The internet let out a collective sob when Beyoncé’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, shut down rumors that the 32-time Grammy winner would be performing at the Democratic National Convention.
“At home watching and anticipating the VP’s historic speech,” wrote Noel-Schure prior to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Nominee, taking the stage on Thursday. “Focus on the win and register to vote. Do not report rumors. FOCUS.”
Her post was seen as a direct reference to rampant speculation that the Renaissance star would appear at the four-day long event. Fueled by a TMZ report that Beyoncé would grace the stage on the final night of the DNC and X/Twitter verified accounts with large followings posting about the possible “surprise” (one account, @Angry_Staffer has since apologized), the rumor spread across nearly every social media platform and even had Democratic party organizers and Chicago government officials preparing for the possibility of Beyoncé’s arrival.
“It’s been crazy,” a person familiar with the matter told Rolling Stone earlier on Thursday. “People running the show and working here obviously will prepare for Beyoncépalooza… We just keep being told ‘I don’t know’ when this comes up,” added the source. “It has come up frequently.”
As the news that Bey would not be making an appearance finally sunk in, the internet and Beyhive reacted with a flurry of memes and posts emanating devastation.
“Has TMZ ever been this wrong before?” wrote TV writer Ben Siemon. “This is a total failure of American intelligence. A special counsel needs to be assigned.”
Meanwhile, Adam Smith, the vice president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, joked, “It’s time to subpoena TMZ.”
Beyoncé fan accounts also expressed their supreme disappointment, including Beyoncé Press., which took to X to post a list of Bey-less events.
While the rumors ultimately turned out to be an empty promise, the DNC was packed with star-studded appearances including performances by Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Sheila E on Wednesday night, and a surprise appearance from Lil Jon for Georgia during the delegation roll call. To close out the convention, The Chicks delivered a rendition of the National Anthem, while Pink and her daughter Willow Sage sang a heartfelt performance of her song “What About Us.”
Bey herself has indicated her support for Harris, with her Lemonade track “Freedom” serving as the Harris-Walz campaign’s unofficial campaign song for several weeks. The vice president’s team also debuted a campaign ad with the track earlier this week.
Harris has been using “Freedom” — with Beyoncé’s permission — since the launch of her presidential campaign. At her first public appearance after securing Biden’s endorsement, Harris walked out to the podium while the song played.
Ahead of the 2020 Election, Beyoncé, a longtime Democrat, shared a photo of herself wearing a Biden-Harris face mask. “Come thru, Texas! #Vote,” she captioned the post. Throughout that year, Beyoncé supported her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, in her efforts to help voter protections.
And in 2016, Beyoncé and Jay-Z joined Hillary Clinton for a concert to mobilize voters in Ohio. Chance the Rapper, Big Sean, and J. Cole also appeared at that event.
“There was a time when a woman’s opinion did not matter. If you were Black, white, Mexican, Asian, Muslim, educated, poor or rich; if you were a woman, it did not matter,” Beyoncé said at the time. “Less than 100 years ago, women did not have the right to vote. Look how far we’ve come from having no voice to being on the brink of making history again by electing the first woman president.”
And in 2012, Beyoncé shared a handwritten note on her website, expressing her support for President Barack Obama’s re-election. “Everyday we see your heart and character, inspiring all of us to give more of ourselves,” the singer wrote, before going on to call Obama “the leader to take us from where we are to where we need to be.”