Beyoncé just reminded us all, again, that she’s the show, not the venue.
Well, that escalated quickly! Remember that whole drama about Beyoncé seemingly using the Las Vegas Sphere in her “Cowboy Carter” tour visuals without permission? It turns out, the folks at the Sphere weren’t too thrilled, and they reportedly sent a cease-and-desist faster than you can say, “Yeehaw!” But ever the queen, Beyoncé has responded in the most Beyoncé way possible with a clever visual swap!
Just days after the news broke that the Sphere’s owners were crying foul over the “impermissible use” of their iconic venue’s imagery, eagle-eyed fans noticed a change during Beyoncé’s recent “Cowboy Carter” tour performance.
That interlude, the one where a giant Bey playfully interacted with the Sphere on the Las Vegas strip? Gone! In its place is none other than Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, the very place where Beyoncé is actually scheduled to perform this July.
Following the show, Beyoncé’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment, even shared the updated footage with a cheeky caption: “What happens in Vegas starts with a BANG.” It’s pretty clear that Beyoncé is acknowledging the situation with her signature sass and turning it into a promotional moment for her actual Vegas shows.
For those who missed the initial drama, the Sphere’s legal team reportedly sent a letter to Parkwood Entertainment after the “Cowboy Carter” tour debuted in Los Angeles. They claimed that the visual interlude, which showed a massive Beyoncé picking up and playing with the Sphere, was used “without permission” and could mislead fans into thinking she might be ending her tour with a residency there.
According to reports, the letter even highlighted the visual of Beyoncé towering over the Sphere, leading to “significant speculation” about a potential residency. Sources suggest that James Dolan, the CEO of Sphere Entertainment, was particularly miffed, especially since his previous attempts to get Beyoncé to perform at the venue reportedly fell through.
But Beyoncé, ever the savvy businesswoman, isn’t one to back down from a little drama. By replacing the Sphere with Allegiant Stadium in her visuals, she’s not only complying with the cease-and-desist but also cleverly reminding everyone where they can actually catch her perform in Vegas.
