Know the meaning of Beyonce’s finger gun gesture and why is the celebration banned in the NFL
At the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL game on Christmas Day at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, pop artist Beyonce wowed the crowd with an incredible halftime show.
The singer Beyonce sang songs from Cowboy Carter, her most recent album. However, Beyonce’s hand motion throughout her performance garnered the most attention.
Explained meaning of singer Beyonce’s finger gun gesture during NFL Christmas Day 2024 game and why is the celebration banned
Is the @NFL going to fine @Beyonce for finger guns?! #NFL #Beyonce #BeyonceBowl pic.twitter.com/bA8u13unI6
— Hal Yadouen (@tdolbs) December 25, 2024
When Beyonce performed during halftime of the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game on Christmas Day, she was the star of the show.
Riding a horse into NRG Stadium, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer performed songs from her most recent album, “Cowboy Carter.”
There are 27 tracks in “Cowboy Carter” (including a few interludes), and Beyonce picked a few for the lengthy medley. She began by singing “16 Carriages” while slowly walking along a path with red and white stripes.
She then introduced the faster, more energetic songs with “Ya Ya,” “Spaghettii,” “Riiverdance,” “Sweet Honey Buckiin,” “Levii’s Jeans,” and her cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” She followed it up with “Blackbiird.”
At one point, Shaboozey and Post Malone joined her on the field.
A huge “Bang” banner spread out behind Beyonce as she started to finish her act while perched on a platform above the field and she made a finger-gun motion with her hands at that point to imitate taking aim with a gun. Social media users ridiculed the 43-year-old musician in a series of comments to the gesture.
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The performance, her first since husband Jay-Z's legal… pic.twitter.com/wkB5KwCXQz
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 26, 2024
Why is the gun gesture celebration banned by the NFL?
A 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike behaviour is assessed for any kind of gun symbolism during an NFL game.
To foster a polite and courteous image and not promote violent gun culture in the USA, the NFL banned gestures that alluded to violence and players mimicking firing a gun or taking aim with their hands and fingers. Players, supporters, and league officials have criticized this ruling, claiming that it goes too far and restricts individual speech.
Reactions from netizens
Social media reactions were largely good, and stadium patrons cheered. But because of the league’s crackdown this season, NFL fans began making fun of the finger gun gesture.
“I want to call a flag for the gun sign Beyonce throughout to the crowd at NFL. If players can’t celebrate like this, why allow it,” a user said.
“Where is the flag on Beyonce for the finger guns?!?!” wrote another.