Beyoncé Scandal at the DNC Serves as a Cautionary Tale
Ranting About False Celeb Rumors at the DNC:
With the buzz surrounding the final night of the 2022 Democratic National Convention (DNC), the web was abuzz, tipping a wink to a shocking surprise guest. Folks were hoping for a killer performance from Beyoncé or Taylor Swift. But alas, the buzz turned out to be nothing more than hot air.
This harmless viral tale sets a tense warning for all digital dwellers during an election season. Double-check your facts, and don't blindly retweet nonsense—especially when the rumor tickles your fancy. Heck, we'd be the first to call out Trump for posting fake Taylor Swift endorsement snaps, but when the rumor is something we secretly wanna believe, we're less likely to speak up.
Now, I missed the DNC live, opting instead for a flicks-and-friends night. Yet, there I was, passing along the rumor, my buddy suggesting he'd heard word Taylor Swift's plane was indeed in Chicago. Picture this: a war correspondent lingering over a Beyoncé rumor. Yep, that's where we've ended up.
I've written aplenty about disinformation, media manipulation, and cult-like fan factions twisting truths. My friend's seen and heard it all, too, yet there we were, chatting about a bogus Internet tale.
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As it appears, this rumor's origin sprang from a blue-ticked ex-White House staffer's post. "You don't wanna miss the DNC tonight," they said. "If you thought Oprah was big, just wait." Since then, the post's vanished, but liberal netizens had already caught wind of the hype.
During the DNC, we've had our fill of entertaining viral moments—Lil Jon jamming during Georgia's roll call, Obama slinging dick jokes, and Oprah, well, being, well, Oprah. Considering this string of fun surprises, it was reasonable to believe the Dems still had something up their sleeve.
The top-tier speculations circulating were Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. The Beyoncé buzz gained momentum when TMZ reported she'd indeed be visiting the windy city. Adding fuel to the fire, White House political director Emmy Ruiz tweeted a bee emoji, a symbol linked to Beyoncé and Kamala Harris. Rolling Stone even reported that amid Beyoncé's impending arrival, staffers were readying the stage. Journalist Katie Phang even shared a juicy rumor about Beyoncé hanging out at the United Center.
When queried by journalists, Beyoncé's management steadfastly denied the performance. But who needed confirmation? The rumor had incinerated its way across the internet—a conflagration fueled by desire. It had made headlines in Reuters, CNN, The Hill, and countless other publications.
However, it was a no-show.
"Beyoncé Madness Uncovers DNC Insiders' B.S.," heralded the Daily Beast, and while it's true the rumor sprouted from specific Democratic influencer circles, the real culprits are us. We were the ones who gobbled it up and shared it, deeming it true without a second thought. We're all vectors for misinformation.
Angry Staffer confessed to posting the rumor a few hours after Kamala Harris wrapped up her speech.
"I'm not sure where it started, but the people who told me aren't prone to exaggeration. FWIW, Beyoncé was the rumor. Makes me feel a little better that Reuters, TMZ, The Hill, and other outlets also reported it, but either way—I apologize," they said on X. "Even people at the DNC were hearing Beyoncé had entered the building, so whoever started the rumor somehow snagged quite the audience."
Don't lay the blame squarely on Angry Staffer. They were merely sharing what the audience wanted to believe, and we were too willing partners in the game. So, let this episode serve as a reminder during the coming months.
- Technology and the internet played a significant role in spreading false rumors about celebrity appearances at the DNC in 2022, such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
- Even though the rumor started from a blue-ticked ex-White House staffer's post, it was not limited to Democratic influencer circles, as many people retweeted and shared it without verifying the information.
- In the future, we should be more cautious about information we find online, especially when it aligns with our preferences or desires, to avoid spreading misinformation.
- By sharing false rumors unwittingly, we become vectors for disinformation, contributing to the spread of misleading information within our social circles and beyond.
