DNC's Beyoncé blues: "Special guest" never arrived
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
False rumors and wild speculation about a performance by Beyoncé — or another secret special guest — consumed massive amounts of attention on the Democratic convention's final day.
Why it matters: Vice President Kamala Harris heavily uses her song "Freedom" on the campaign trail. Taylor Swift was also mentioned as a possible guest.
Reports from TMZ ("EXCLUSIVE") and The Hill last night said Beyoncé would perform, following days of buzz that intensified on the morning of Harris' acceptance speech.
- The Hill later said one of its sources reported seeing the 32-time Grammy winner in Chicago.
- White House political director Emmy Ruiz fanned the flames when she posted a bee emoji on X before joking: "Sorry guys my 6 year old took my phone."
By the numbers: Bettors on Polymarket (graphic above)— a site that allows gambling on political events — viewed a Beyoncé performance as almost certain (96%) after the TMZ report.
Between the lines: Campaign sources briefed reporters that Harris herself was the star of the show, and they didn't want to take attention away from her by booking a celebrity guest during the grand finale.
