Let the hate begin. R&B megastar Beyoncé is already receiving criticism for her upcoming performance on Inauguration Day. In fact, there is an online petition going around to prevent Beyoncé – who just signed a $50 million endorsement deal with Pepsi – from singing the Star Spangled Banner at President Obama’s second Inauguration.
Apparently, some people believe that the White House would be endorsing Beyoncé’s Pepsi endorsement by allowing her to perform the National Anthem. “By inviting her to perform the Star Spangled Banner at the President’s Inauguration, the White House is endorsing the sugary drink Pepsi at a time when America’s childhood obesity and diabetes rates are skyrocketing,” the petition says.
Laurie David from The Huffington Post is also not thrilled about it neither.. Yesterday, she published an article listing reasons why Beyoncé is not the appropriate artist to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
Michelle Obama has been one of the leading voices on this crisis. In fact, she enlisted her friend Beyoncé to film the “Move Your Body” dance number for the same reason Pepsi recruited her — she’s a huge influence on her young fans, including millions in the African American and Hispanic communities where children suffer disproportionately from diabetes and obesity.
Too bad there wasn’t a conversation between the First Lady and Beyoncé during what must have been many months of negotiations between Pepsi and Beyoncé’s “team.” Then came the big fifty million dollar sponsorship announcement, the widely released photo of Beyoncé in short shorts (really short) pushing a shopping cart filled with sugary soda. One can of soda consumed per day increases the likelihood of a child becoming obese by SIXTY percent. Apparently, Beyoncé wants us to buy them by the cartful.
What are your thoughts on this petition? Leave a comment below.
