Beyoncé Haunted the DNC From Home

By
Jason P. Frank,
a Vulture writer covering comedy, theater, and music

Can y’all just let her work on Act III?
Photo: Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty Images

Look, Nance, if you wanted the Beyhive to tune in to the final day of the Democratic National Convention, you could have just asked! Day four of the DNC included a performance by a pop star who is known worldwide, endorsements from both sides of the aisle, and a historic speech from the woman who could be the next president of the United States. And yet a great sadness fell over the viewers at home, as the DNC finished up with a balloon drop for the history books but no Beyoncé. During the afternoon of August 22, the fourth day of the DNC, rumors began circulating that a gap in the schedule would be filled by a special guest. Guesses included our country’s two biggest pop stars, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, and our two biggest Republicans who don’t like Donald Trump, Mitt Romney and George W. Bush. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but you don’t want to miss the DNC tonight,” X user @Angry_staffer posted in a now-deleted tweet. “If you thought the Oprah surprise was big, just wait.”

Memes circulated, but the general consensus was to not take the idea too seriously. Then, TMZ, known for reporting celebrity deaths before their families are notified, came in. Just before 5 pm ET, TMZ posted that Beyoncé was “in Chicago and getting ready to pop out for Kamala Harris on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.”

Except, “Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there,” The Hollywood Reporter confirmed with a rep. “The report of a performance is untrue.” Beyoncé’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, further confirmed that there would be no in-person “Freedom,” posting a pic of Bey watching the DNC at home with the caption, “At home watching and anticipating the VP’s historic speech. Focus on the win and register to vote. Do not report rumors. FOCUS.”

TMZ posted an apology a little after midnight, writing, “To quote the great Beyoncé: We gotta lay our cards down, down, down … we got this one wrong.”

Beyoncé Haunted the DNC From Home