DNC Showrunners Just Broke Their Silence on That Viral Beyoncé Rumor. Here's What Really Happened

Mar. 15, 2025

Beyoncé was a rumored surprise guest at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.Photo:Mandel NGAN/AFP/Getty; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Mandel NGAN/AFP/Getty; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Veteran live television producers Ricky Kirshner andGlenn Weisshave learned a thing or two about building on-screen suspense over the years. But as the showrunners of the2024 Democratic National Convention, they hardly had to try.

In a conversation withThe Hollywood Reporterpublished on Monday, Aug. 26, the DNC showrunners finally revealed how they were feeling on the last night of the convention, as the world convinced itself in a matter of hours thatBeyoncéwas about to appear as a surprise guest. According to the duo, Queen Bey was never part of the plan.

He added: “I kept getting texts from news organizations saying, ‘When is Beyoncé coming out?’ But come on, we have the biggest star, theDemocratic nomineefor president [Kamala Harris]. Why would we overshadow that?”

Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination at the DNC on Aug. 22, 2024.ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

Weiss said he was also bombarded with questions as anonymous social media posts went viral on Thursday, Aug. 22, teasing a huge surprise guest. Before long, TMZ had reported that Beyoncé was the surprise. (TMZlater apologized for being wrong.)

“This is the internet taking on a life of its own and people taking something as fact — literally to the point that people in my booth are saying, ‘Is she coming? You can tell me.’ And I would say, ‘I have no knowledge she’s coming.’ And they would say, ‘No knowledge? So there’s something to know!’ " Weiss recalled.

“It was pretty crazy,” he added. “But she wasn’t coming.”

Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kushner at a press preview on Jan. 4, 2024, for their live broadcast of the 81st Golden Globe Awards.Michael Buckner/Getty

Michael Buckner/Getty

As the final evening of the DNC neared its headline moment — Harris' acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination — viewers continued posting theories about the “surprise guest,” and whether they would be the one to introduce Harris.

Beyoncé’s representative Yvette Noel-Schure ultimatelyconfirmed to CNNin a statement that the superstar “was never scheduled to be in Chicago” herself, even though her music played an important role in energizing the crowd.

“We’re smart enough to know that what we’re there to do is get the message out about the Democratic side,” Kirshner toldThe HollywoodReporterof his vision for the convention. “The celebrities help us do that for sure, but we have to keep the ultimate goal in mind.”

Even if Kirshner and Weiss weren’t responsible for planting the rumor, they certainly benefited from it: More Americans were tuned in for Harris' acceptance speech thanDonald Trump’s convention speechin July.

source: people.com