14 DAY TRIAL // One of the songs off Beyonce’s newest album, the recently released “Beyonce” material, opens with a sound sample from a NASA transmission on The Challenger accident. Though the soundbite isn’t apparently linked to the lyrics of “XO,” the song in question, Beyonce doesn’t see a reason to apologize.
But NASA thinks she should or, at the very least, that she should have shown a bit more consideration towards the families of the people who lost their lives in The Challenger accident. You simply don’t include this type of a recording in a pop song.
In a statement to the press, NASA press secretary Lauren Worley stops short of putting the diva on blast, but she does make it very clear that the inclusion of that particular soundbite is offensive. Speaking of it, you can check it out in the official music video for “XO,” embedded below. Above it is an ABC News video report of the whole controversy.
“The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized,” Ms. Worley says.
“NASA works every day to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe,” she adds.
That’s exactly how the families of the victims also feel and, together with them, many others who criticized the pop star for her choice. Beyonce, though, would beg to differ.
“The song ‘XO’ was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you,” she says in a statement.
In other, fewer words, “sorry I’m not sorry.”
