Beyoncé sparked heated reactions after performing in Houston, Texas, USA at the National Football League (NFL) Christmas Gameday halftime show. Critics slammed her performance as “pure torture” while others praised her talent. The spectacle, featuring songs from her Cowboy Carter album, further drew attention for a controversial finger-gun gesture that clashed with NFL policies.
- Beyoncé faced mixed reactions for her NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show.
- She performed songs from her Cowboy Carter album at the Houston Texans-Ravens game.
- Fans were left divided: Some called it "pure torture," others praised her talent.
Beyoncé took the field as the halftime performer during NFL Christmas Gameday on Wednesday night (December 25).
The performance took place in the songstress’ hometown of Houston at the NRG Stadium during a Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens game.
Beyoncé sparked heated reactions
Image credits: Parkwood Entertainment
Entering the stadium on horseback, Beyoncé delivered a 12+ minute show and the first live performance of songs from her record-breaking Cowboy Carter album, Tudum by Netflix reported on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old singer’s NFL Christmas Gameday setlist encompassed 16 Carriages, Blackbird, American Requiem, Ya Ya, Spaghetti/Riiverdance, Levi’s Jeans, Jolene, and Texas Hold ‘Em.
Moreover, Beyoncé’s guests included Post Malone, Shaboozey, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Tiera Kennedy.
Blue Ivy Carter, the Grammy Awards winner’s eldest daughter, danced in the show and enjoyed a spotlight moment of her own similar to the one she had during her mother’s Renaissance tour.
Image credits: Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Entertainment
Nevertheless, Beyoncé’s performance left many divided as a Facebook user commented: “Great Show!!! She did a fabulous job!!!”
A person wrote: “That was pure torture!!!”
Someone else penned: “I’m not a huge fan of her entire album but I’m not a miserable hater so I can 100% admit, this performance was great!”
She performed in Houston, Texas, USA at the National Football League (NFL) Christmas Gameday halftime show
Image credits: Netflix
“Ummm… flags tucked into belt loops, upside down, touching the ground,” a netizen argued. “Horrible covers of amazing songs, a few signals. Far from a great performance.”
A viewer echoed: “No really it was not Christmasy at all and thought it was never gonna end. What was that.”
A commentator countered: “Happy for her. Fun show. Haters gonna hate while she laughs her way to the bank.”
Image credits: Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Entertainment
“Terrible…. Really a slap to country music. Not good in my opinion,” an observer noted.
A cybernaut critiqued: “Worse halftime performance ever!”
An additional person added: “My husband and I were like ‘WTF are we watching?!’”
Critics slammed her performance as “pure torture” while others praised her talent
Image credits: Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Entertainment
A separate individual chimed in: “It was a great halftime show! I’m not the biggest fan of all of her songs, but she’s incredibly talented and works so hard as a performer.
“It was fun to watch! I hope NFL keeps up these fun halftime shows!”
Beyoncé’s halftime concert also drew attention as a result of a gesture that has been banned by the NFL.
Image credits: Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Entertainment
The show ended with the Single Ladies hitmaker elevated on a scaffold above the field, making a finger-gun gesture as a Bang banner unfurled behind her, The Express reported on Thursday.
The gesture reportedly ignited immediate reaction on social media, as NFL players have faced penalties this season for similar celebrations.
NFL executive Troy Vincent addressed the league’s stance on such gestures at an October meeting.
The spectacle featured songs from her Cowboy Carter album
Image credits: Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Entertainment
At the time, he said: “There’s no place in professional football for that.
“Think about where we are as a society. … I don’t think that’s where we are and what we’re trying to represent.”
Social media consequently pointed out the apparent double standard, as a user wrote: “Is the @NFL going to fine @Beyonce for finger guns?!”
Image credits: Netflix
Someone else stated: “Where is the flag on Beyoncé for the finger guns?!?!”
Beyoncé made a jaw-dropping entrance in the stadium, entering on a horse, wearing a white-feathered gown and western hat, as she opened with 16 Carriages.
