TMZ found itself in the spotlight Thursday (Aug. 22, 2024) afternoon, but not for the reasons it hoped. The gossip outlet reported that Beyoncé would make a special appearance at the 2024 DNC, only to face widespread mockery when the news turned out to be false. As writer Ben Simeon quipped on X, “This is a total failure of American intelligence.”
The embarrassing blunder forced TMZ to admit its mistake, but not before becoming the target of widespread ridicule.
Social media erupted with a mix of disbelief, frustration, and humor when Beyoncé failed to show. X user @earlsofrisk joked, “Do you guys think there is someone at the DNC who made a joke about a surprise guest to a reporter today and has now sweated through like 7 shirts.”
Another user, @PrinceHAK33M, added, “TMZ source running off into the night after getting paid for false Beyonce info.”
Writer Ben Siemon questioned, “Has TMZ ever been this wrong before? This is a total failure of American intelligence. A special counsel needs to be assigned.”
Michael Collado chimed in, asking, “What kind of a society are we living in if we can no longer trust the journalistic integrity of TMZ?”
“What A Day” podcast host Akilah Hughes suggested, “Disband TMZ I want to speak at the congressional hearing.”
Yahoo! social media assignment editor Angel Mendoza lamented, “TMZ just committed an impeachable offense toward millions of prepped canva drafts.”
The rumors about the Houston-born superstar's appearance at the fourth and final night of the convention started swirling mid-Thursday. Speculation also included potential surprise guests like Taylor Swift, Sen. Mitt Romney, or even former President George W. Bush.
X commenter Angry Staffer was among the first to hint at a major guest attending the DNC. They posted, “I've been sworn to secrecy, but you don't want to miss the DNC tonight. If you thought the Oprah surprise was big, just wait.”
After the convention wrapped up, Angry Staff posted again on X, addressing the rumor. They explained that their sources, usually reliable, had also fallen for the Beyoncé rumor. They apologized for spreading misinformation, noting that even DNC staff believed Beyoncé was in the building. They speculated whether it might have been a ratings ploy by the DNC but doubted it, praising the event's strong lineup and performance regardless of the false rumor.
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly unverified information can spread in the age of social media and the importance of fact-checking, even for established media outlets. It also highlights the public's ongoing fascination with celebrity involvement in political events and the power of star power to generate buzz and attention.
MSNBC's Katie Phang added, “FWIW: folks within the DNC were told that she was in the building so trust me it wasn't just a random thing.”
Beyoncé's reps quickly shot down the rumors, telling the Hollywood Reporter, “Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there. The report of a performance is untrue.”
The DNC's final night wasn't short on star power, though. Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn showed up, along with the Chicks, P!nk, and others. Former Sen. Gabby Giffords and her husband, Sen. Mike Kelly, also took the stage.
Washington and Goldwyn led a lively chant for Harris. In a playful moment, Washington asked for a phone, and Goldwyn appeared with perfect timing. They got the crowd going with: “When I say ‘When we fight,' you say, ‘We fight!'”
Then came a cute pronunciation lesson. VP Harris' great-nieces, Amara and Leela, joined Washington to help everyone say their aunt's name right. “First you say, ‘Kama' like a common sentence,” Amara explained. Leela chimed in, “Then you say, ‘La' like, ‘La la la la la.'”
The convention was a star-studded affair, featuring performances and appearances by big names like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, and John Legend.
LINK LOVE
SL RECOMMENDS
Like most websites, Socialite Life uses affiliate links where available, which means we earn a little commission if you click through and buy something. Also, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases.
TRENDING ON SL
Male Model Monday: Hunter McVey, Rolf Rodrigues, Ethan Vaughan, and more
Jon Herrmann: Instagram Hottie Update
Zachary Levi endorses Trump after RFK Jr. exit: ‘He's going to get us there'
Quick Drag: Watch Drag Race España’s season 4 premiere
Quick Drag: Chatting with Coco Peru
Last update on 2024-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
