Tina Knowles has passionately defended her daughter Beyoncé in response to criticism following the singer’s Christmas Day NFL Halftime Show performance.
On Friday, Dec. 27, Knowles addressed the backlash via social media. Beyoncé’s electrifying 12-minute halftime set, performed during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game at NRG Stadium, has been widely streamed on Netflix but also sparked some negative commentary. Knowles took to Instagram to support her daughter and respond to detractors.
Reposting a fan’s message, Knowles highlighted the persistence of criticism even in the face of immense talent. The fan’s post read, “Irrespective of whether you like Beyoncé’s music or not, it is PROOF and motivation that no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say.”
In her caption, Knowles echoed the sentiment, writing, “My sentiments exactly! It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later.”
She added, “Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them, wish you could be them, that you cannot help but to watch and critique and comment and say dumb ridiculous stuff that makes you look like a joke!!
So go to another channel when it’s halftime, watch goofy cartoons or Bozo the clown or something you can relate to and see yourself in. Said with love.”
Knowles also praised Beyoncé’s resilience, noting her daughter’s ability to rise above criticism. She wrote, “I have learned so much from her warrior spirit, of when they go low I work harder. ‘No weapon formed against me shall prosper.’ One, two, three—waiting for the fake bots to come.”
Alongside these remarks, Knowles shared posts celebrating the overwhelming praise Beyoncé received for her performance. She highlighted a comment from rapper Bun B, who lauded the artist’s extraordinary career. “I think quietly, this entire time we’ve watched her rise.
She’s probably the single most intentional performer, musician, and entertainer in our culture. Beyoncé knows exactly who she is, and she understands that when she does something, things change,” Bun B stated.
Beyoncé’s halftime show, rooted in her country-infused album Cowboy Carter, featured a star-studded lineup including Shaboozey, Post Malone, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and others.
The performance captivated audiences with tracks like “16 Carriages,” “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “Levii’s Jeans,” and “Jolene.” Her 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, also joined her on stage as a dancer, continuing her tradition of sharing the spotlight with her family, as seen on the Renaissance World Tour.
To close out the performance, Beyoncé teased a mysterious new project slated for release in 2025. She shared a cryptic social media video of herself riding a majestic white horse while waving an American flag, concluding with the text “1.14.25” on a black screen. The post was simply captioned, “Look at that horse.”