Beyoncé further drew attention for a controversial finger-gun gesture that clashed with NFL policies
Image credits: Netflix
Image credits: Netflix
As the starlet got off the horse and walked through the back of the stadium, Beyoncé donned a red, white, and blue Cowboy Carter sash to sing her cover of Blackbird, People reported on Wednesday,
The concert continued with Post Malone’s rendition of Levii’s Jeans before Beyoncé sang Jolene from a vintage truck and closed with Texas Hold ‘Em, joined by her daughter Blue Ivy for a line dance.
The performance was reportedly part of Netflix’s first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday.
Beyoncé took the field as the halftime performer during NFL Christmas Gameday on Wednesday night (December 25)
Image credits: Netflix
Beyoncé previously headlined Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 in New Orleans, joined onstage by fellow Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
At Super Bowl 50 in 2016, the Houston native joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars on the field for one of the most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows of all time.
Netflix members can re-live the full halftime performance of what has now been named “Beyoncé Bowl” as a standalone special on Netflix when it comes to the service later this week.
Beyoncé’s show continued to draw different reactions
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
The Houston Texans protested this performance by not even showing up for the game.
She is so irritating. She just needs to go away. NFL has had the worst half time shows for the last few years. Not worth watching at all.
I don't know why any of you are surprised. She hasn't been "appropriate" for years. I don't watch her videos. I don't listen to her music. I don't buy anything she has to do with. She needs to just fade into obscurity, IMHO.
Here's my theory: If you need tons of distracting stuff, it's because you're trying to distract from the quality of your music.
Honestly, i think it was a PR move to do this halftime show. Jay-Z is under a microscope, and Beyoncé ALSO went to the White Parties. She absolutely knew.
Hi BP, is this your idea of a good post? Shitstirring? Adding to polarization? This and the shopping posts is just a tiny step from renaming yourself Buzz Panda
BP are trying to get us not to sign up for Premium, ever? 🙃
Load More Replies...Should have used the time to go to the bathroom for 15 minutes or so. As previously mentioned, a hat and a horse does not a country singer make.
She has fans that would of praised her if she just walked out on stage and farted in her microphone.
Can someone explain what the hell is up with the finger guns? Aside from them being cringy, I mean? What’s the uproar over them, and why are people being fined for them?
So I watched this because I wanted to know the impact on the standings...total blow-out of a game. The show seemed...a bit out of place, as far as I was concerned, but clearly I'm not the target audience. The crowd seemed to be cheering, and there was a big cheer when Post Malone appeared, and for her version of Jolene (who knows, those who weren't into it were maybe picking up or getting rid of a beer). People who have an issue with it seem to be those who have issues with Beyonce anyways.
Finger guns in Texas : not allowed AR 15 open carry : mandatory Puh-lease. What a crock
Finger guns in the NFL game done by the players on field, not the whole state of Texas. Try reading the article.
Load More Replies...More trash articles and made worse by fishnets. Fishnets belong on boats, not people.
How many people tuned in just for the terrible halftime show and made the NFL more money because that is all they care about.
Anyone who thinks Beyonce's performance was pure torture has never read an "article" by Andréa Oldereide.
Which fans are furious? NFL fans, Houston Texan Fans, Netflix Fans, Beyonce Fans, Church Fans, or the Fans in your head cooling off those miswired circuits.in your hater brain?
The Houston Texans fans should be more upset by the on-field performance.
Load More Replies...Didn't see it. Not a fan. So finger guns are now also illegal to do? Sheesh.
Given that the song is undeniably country and the performance is solid, it seems plausible that the writer and those criticizing it may simply be uncomfortable with a Black artist making strides in the country music genre. Get over it already, this is 2024.
if she think's that she has what it take to be (COUNTRY) she doesn't that was the biggest insult to country music.
Well, heck, country music seems to survive doing covers of all kinds of rock hits from other eras (even using a cover of a Phil Collins song for a football intro), so not sure where you're seeing some insult to the artistic purity of the genre. It's a commercial product.
Load More Replies...Not into Yonce and not into country. Would have preferred a Post Malone half time show instead.
Haters always gonna hate. Bravo make an article on that. Bored panda is really bored.
