Beyonce has performed for the first time since her husband Jay-Z was accused of rape as she took to the stage during Netflix‘s first broadcast of NFL games.
The iconic singer rode in on a horse to begin her set in her hometown of Houston during halftime of the game between the Texans and Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
Her performance comes in the wake of a lawsuit accusing Beyonce‘s husband Jay-Z and disgraced rapper Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in New York in 2000.
Jay-Z strenuously denied the allegations, and a lawyer 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 accusations.
It was her first performance since she last hit the stage in October of 2023 to wrap her highly successful Renaissance World Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Netflix promised a number of special guest appearances and Beyonce was joined on stage by Shaboozey and Post Malone early in her performance.
Beyonce took to the stage for the first time since her husband Jay-Z was accused of rape
Beyonce rode in on a white horse during halftime of the game between the Texans and Ravens
Despite her husband’s lawsuit, Beyonce is still reportedly slated to follow through with her upcoming stadium world tour.
On Monday, a source close to the Texas Hold Em’ singer told The Sun that she is slated to announce her next run of shows in a matter of weeks — and they say it will kick off in Los Angeles in March.
The insider revealed: ‘It’s been a very tough few months for Beyoncé but she’s laser focused on making her upcoming tour a success.
‘The next few weeks are crucial as she will announce a new album and a new tour. The announcement was supposed to happen a couple of weeks ago but it was pushed back,’ the source continued.
They added, ‘Despite Jay-Z being resolute in his denials and that the allegations are totally false, people are aware mud can stick.’
‘Online chatter has claimed Beyoncé and Jay-Z have lost their power couple status, but Beyoncé is ready to remind the world why she’s one of the best,’ the source claimed.
The show also marked the first time Beyonce performed songs from her latest album, Cowboy Carter, live.
Beyonce, who has performed at two Super Bowls in her career, had several ‘special guests’ from her Cowboy Carter album join her on stage as previously revealed by Netflix.
Just weeks ago, 55-year-old Jay-Z fired back at the rape allegation, diminishing it as ‘idiotic’ in a statement.
In a subsequent post shared to X (formerly Twitter), the rapper detailed how the allegation will affect not only his career, but standing as a father. In response, he said he would have to sit down his children — Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, seven — to formally explain the matter.
Her performance comes in the wake of allegations that Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl in 2000
‘My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,’ he claimed. ‘I mourn yet another loss of innocence.
‘Children should not have to endure such at their young age,’ he continued. ‘It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.
‘My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit,’ Jay-Z wrote in the lengthy statement.
Beyonce’s forthcoming record will be her ninth studio album. She is yet to officially confirm the release of another record and tour.
Netflix’s NFL debut was broadcast to the platform’s 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries, marking the first time one outlet has distributed a game globally.
The games are the first in a three-year deal for Netflix, which also has one game apiece in 2025 and ´26. Netflix is paying $150 million for this year’s package.
More to follow.
