From red carpets to chart-topping hits, Beyoncé’s influence is undeniable. But beneath the dazzling surface of her superstardom lies a web of conspiracies that are capturing attention across the industry. Whether it’s the “Thank you, Beyoncé” tributes echoing through award shows or her seamless hold on fame, rumors swirl about the extent of her power. How deep does her influence go, and what does it take to stay in Queen Bey’s favor?
The “Thank You, Beyoncé” conspiracy is a social media-driven theory suggesting that many artists thank Beyoncé because they recognize her immense influence in the music industry and want to stay in her good graces.
It all started in 2017, with Adele’s thank-you speech for receiving Album of the Year during the Grammys for “25,” which many fans argued should have gone to Beyoncé for “Lemonade.” Beyoncé’s album topped the music charts in various countries worldwide. During her acceptance speech, Adele was visibly upset about receiving this award for the second time and seemed frightened. She said, “I can’t possibly accept this award, and I’m very humbled, and I’m very grateful and gracious, but the artist of my life is Beyoncé.” She then broke the Grammy in half so they could share the award.
This happened again in 2023 when American rapper and singer Lizzo thanked Beyoncé for winning Record of the Year at the Grammys. Beyoncé’s track “Break My Soul” was also nominated in the same category, so Lizzo reminisced about her first Destiny’s Child concert and shared how she was captivated by Beyoncé’s powerful vocals.
Even the infamous moment when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s 2009 VMA acceptance speech points to Beyoncé’s influence. West famously said, “Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” Freshman Cecily Daly commented, “I always thought this moment was strange: Why did Kanye West randomly bring up Beyoncé? I think he knew something that wasn’t said, or there’s a deeper meaning behind this whole moment.”
While artists paying tribute to someone they admire is not uncommon, the constant recognition of Beyoncé even when it is not relevant to the speech sparks speculation of the “fear” that artists have of Beyoncé, leading to the creation of the “Thank You, Beyoncé” meme.
The theory has divided fans. Sophomore Bea Bloomer thinks it’s far-fetched, saying, “I think the theory is just silly. It’s a big stretch and doesn’t make sense.”
But sophomore Matthew Hart, a dedicated Beyoncé fan, disagrees, saying, “If you win a major award, especially a Grammy, you have to thank the G.O.A.T., Beyoncé. She paved the way for many younger artists and is the most awarded artist with Grammys.”
Sophomore Noor Bazzi sees it as more of a lighthearted joke, describing the theory as “a funny meme that people everywhere enjoy being part of.”
However, this theory has not been proven, and Beyoncé has not publicly addressed this speculation. Still, thank you Beyoncé, for allowing me to write an article.
