Beyoncé sang a beautiful medley of “XO” and “Halo” at Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant‘s memorial service on Monday and she prohibited photographers from taking photos of her while doing so.
An insider complained about it to Page Six saying:
It is so offensive to Kobe’s family and the fans, Beyonce is so controlling of her image — she usually only allows approved selected images of her to be released — so no photographers at the Kobe memorial were allowed to take her picture. Really, at a memorial? Not even the family of Michael Jackson did that.
A Staples Center staffer was dispatched to make sure not a single camera was focused on the stage. The photographers couldn’t believe it. This doesn’t help Beyonce’s image at all, it hurts her. It makes her look like a diva. The memorial wasn’t about her. The only shots of Bey that did emerge were screen grabs from TV. None of the other artists at the memorial asked for this, not Christina Aguilera, not Alicia Keys.
I commend Beyoncé for this (if it’s true). It was not about her, it was a memorial service for Kobe and Gigi.
Watch Beyoncé’s beautiful performance below.
Bey did share her own photos on her official website.
Rest in paradise, Kobe and Gigi.
