BBC Apologizes for Mistaking Beyoncé for Viola Davis While Reporting Singer’s Historic Grammy Night

by Xara Aziz

British news giant BBC had some explaining to do after they inadvertently used a photo of Viola Davis to report a story about Beyoncé.

The mix-up all went down during live coverage of the 65th annual Grammy Awards Sunday evening when the news outlet showed a picture of Davis with a headline that wrote “Beyoncé’s Big Night.”

Fans picked up on the oversight immediately, rushing to Twitter to blast the UK-based broadcaster.

“We apologize for the mistake last night when our news channels briefly showed a photograph of Viola Davis from January’s Golden Globes alongside a headline about Beyoncé at yesterday’s Grammys,” BBC News tweeted one day after the debacle. “This fell below the BBC’s usual standards.”

Both Beyoncé and Viola Davis made history that night, which cemented the gravitas of their hard work throughout their careers.

With a recorded 32 wins, Beyoncé won four Grammy Awards this year for her latest chart-topping album, Renaissance. She officially broke the record with 31 wins when actress Viola Davis presented the award for best R&B song, CUFF IT, although Beyoncé was not at the venue to accept the award. Later, she would win her 32nd for best dance/electronic music album.

“I’m trying not to be too emotional and I’m trying to just receive this night,” she said as she accepted the award. “I want to thank God for protecting me. … I’d like to thank my uncle Johnny, who’s not here, but he’s here in spirit.”

Meanwhile, Viola Davis made history that night after attaining the status of EGOT: winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. The Woman King actress secured the extraordinary feat after winning the Grammy Award for best audio book after the release of her recent best-selling autobiography Finding Me.

In 2016, she won an Oscar for best supporting actress in Fences. In 2015, the Emmys recognized her as best lead actress in the TV series How to Get Away With Murder and in 2001 she won best featured actress in the play King Hedley II.

“I just EGOT!” said the 57-year-old star who thanked her family for being “the best chapter in my book.”

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