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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
Posted on 07/14/2003 7:32:25 AM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: yankeedame
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.
21
posted on
07/14/2003 8:02:40 AM PDT
by
Hegewisch Dupa
(Hot chicks only, however)
To: Pharmboy
lol!!
22
posted on
07/14/2003 8:02:42 AM PDT
by
ewing
To: yankeedame; billbears; 4ConservativeJustices; aomagrat; GOPcapitalist
Grant got a better reception in the South after the war than in New York today. Sad.
To: ewing
She appears a bit...assymetrical, but I have overlooked minor physical issues like that in the past.
24
posted on
07/14/2003 8:04:16 AM PDT
by
Pharmboy
(Dems lie 'cause they have to...)
To: mgc1122
I doubt if Grant would have minded ... But the ghost of Joe Hooker was pissed she didn't perform on HS tomb...
25
posted on
07/14/2003 8:05:30 AM PDT
by
Alouette
To: Carbonsteel
Heck, why wait till you're dead. Beyonce can come dance over my body any time.
To: Pharmboy
27
posted on
07/14/2003 8:06:00 AM PDT
by
ewing
To: ewing
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."
28
posted on
07/14/2003 8:12:33 AM PDT
by
Pharmboy
(Dems lie 'cause they have to...)
To: Pharmboy
Babies' got silicone. Used up the national stockpile.
To: mgc1122
"His tomb, erected..."
You're right, he didn't mind at all!
To: yankeedame
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.
31
posted on
07/14/2003 8:19:26 AM PDT
by
cake_crumb
(UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
To: Pharmboy
yeah, the kind that comes in a can
To: Chancellor Palpatine
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?
To: mgc1122
Actually, I think he would have.....
To: Pharmboy
Is Robert E. Lees tomb scheduled for next year?
35
posted on
07/14/2003 8:25:15 AM PDT
by
ewing
To: Eowyn-of-Rohan
Beyonce in Austin Powers Goldmember
36
posted on
07/14/2003 8:26:38 AM PDT
by
csvset
To: Pharmboy
Baby has no taste and no class. She is obviously the black version of Pamela Anderson.
To: Eowyn-of-Rohan
Blacks weren't born with AFROS. That was just a "style" of a long-ago age. Styles change. Thank god!
38
posted on
07/14/2003 8:31:31 AM PDT
by
Ganymede
To: proudofthesouth
LOL!! All she needs to do is date Kid Rock!
39
posted on
07/14/2003 8:41:28 AM PDT
by
Pharmboy
(Dems lie 'cause they have to...)
To: yankeedame
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.
40
posted on
07/14/2003 8:45:00 AM PDT
by
Quester
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