Beyoncé sparks frenzied social media reaction as she flashes bold gesture during halftime show in first appearance since Jay-Z rape claim
Beyoncé knew the eyes of the world were on her during the halftime performance of the NFL’s Netflix Christmas doubleheader, waving a finger gun gesture that sent social media into a frenzy.
Making the pistol gesture with her left index and middle fingers high above the NRG Stadium lawn in her hometown of Houston, football fans quickly claimed a tongue-in-cheek response that an NFL player who did the same in a game would have been penalized.
Beyoncé’s halftime show at the Texas-Ravens games was also her first performance since husband Jay-Z was accused of rape, with a lawsuit accusing music mogul and disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in New York in 2000.
Jay-Z strongly denied the allegations, and an attorney for Diddy, who is currently awaiting trial and behind bars on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution, also denied the allegations.
Making a weapon symbol of any kind in an NFL game is an automatic 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Beyoncé is obviously not eligible for punishment.
Beyoncé performed the finger gun at the end of her flashy halftime performance at the end of her country hit “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” lifting her from the temporary stage to high in the air in the middle of the massive stadium.
Beyoncé made a finger gun gesture, which caused a stir on social media during her halftime show
Beyoncé knew the eyes of the world were on her during her halftime performance in Texas
Beyoncé’s performance featured musical guests, including her 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy
“Glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed,” said one NFL fan.
“I literally said the same thing to my husband as soon as she did it. It was all terrible.’
“We had every other Texas stereotype: Why no guns.”
‘Also worth mentioning is that Beyoncé appropriates culture that is banned by the left.’
Whether the gesture was part of her performance or some form of protest with millions of eyes on her is unclear.
It was her first performance since she last took the stage in October 2023 to conclude her highly successful Renaissance World Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Netflix promised some special guest appearances and Beyoncé was joined on stage by Shaboozey and Post Malone early in her performance. She was joined during the final stretch by her daughter, 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.
A collection of social media posts about Beyoncé’s Christmas halftime show on Netflix
Beyoncé’s Christmas show was her third major performance during halftime of an NFL game.
She was the solo headliner of the Super Bowl halftime show in 2013 and was a special guest at Coldplay’s Super Bowl show three years later alongside Bruno Mars.
Many online were also dazzled by her performance, saying next year’s Super Bowl headliner Kendrick Lamar had what it takes.