Beyoncé at the DNC: A last minute twist and Kamala Harris' message to the Democratic Party

A report published on Thursday evening in all caps left the United Center in Chicago buzzing with speculation about a surprise appearance from Beyoncé at the Democratic National Convention. The report indicated that Beyoncé would be "performing at DNC's final night!" However, this announcement proved to be erroneous, as well as a point of contention for political figures, betting markets, and social media users.

Despite the high level of anticipation, the convention's final night concluded with Vice President Kamala Harris addressing attendees, emphasizing the importance of preserving democracy and urging them not to celebrate prematurely. This unexpected turn of events provided a stark contrast to the build-up of excitement centered around potential celebrity appearances and performances.

A Theme of Freedom and Expectations

The speculation surrounding Beyoncé's involvement in the Democratic National Convention was fueled by the choice of her song "Freedom" as the campaign theme for Harris's presidential nomination. The release of a new campaign ad featuring the empowering anthem further added to the assumption that Beyoncé would grace the event with her presence.

The Democratic National Convention has a history of incorporating musical performances into its programming, with past instances including notable appearances by Stevie Wonder in 2008 for Barack Obama and Katy Perry in 2016 for Hillary Clinton. The speculation surrounding Beyoncé's involvement was further fueled by visual cues, such as footage of a marching band rehearsing her songs in the arena.