Every time a musical artist receives an award, they thank Beyoncé. And in the case they forget, they step back on stage promptly to do so. At this point, it seems like thanking Beyoncé is part of every artist’s prepared speech. TikTok users have made this into a trend, in which people will thank Beyoncé for the smallest things such as sneezing, eating, or even breathing – in fear they will die or have bad luck if they do not.
Wait, back up… people are fearing for their lives all over a famous pop singer? TikTok users have gone crazy with this new conspiracy theory, which involves many other celebrities such as Michael Jackson, J. Cole, and the infamous Sean “Diddy” Combs. So what exactly is it?
On August 25th, 2001, Aaliyah Dana Haughton, famously known as Aaliyah, died in a plane crash. Lisa Lopes or “Left Eye” passed away in a car accident on April 25th, 2002. Michael Jackson died on June 25th, 2009, reportedly caused by a drug overdose. But social media users have linked these deaths to something greater than just mere accidents.
The viral TikTok theory suggests that Beyoncé, her husband Jay-Z, and “Diddy” were involved in all three deaths since all three individuals died on the same date: the 25th. Also, a song by J. Cole called “She Knows” seems to be the birthplace of this theory. Listeners believed this to be a nod to Beyoncé’s last name, Knowles. The song was released in 2013 but is only trending now because of this theory. In the song, Cole references all three deaths in his lyrics: “Rest in peace to Aaliyah,” “Rest in peace to Left Eye,” and, “Michael Jackson, I’ll see ya.” This led many to believe that artists only thanked Beyoncé during award ceremonies because they received an award and she did not. These conspiracies suggest that Beyoncé holds so much power in the industry that other artists fear her, and thanking her or giving her credit is the only way to stay safe.
So are these theories and accusations true, or is it just another case of chronically online syndrome? CHS Junior Maureen Cañedo shared her thoughts.
“I don’t think it’s true, but I think it’s fun to believe,” Cañedo said. “I would like to thank Beyoncé for this interview, though.”
Cañedo’s thoughts may reflect those of many people online, as most people have turned this conspiracy into memes or jokes. Still, there is a fair amount of people who believe that Beyoncé was somehow involved in the deaths of the three artists. However, according to Shamarie Knight, author of an article dedicated to upholding the legacy of Aaliyah, Beyoncé and Aaliyah were best friends from a young age, and Beyoncé had no reason to harm Aaliyah in any way since their careers did not overlap. Same with Left Eye; Beyoncé would not have a motive to wish her harm since, again, they had different career paths. Michael Jackson also admired the singer, and the two have cordially met on multiple occasions. Therefore, it is safe to say Beyoncé most likely did not have conflict with any of these artists, much less malice to kill them.
So, the theories have been debunked. There is no evidence against Beyoncé, but what about Jay-Z and Diddy? Jay-Z was rumored to be dating Aaliyah, but again, this was never proven. He also had no relation to Left Eye and has met Michael Jackson only a couple of times. As for Diddy, he has been going viral on social media recently for his current situation. As a quick overview, “Diddy” was arrested recently for trafficking, assault, and physical violence. This arrest may have been a big reason for the theories circling social media. But again, Aaliyah was an admirer of Diddy’s music, and he had little to no relation with Left Eye. “Diddy” and Michael Jackson had a more secretive relationship that the public was never informed about. Some say Jackson was victim to Diddy’s physical aggressions, while others say they had a friendly relationship.
In the end, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, J. Cole, and “Diddy” have been presumed innocent in the deaths of these artists, and this theory relies heavily on Diddy’s arrest and the fact that the three late artists coincidentally died on the same day. Of course, we will never know whether the rumors are entirely true. But until then, do not forget to thank Beyoncé.
