarcastic reactions online.
According to the Daily Mail, the rumors gained traction when TMZ reported that Beyonc was indeed the guest star, having previously allowed the Harris campaign to use her song 'Freedom' in its advertisements. However, the Hollywood Reporter contradicted this claim, stating that a cameo was never planned, as confirmed by a spokesperson. Beyonc's long-serving publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, reposted the Hollywood Reporter's account, despite having ignored inquiries from various news outlets, including DailyMail.com.
The origin of the rumor remains unclear, as does the reason why it was not debunked earlier. As the rumor persisted, the internet was flooded with memes. Some suggested that Beyonc had arrived at the convention but changed her mind and left, while others joked that she had slept through the event. One meme depicted Beyonc and Taylor Swift watching the DNC from home, while others used clips from Joe Biden's speech denouncing Donald Trump, implying that his anger was directed at whoever started the rumor.
The meme frenzy continued, with some suggesting that the DNC had started the rumor to boost viewership. Some admitted that the ploy had worked on them. Others pointed out that this was not the first time Beyonc had been falsely rumored to attend an event, citing the Olympics and Coachella as examples.
Eventually, TMZ admitted its error, confessing that it had been duped by the false rumors. Some internet users humorously, and others more seriously, accused the Democrats of using Beyonc as bait to attract viewers to their convention. JP Freire, a Republican spokesperson for the House Ways & Means Committee, questioned the Democrats' tactics, asking, "Notice how they tricked you into thinking there was a special guest so you'd stick around? What do you think their approach to policy will be?"
As the convention unfolded without Beyonc, some journalists joked that there was indeed a special guest, but the audience had missed it. Peter Hamby from Puck News humorously suggested that the special guest was Leon Panetta, while Amy Walter from The Cook Political Report quipped, "The special guest was the friends we made along the way."
Before the event, Republican Senator Mitt Romney humorously dispelled rumors that he was the Democrats' special guest. He tweeted, "Contrary to fake news posts, I am not the surprise guest at the DNC tonight. My guess is that it will be Beyonc or Taylor Swift. So disappointing, I know!" This incident serves as a reminder of the power of rumors and the role they play in shaping public discourse, even in the realm of politics.
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