Given that the song is undeniably country and the performance is solid, it seems plausible that the writer and those criticizing it may simply be uncomfortable with a Black artist making strides in the country music genre but are unable to come to terms with the actual reason for their own discomfort. It is 2024, get over it already.
Headline: "Black Woman Singing Country Songs has Country Music Fans With Their Panties in a Knot". When asked for comment, they said "We're not Racists, but..."
So….if anyone doesn’t like Beyoncé, they’re automatically racist??
Load More Replies...It is called "Half-time Entertainment", it was Fantastic Entertainment!
The Houston Texans protested this performance by not even showing up for the game.
She is so irritating. She just needs to go away. NFL has had the worst half time shows for the last few years. Not worth watching at all.
I don't know why any of you are surprised. She hasn't been "appropriate" for years. I don't watch her videos. I don't listen to her music. I don't buy anything she has to do with. She needs to just fade into obscurity, IMHO.
Here's my theory: If you need tons of distracting stuff, it's because you're trying to distract from the quality of your music.
Honestly, i think it was a PR move to do this halftime show. Jay-Z is under a microscope, and Beyoncé ALSO went to the White Parties. She absolutely knew.
Hi BP, is this your idea of a good post? Shitstirring? Adding to polarization? This and the shopping posts is just a tiny step from renaming yourself Buzz Panda
BP are trying to get us not to sign up for Premium, ever? 🙃
Load More Replies...Should have used the time to go to the bathroom for 15 minutes or so. As previously mentioned, a hat and a horse does not a country singer make.
She has fans that would of praised her if she just walked out on stage and farted in her microphone.
Can someone explain what the hell is up with the finger guns? Aside from them being cringy, I mean? What’s the uproar over them, and why are people being fined for them?
So I watched this because I wanted to know the impact on the standings...total blow-out of a game. The show seemed...a bit out of place, as far as I was concerned, but clearly I'm not the target audience. The crowd seemed to be cheering, and there was a big cheer when Post Malone appeared, and for her version of Jolene (who knows, those who weren't into it were maybe picking up or getting rid of a beer). People who have an issue with it seem to be those who have issues with Beyonce anyways.
Finger guns in Texas : not allowed AR 15 open carry : mandatory Puh-lease. What a crock
Finger guns in the NFL game done by the players on field, not the whole state of Texas. Try reading the article.
Load More Replies...More trash articles and made worse by fishnets. Fishnets belong on boats, not people.
How many people tuned in just for the terrible halftime show and made the NFL more money because that is all they care about.
Anyone who thinks Beyonce's performance was pure torture has never read an "article" by Andréa Oldereide.
Which fans are furious? NFL fans, Houston Texan Fans, Netflix Fans, Beyonce Fans, Church Fans, or the Fans in your head cooling off those miswired circuits.in your hater brain?
The Houston Texans fans should be more upset by the on-field performance.
Load More Replies...Didn't see it. Not a fan. So finger guns are now also illegal to do? Sheesh.
Given that the song is undeniably country and the performance is solid, it seems plausible that the writer and those criticizing it may simply be uncomfortable with a Black artist making strides in the country music genre. Get over it already, this is 2024.
if she think's that she has what it take to be (COUNTRY) she doesn't that was the biggest insult to country music.
Well, heck, country music seems to survive doing covers of all kinds of rock hits from other eras (even using a cover of a Phil Collins song for a football intro), so not sure where you're seeing some insult to the artistic purity of the genre. It's a commercial product.
Load More Replies...Not into Yonce and not into country. Would have preferred a Post Malone half time show instead.
Haters always gonna hate. Bravo make an article on that. Bored panda is really bored.
Given that the song is undeniably country and the performance is solid, it seems plausible that the writer and those criticizing it may simply be uncomfortable with a Black artist making strides in the country music genre but are unable to come to terms with the actual reason for their own discomfort. It is 2024, get over it already.
Headline: "Black Woman Singing Country Songs has Country Music Fans With Their Panties in a Knot". When asked for comment, they said "We're not Racists, but..."
So….if anyone doesn’t like Beyoncé, they’re automatically racist??
Load More Replies...It is called "Half-time Entertainment", it was Fantastic Entertainment!
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