For hours, the Democratic National Convention teased that Beyonce would be the “celebrity guest” on Thursday night.
“BEYONCÉ PERFORMING AT DNC’S FINAL NIGHT!!!” TMZ announced in all caps.
NBC Chicago wrote: “Did White House political director just drop major hint about Beyoncé DNC appearance?”
“Beyoncé to perform at Democratic convention: read a headline at The Hill.
“SHE’S THERE!!!!!!” the X account @beyoncepress announced, alongside a video of a black SUV driving through Chicago’s River North neighborhood escorted by a police motorcade.
?? SHE’S THERE!!!!!!
— Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress) August 23, 2024
Then the reality check came from Beyonce’s publicist.
Yvette thanks @THR for debunking rumors of Beyoncé attending the #DNC. pic.twitter.com/QweaO5LqtQ
— Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress) August 23, 2024
Americans who stayed up late (while the rest of us were asleep) expected to see Beyonce and Taylor Swift endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. Instead, it turned out that Harris herself was the celebrity guest.
Harris made a surprise appearance on Monday night at the DNC. She stood onstage and waved to the half empty seats in the building. The Democrats needed the DNC to go out with a bang on Thursday night when Harris accepted the nomination.
Instead, Harris walked onstage to the sound of Beyonce’s “Freedom.” But Beyonce wasn’t walking alongside her.
I’m told the Democrats tried their best to get Beyonce there. They probably begged and pleaded with Michelle Obama to call Beyonce.
Columnist Laura Bassett wrote: “teasing a huge surprise guest and leaking that it’s both beyonce and taylor swift just to get people to tune in is actually kind of funny.”
Another Twitter user wrote: “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you were duped. The Democrats screwed you all again. There was no George W Bush, Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. Never was. The surprise guest all along was Kamala Harris! They are openly mocking you, gaslighting you.”
They wanted to fill seats. Without a celebrity performing, they wouldn’t have been able to fill enough seats, to fool the public into thinking she’s popular.
— Sharon (@SharonaAnn63) August 23, 2024
A third user wrote: LIES: “Democrats lied to media outlets and to voters that Beyoncé and possibly another ‘special’ guest would perform ahead of Kamala Harris’s speech. CNN reveals it was all a lie to get people to watch.”
TMZ later admitted they falsely reported Beyonce’s appearance at DNC: “We got this one wrong.”
People will hold out hope Beyonce is coming out until the final balloon hits the floor. pic.twitter.com/XgzQ6Ks9gZ
— Justin Laurence (@jus10chi) August 23, 2024
