Pop singer Beyonce Knowles performs scantily-clad dance on tomb of President Ulysses S Grant

BBC News/Entertainment On Line ^ | Monday, 14 July | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Monday, 14 July, 2003, 08:46 GMT 09:46 UK

Beyonce's 'grave dance' causes grief

Beyonce took part in the annual Macy's Fourth of July celebrations

Pop singer Beyonce Knowles should not have been allowed to perform a scantily-clad dance on the tomb of former United States President Ulysses S Grant, a historical group has said. The star danced in a "patently inappropriate" way on the steps to the tomb during a nationally-televised 4 July concert, according to Frank Scaturro, president of the Grant Monument Association.

The Destiny's Child chart-topper used "lascivious choreography" and her backing dancers were barely dressed, Mr Scaturro said in a letter to NBC, which filmed the performance.

Her latest single, Crazy In Love, is currently number one in the UK and US.

A certain decorum should have been observed from which popular entertainers are not exempt

Frank Scaturro Grant Monument Association And her album held onto the top spot in the UK on Sunday but was knocked off the summit in the US by Ashanti last week.

In his letter, Mr Scaturro wrote: "At that location, a certain decorum should have been observed from which popular entertainers are not exempt."

The letter also went to the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, and National Park Service director Fran Mainella.

Watch Beyonce perform Crazy In Love on Top of the Pops Ulysses S Grant was a Civil War hero who became the 18th president, between 1869-77.

His tomb, erected as a national monument in 1897, is in New York. The concert was part of the annual Macy's Fourth of July celebrations.

Also performing were American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson plus Sheryl Crow and John Mellencamp.

'More thoughtful'

Ulysses Grant Dietz, the great-great-grandson of Ulysses S Grant, said he did not object to most live performances, as long as the tomb was looked after.

But organisers could have been more thoughtful, he added.

"If they're doing a Fourth of July celebration and they're doing it at a grave of a president, maybe they should look a little more closely at what the performances are."

NBC and Beyonce were not available for comment and a National Park Service spokesman did not want to comment because he had not seen the letter.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

I want to make it known that this type of behavior is not only permitted upon my tomb/grave/beer-pickled corpse, but also encouraged.

[ewing]

lol!!

[stainlessbanner]

Grant got a better reception in the South after the war than in New York today. Sad.

[Pharmboy]

She appears a bit...assymetrical, but I have overlooked minor physical issues like that in the past.

[Alouette]

I doubt if Grant would have minded ...

But the ghost of Joe Hooker was pissed she didn't perform on HS tomb...

[sharkhawk]

Heck, why wait till you're dead. Beyonce can come dance over my body any time.

[ewing]

[Pharmboy]

Was that shot taken from the July 4 Dance with the Ghosts of Drunken Union Generals? No matter where it came from, all I can say is a two-syllable "Dayum."

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Babies' got silicone. Used up the national stockpile.

[Florida_Freeper]

"His tomb, erected..."

You're right, he didn't mind at all!

[cake_crumb]

What happened to respect for the dead? Also, Grant was a UNION general, and she's black. Amazingy crass and ignorant behavior. IF she's American, I'm ashamed of her.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

yeah, the kind that comes in a can

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

And what is with the hair? In fact, what happened to Afro hair? Has it gone extinct? No one has it anymore... Where do they get that fake, straight hair, and why have they all betrayed their race by rejecting the hair they were born with?

[TheBattman]

Actually, I think he would have.....

[ewing]

Is Robert E. Lees tomb scheduled for next year?

[csvset]

Beyonce in Austin Powers Goldmember

[proudofthesouth]

Baby has no taste and no class. She is obviously the black version of Pamela Anderson.

[Ganymede]

Blacks weren't born with AFROS. That was just a "style" of a long-ago age. Styles change. Thank god!

[Pharmboy]

LOL!! All she needs to do is date Kid Rock!

[Quester]

I feel that this was the fault of whoever contracted Beyonce to perform for this.

Certain performers perform a certain way.

If a dignified performance is appropriate, ... contract someone who is known for giving dignified performances.

In some contexts, I can appreciate Beyonce. However, this context was not appropriate for her.