Fact Check: Did the NFL block Beyonce from performing at the Christmas halftime show?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Leave it to the internet to put Beyonce in the center of a completely fake NFL controversy.

Late November saw a rumor go viral, claiming the National Football League banned Queen Bey from performing at their Christmas Day halftime show because—brace yourself—she’s “not a good artist.”

It all started with a Facebook post from SpaceX Fanclub, a page known for satire (more on that in a second). They shared a link to an article on esspots.com with the wild claim:

"In a move that has baffled fans and ignited a firestorm of criticism, the NFL has reportedly blocked Beyoncé from performing at their highly anticipated Christmas Day halftime show, citing the shocking reason that 'she’s not a good artist.' The announcement, leaked through an anonymous source at league headquarters, has left the Beyhive buzzing with fury and the public questioning if the NFL even knows who Beyoncé is."

Trolls say 'hope this is true'

Of course, the internet being the internet, people really took this and ran with it. Some commenters clearly got the joke, but others, not so much. One thrilled football fan commented, “Yahoo now I can watch the game!”

"I hope this is true I'm sick of these people...she wouldn't really sing anyway," said one critic.

Someone else stated, "Praise the Lord jelly roll and post Malone would be awesome halftime show."

Another version of the rumor popped up on SpaceXMania, complete with an even more over-the-top fake scenario.

"The announcement has sparked outrage, confusion, and even laughter, as Beyonce's staggering 99 Grammy nominations and record-breaking success seem to stand in stark contrast to the NFL's audacious statement," it stated.

In their “report,” an NFL spokesperson hilariously named Roger Tonedown explained in a meme-worthy press conference. "We respect Beyoncé's contributions to the music industry," he began hesitantly, "but we've determined that her artistic style doesn't align with the values of the NFL halftime experience."

Let's be real. Beyonce’s 99 Grammy nominations and unparalleled success don’t exactly scream “not a good artist.” So naturally the Beyhive lit up, demanding answers for what they thought was an actual snub.

Fact check: It’s just satire

Here’s the deal: None of this is true. Not a single word. Both SpaceX Fanclub and esspots.com are satire pages that live to troll, Snopes reported.

In fact, SpaceX Fanclub has this disclaimer on their Facebook page: "Welcome to Esspots.com, a website that specializes in satire, parody, and humor. Before you proceed to read our content, we would like to emphasize that nothing on this website is real. All of the articles, stories, and commentary found on Esspots.com are entirely fictitious and created for the purpose of entertainment only."

These sites — part of the SpaceXMania network — are notorious for stirring the pot with outrageous, fake stories just to get clicks, shares, and laughs.

SpaceXMania's "About Us" page clearly states: "Welcome to our website, owned and operated by Funky Productions LLC. We are a team of writers and editors based in New York, USA. Our mission? To bring you the freshest fake news, some sassy analysis, and a good dose of satire, all rolled into one crazy concoction that orbits around Elon Musk and everything that's lighting up the viral/trending charts."

So, what’s actually happening this Christmas? Beyonce is performing during the halftime show of the Ravens-Texans game. The NFL announced it on November 18, putting any doubts to rest. And for the record, this won’t be her first rodeo—she’s headlined two iconic halftime shows in the past.

If you’re feeling deja vu about wild Beyonce rumors, you’re not alone. Just last month, Snopes debunked claims that Beyonce was boycotting states that supported Donald Trump after the election. Oh, and let’s not forget that bizarre story about her performing country music to empty stadiums. It seems Queen Bey just can’t catch a break from fake news.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.