Alright, well here's an enemy we're sure nobody wants: NASA (yes, as in space), who are angry with Beyonce for using an audio clip from the Challenger explosion.
If you recall, "XO" begins with an excerpt taken from a TV broadcast during the Challenger disaster — specifically, as per Vogue, when the shuttle exploded and fell from space, killing everyone aboard.
"The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized," NASA said in a statement. "NASA works every day to honour the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe."
And it's not just NASA that Beyonce upset — June Scobee Rogers, the widow of the Challenger's late commander, Dick Scobee, also issued a statement.
"We were disappointed to learn that an audio clip from the day we lost our heroic Challenger crew was used in the song, 'XO,'" she said. "The moment included in this song is a difficult one for the Challenger families, colleagues, and friends."
Well, I mean, duh. What's even the point of including something like this? But Beyonce is reasonable. That's why she issued an apology — not.
The singer actually defended her choice (?!) claiming it was "in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten."
You guys, I don't mean to throw shade over here, but … maaaaaaaaybe that sounds questionable at best. It's okay to simply apologize. Especially when the album doesn't really seem to touch on Challenger at all. Like, even a little bit. Unless I really, really missed the point of "XO."
