Entertainment
DNC Producers Accused of Misleading Media Over Reports of Beyoncé’s Alleged Performance to Support Kamala Harris
Producers of the star-studded Democratic National Convention say Internet frenzy is to blame for the hysteria that spiraled out of control following reports of Beyoncé’s expected performance.
Celebrities like Kerry Washington, rapper Common, comedian DL Hughley and more descended on Chicago to show their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and her lightning-fast campaign in the course of the four-day political spectacle.
Day after day, observers from near and much were impressed by big personalities who used their popularity to attract voters’ attention ahead of the November election.
Among the celebrities believed to be backing Harris’ takeover of the Oval Office is Beyoncé. When the previous California district attorney launched her campaign in July following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race, she did so with the singer’s fierce anthem “Freedom.”
At a time when Republican opponent Donald Trump received quite a few stop and desist letters demanding that he stop performing songs by the singer and others, Beyoncé was widely believed to have endorsed Harris without ever publicly saying a word of support or sharing a post that may confirm those suspicions.
So when rumors began circulating a few special guest who would perform on the ultimate day of the convention, fans assumed it might be the 32-time Grammy Award winner.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon confidently shared an Instagram post ahead of the Aug. 22 broadcast, saying, “I’m sure you’ve read all the headlines, all the stuff on social media about who’s going to be at the DNC. ‘Is it going to be Beyoncé? Is it going to be Taylor Swift?’ This is what I’m hearing from sources: If it was going to be anyone, it would be Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and George W. Bush. Those would be the biggest players and it could happen. I’m just saying.”
White House political director Emma Ruiz tweeted a bumblebee emoji, sending speculation into overdrive. Shortly after apologizing for the post, she tweeted a tweet explaining that her 6-year-old was to blame for the false hope. However, it was TMZ that reportedly reported a source claiming that Beyoncé was scheduled to appear on the conference, after criticizing that the singer would seem on stage in some unspecified time in the future that evening.
Sorry guys, my 6 12 months old took my phone
— Emmy Ruiz (@emmyruiz) August 22, 2024
Lemon wasn’t far behind, as he said in a video, “Beyoncé is confirmed to perform at the DNC. Didn’t I tell you?” But one way or the other everyone got it improper, and viewers were furious when the night ended with Harris officially accepting her party’s nomination for president.
Producer Ricky Kirshnert said Hollywood Reporter in a brand new interview: “We never released anything about Beyoncé. We denied it every time the media asked us about it.” He said that even other members of his team believed the superstar could be in attendance.
“I kept getting text messages from news organizations saying, ‘When is Beyoncé going to come out?’ But come on, we have the biggest star, the Democratic presidential candidate. Why would we want to outshine her?” Kirshnert said.
🚨 LIAR LIAR ON FIRE: Former CNN host Don Lemon (@donlemon) LIED to the American people by saying that Beyoncé (@Beyonce) has been CONFIRMED to appear on the 2024 Democratic National Convention. (@DemConvention) #Dnc #ConventionDem #DNCConvention #DNC2024CHICAGO #NotLemon photo:twitter.com/Ef2kzcuuov
— Sir Maejor 🇺🇸 (@SirMaejorATL) August 23, 2024
Co-producer Glenn Weiss said the fake news was the result of “the Internet taking on a life of its own, and people taking something as fact — literally to the point where people in my booth were like, ‘Is she coming? You can tell me.’ And I was like, ‘I have no idea she’s coming.’ And they were like, ‘I have no idea? So there’s something you need to know!’ It was pretty crazy. But she didn’t come. Even TMZ had to apologize in the end.”
Admitting to disinformation, TMZ she said, “To quote the great Beyoncé: We have to lay down the cards, lay down the cards, lay down the cards… in this case, we made a mistake.” The singer’s longtime spokeswoman, Yvette Noel-Schure, also refuted the claims. In a press release, she said, “She was never supposed to be in Chicago.”
Now that fans of the Renaissance legend have learned the reason for the confusion, they’ve expressed a number of reactions and theories.
“So THEY started gossiping about the ratings, I’m so happy Beyoncè didn’t come. This is beyond messy, my little one should mind her own business and stay out of politics” he said one person on Instagram.
A second person said: “This is why Beyonce is silent in many situations because she knows her presence will overshadow everything else that is going on.”
Kamala Harris has chosen FREEDOM by Beyoncé ft Kendrick Lamar for the primary video of her presidential campaign. #KamalaHarris2024 photo:twitter.com/nhiughsjjY
— Beyoncé News (@BeyonceHiveNews) July 22, 2024
Finally, a 3rd Beyoncé supporter commented, “I’m a Beyhive but the main reason I felt like she should do this is because she did it for the YT woman.” The “YT woman” in query is Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump within the 2016 presidential election. The Destiny’s Child star and her husband, Jay-Z, headlined the rally in Cleveland.
The couple also played vital roles during Barack Obama’s two presidential campaigns in 2008 and his re-election in 2012.
Beyoncé was also chosen to sing Etta James’ rendition of the classic Glenn Miller ballad “At Last” when he and Michelle first danced in 2009, and again in 2013 when she performed the national anthem at his second inauguration.
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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