While Beyoncé's new album has been praised by critics around the world as one of this year's best albums, the star also faced an onslaught of criticism for some of the content in her new music, including the choice to use audio from the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster as an intro to "XO."
The brief audio clip only lasts several seconds, with NASA Public Affairs Officer Steve Nesbitt being heard saying just moments after the explosion, "...flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction" before the song begins, but it was enough to spark outrage over a traumatic live television moment being used as an opening about a song that is seemingly about love and sex. Notably, many Beyoncé fans have argued that the song is quite dark and discusses a relationship coming to an end or running out of time.
The Wall Street Journal reports that NASA has since issued a response on the use of the audio.
"The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized," the agency said in a statement. "NASA works everyday to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe."
No representative for Beyoncé has responded for comment, nor has the singer spoken out on the subject.
"XO" was written by Beyoncé, Terius "The-Dream" Nash and OneRepublic's frontman and hit-maker Ryan Tedder and produced by Tedder, Nash and Knowles as well as Chauncey Hollis. None have discussed the matter, and the music video for "XO," directed by Terry Richardon, has no reference to the Space Shuttle disaster.
