BBC News was forced to apologize to their viewers after confusing Beyonce for Viola Davis as they gave their recap on the 2023 Grammy Awards last night. The broadcaster left its British audience startled after using Davis’ photo from her appearance at the Golden Globes while discussing Bey achieving record-breaking status after becoming the most-awarded artist in Grammys history with 32 wins in total.
What’s even more embarrassing is that the headline read, “Beyonce’s big night,’ alongside a photo of the “How To Get Away With Murder Actress.” You really have to question how anybody could confuse the two talented stars, but accidents do happen, which is why the BBC News Press Team most likely came forward to issue an apology via Twitter.
We apologise for the mistake last night when our news channels briefly showed a photograph of Viola Davis from January’s Golden Globes alongside a headline about Beyoncé at yesterday’s Grammys. This fell below the BBC’s usual standards.
— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) February 6, 2023
The text & the positioning of the logo means this was a video probably running as a reel introducing the Grammys. This is a pathetically opportunistic picture to frame it the way this guy has. Embarrassing. There’s no way the BBC will confuse Viola Davis and Beyoncé, come on. https://t.co/8TFnDRghLy
— tomfoolery (@kxdz_m) February 6, 2023
“We apologize for the mistake last night when our news channels briefly showed a photograph of Viola Davis from January’s Golden Globes alongside a headline about Beyoncé at yesterday’s Grammys. This fell below the BBC’s usual standards,” they wrote.
People on Twitter were torn on whether someone could actually mistake Davis for Beyonce while others praised the statement for owning up to what must have been a stressful day for whoever was handling the broadcaster’s photos that night.
While Bey’s latest album “Renaissance” did not go on to win Album Of The Year (as many of us had hoped), the Texas native didn’t leave the ceremony empty-handed.
It was during her acceptance speech for Best Dance/Electronic Album that Beyonce noticeably turned teary-eyed as she shouted out to her friends, fans, family, and most of all, the queer community for inspiring her newfound sound for this era.
“Thank you so much,” she told the audience. “I’m trying not to be too emotional. I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God.”
……Beyoncé morphing into Viola Davis is the only news. Did BBC do this & has is it been corrected? #GRAMMYs https://t.co/hI0Q2TgQuN
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) February 6, 2023
BBC knew what they were doing using Viola’s face instead of Beyoncé’s face, no one can convince me otherwise! 🙄😒
— Joey 🏴⚫️🇯🇲🇰🇳 (@Cjoeytami) February 6, 2023
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“I’d like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who’s not here. But he’s here in spirit. I’d like to thank my parents — my father, my mother, for loving me, and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching.”
She ended her speech, saying, “I’d like to thank the queer community for your love, and for inventing this genre,” Beyoncé said. “God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys. Thank you.”