CHICAGO — Hopes that Beyonce would make a surprise appearance on the closing night of the Democratic National Convention were dashed after the night ended with no sign of the “Freedom” singer.
The evening was packed with celebrities, with musicians such as P!nk and the Chicks taking the stage on the grand finale of the DNC. The event drew so many attendees that the convention floor was completely closed off hours before Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage to deliver the DNC’s closing speech.
The A-lister delegates and attendees were most excited to see, however, was Beyonce. Speculation mounted throughout the week, and hit a fever pitch Thursday, that Beyonce would perform on the final night of the DNC.
Maryland delegate Roxanne Brown, 45, said she was let down that Beyonce did not end up appearing. However, Brown said that the letdown was okay though, because “Kamala made up for it.”
“I was disappointed because I was looking forward to seeing Beyonce, but I was most looking forward to watching history, which is a nomination of our first black female president,” Brown said.
Another Maryland delegate, Lily Qi, 60, said she would have loved to see the pop sensation, but echoed Brown’s sentiment that supporting Harris was the most important part of the night.
“I would have loved to see her and her energy, and she’s an icon, a cultural icon, as I understand,” said Qi. “But you know, this is not why I’m here, of course, right? I am here to make sure that Kamala Harris is elected.”
Erica Harrison, a stay-at-home mom from North Carolina, captured the anticipation. “I was getting excited. I told my husband, I thought that Beyonce would come out and perform and sing Freedom, but I was wrong.”
“The entire thing was a surreal moment, I’m still on a high. So even though Beyonce didn’t come – she would have just been a little cherry on top. But, everything else was amazing.”
Rumors had been swirling that the DNC would feature a special guest for days, with musician Taylor Swift also being floated as a possibility. But Beyonce was the chief figure speculated to make an appearance.
Excitement that Beyonce would make an appearance hit a fever pitch Thursday after White House political director Emily Ruiz tweeted out a bee emoji, which was linked to Beyonce as her fanbase is referred to as the “BeyHive.”
Ruiz later posted an apology, saying “Sorry guys my 6-year-old took my phone.”
Democratic party Chair Jaime Harrison also dodged confirming or denying whether Beyonce would appear during an appearance on CBS Mornings.
Conflicting reports about whether or not the iconic singer would appear were published by multiple outlets. TMZ published a report earlier on Thursday claiming that multiple sources told the outlet she would be the surprise performer speculated.
However, as the final night’s programming was underway, a representative for Beyonce told the Hollywood Reporter that she was “never scheduled to be there” and that “the report of a performance is untrue.”
A Washington Examiner reporter overheard attendees exiting the United Center expressing disappointment the singer didn’t show, with one exclaiming “But we didn’t get Beyonce!”
Still, Maine delegate Eric Best said while he wanted to “be able to brag to my kids that I was there when Beyonce showed up,” he did not feel like his “life was diminished by the fact that she didn’t.”
New York delegate Alicia Hyndman, 52, stated she thought it was for the best that Beyonce didn’t show.
“I felt if Beyonce came it would have been too celebrity,” Hyndman said. “I think would have been playing into the opposition’s playbook like big Hollywood.”