The 'Thank you, Beyoncé' trend, explained: Here's why people are giving shoutouts to the global superstar
Beyoncé has been the subject of memes on TikTok for the past weeks, with social media users thanking her for the most random things.
If you've been scrolling through your TikTok feed recently, chances are you might have encountered a couple of users showing their appreciation for Queen Bey after just about any occasion—from sneezing to completing a research assignment—to "avoid" bad luck.
@danlaudit Have a great night y'all 😘❤️
♬ original sound - daniel :)
Of course, all of these are just works of satire, but how did the trend start?
How the 'Thank you, Beyoncé' meme started
The meme started after social media users began noticing a pattern in which other famous music artists express their gratitude towards Beyoncé in their speeches and frequently mention her during award shows.
For instance, when Adele won Album of the Year at the Grammys in 2017, she sang praises in her speech about how Beyoncé was the "artist of my life" and served as a major inspiration for her in writing the album. Later on, Adele accidentally broke her trophy, which led people to circulate a since-debunked rumor that she purposely broke her Grammy to share it with Beyoncé.
The most famous, or rather infamous, example of them all was when Kanye West notoriously interrupted Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech in 2009 in order to announce to the audience how Beyoncé "had one of the best videos of all time."
Britney Spears, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, and Harry Styles are just some of the other prominent music artists who have thanked the Single Ladies singer at some point in their career.
Because of this, social media users have speculated that music artists are "afraid" of Beyoncé, leading them to get in on the trend and start the "Thank You, Beyoncé" meme.
But the question now stands: "Why is Beyoncé supposedly feared by the artists?"
Enter the Sean "Diddy" Combs issue
Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has been making headlines in the US in recent months for his alleged crimes on sexual assault and sex trafficking.
Combs was arrested by federal agents in New York on Sept. 17 (Philippine time) and accused in a three-count criminal indictment alleging he sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.
The 54-year-old musician was further claimed to have "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct" for decades.
But what does it have to do with the "Thank You, Beyoncé" meme?
The conspiracy theory surrounding Beyoncé intensified after Combs' arrest. Since he was a close friend of Beyoncé's husband, Jay-Z, people began to speculate that any artist who does not align with them would face terrible consequences, citing the deaths of Tupac, Aaliyah, and Michael Jackson.
However, Combs' alleged sex crimes only revived the bizarre theories about Beyoncé and Jay-Z that already existed since long ago.
An article by Forbes explained that Beyoncé has often used religious and historical iconography in her music videos. This has led people to believe a wild theory that she is leader of a secret, cult-like group that will take out anyone that she sees as a threat to her career.
Beyoncé has yet to speak out regarding these conspiracy theories, but many of her fans have urged others to put the meme to a stop as it's possibly being used as a smear campaign against her.