Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Kamala Harris

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 27, 2025

Trump Threatens To Prosecute Kamala Harris, Oprah In Latest Epstein Scandal Distraction

Trump has accused the former Vice President of paying for celebrity endorsements during her 2024 presidential campaign

Trump has unleashed his newest round of distractions, this time going after Kamala Harris and Oprah, as he seemingly tries to quiet the chatter surrounding his involvement in the Epstein files.

Trump has accused the former Vice President of paying for celebrity endorsements during her 2024 presidential campaign. He went on Truth Social to emphasize his claims that Harris paid her high-profile supporters, such as Beyoncé, Oprah, and Al Sharpton, to speak during her campaign trail.

“YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO. Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out,” wrote the President, as reported by The Hill.

He continued, “Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Trump then spouted figures of how much each celebrity allegedly earned for their speaking engagement, including a lofty $11 million to Beyoncé and $3 million to Oprah. However, all parties have adamantly denied receiving any money to voice their support for Harris and her historic campaign.

Trump’s campaign did receive $288 million in donations from Elon Musk for the 2024 election, according to The Washington Post.

According to The Daily Beast, his verbal attacks then extended to Oprah as he promoted the conspiracy theory regarding Harris. He noted how she attended Harris’ final rally before the November election, threatening potential legal action against her.

The suggested prosecution comes as Trump and his team try to distract his voter base away from the Epstein files controversy. Despite calls to reveal the files to the public, Trump has thus far refused to do so, with many under suspicion that his name remains prominent within them.

This diversion follows another one prompted by Trump’s director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Recently, as BLACK ENTERPRISE reported, Gabbard sought to prosecute former President Barack Obama and his former officials for allegedly falsifying intel on Russian election interference.

As for his attacks on Oprah, the former media friends have been on the outs since Trump launched his political career. In November 2024, Trump called the OWN founder a “major divider” for the country.

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2025

Army Veteran Grandmother Hailed As A Hero After Stopping Woman From Storming Cockpit Mid-Air

A video of Nicole Pruitt preventing a woman trying to break into the cockpit has gone viral.

Nicole Pruitt, a Georgia grandmother and former Army soldier, stepped in to stop a passenger from storming the cockpit during her July 16 Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Tucson, because no one else was doing anything to control the situation.

According to WSB-TV, Pruitt was flying to Tucson to see her newest grandchild when she noticed another passenger having a strange conversation.

“She didn’t want to be on the plane no more, she said God told her to do it, she had a calling. And I’m just like wait a minute. I don’t know about this conversation you got going on but, not today,” Pruitt recalled.

“Nobody else was doing nothing, so I just knew I had to do something,” Pruitt told CNN’s Tucson affiliate KOLD. “I’ve got to make it home to my kids, my children, my grandchildren.”

Nicole Pruitt was flying to meet her new grandson in Tucson, Arizona, when 20 minutes into her flight from Atlanta, an unruly passenger tried to storm the cockpit. https://t.co/3jppG2xltO
— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) July 24, 2025

While Pruitt was in the air, helping to stop a woman who seemed to be having a mental health issue, her son, Tyrique Perry, was on the ground, anxiously awaiting news of her flight.

“Those are kids on that plane that have a whole life to live, those are grandparents on that plane, just people full of life and potential,” Perry told the outlet.

Once he found out that his mother was the passenger who stopped a woman from entering the plane’s cockpit, Perry was not surprised.

“Not surprised. Sometimes, it’s just a natural instinct and you’ve got to get it done,” Perry noted.

Perry then posted a video of his mother detaining the woman to his TikTok account, where it nearly instantly went viral and has since accumulated over 1.2 million views.

According to Delta Air Lines, after the passenger was subdued and secured, the pilot turned the plane around and headed back to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Eventually, the plane took off again and made its way to Tucson, nearly three hours after it was scheduled to arrive.

The airline also provided a statement, thanking the passengers and crew who helped de-escalate the situation, and apologizing to their customers for the incident.

“Delta sincerely appreciates the actions of our crew and customers for de-escalating the situation. We apologize to our customers for the delay and thank them for their understanding,” the airline stated.

According to Delta spokesperson Stan Heaton, medical personnel were on the scene when the plane arrived and law enforcement was notified, but Heaton told The Arizona Republic that he was not sure if the woman who tried to charge the cockpit multiple times was detained by officers or not.

The outlet tried to contact Pruitt for comment on July 23, but as she was traveling back to Atlanta from Tucson, and was unavailable. The outlet tried to reach her again on the following day, but Pruitt did not respond to a phone call from the newspaper.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 27, 2025

How Beyoncé Boosts Economy In ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Stops Across U.S. Cities Like Las Vegas

The singer's presence in U.S. cities has come with a significant economic boost, especially relevant for the struggling Vegas.

Beyoncé is doing more than bringing country chic to cities as part of her Cowboy Carter tour. The singer is also boosting the economy within these tour stops.

The singer has finally ended her high-grossing tour with two shows in Las Vegas. However, a common denominator for each show has been how fans contribute to the local economy. From merch and events to an influx of travelers coming for the concert, Beyoncé’s impact on each city remains felt.

This continued influence continued to her last shows in Sin City. The BeyHive flocked to Nevada ahead of her performance at Allegiant Stadium. Before the show itself kicked off July 25 and 26, fans began to celebrate the occasion with line dancing and purchases of cowboy hats, hand fans, and more.

“You gotta get everything: the shoes to match, the shirt. It’s everything, you gotta go all out,” shared one concertgoer to KTNV.

Another BeyHive member is down thousands for her Cowboy Carter experience. While this mainly stemmed from two-night floor seats, others are well into the thousands for their entire stay.

“For me, I’m over $5,000. I’m 2-night, floor seats both nights,” said a Beyoncé fan Thursday.

Many of the Vegas attendees’ “Beyoncé budget” will include spending in the city, helping a relatively slow tourism period. Restaurateurs and hotel owners hope for a major uptick in customers due to the influx of people. The news outlet has already reported a decline in hotel stays for the area, with Smith Travel Research confirming hotel occupancy in Las Vegas fell 14.9% in June. A major contributor to this reduction stems from a smaller number of international visitors, which also dropped over 13% last month.

To withstand the changes, many service industry businesses have reduced hours for part-time workers or conducted hiring freezes. However, many of these establishments hope for a boost of cash as Beyoncé’s tour has already brought in millions to local economies of other cities.

Beyoncé broke venue records in Atlanta when the singer held a four-night consecutive show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The singer’s presence encouraged attendees to take part in the surrounding activities. Furthermore, they make sure they are picture-perfect for the event, which often means being patrons of local service providers. The end result is a significant boost in profits for local businesses.

“Few events have the kind of impact that Beyoncé’s performances brought to Atlanta last week,” explained Vice President for Communications for Metro Atlanta Chamber, Abby Turano, to USA Today. “Whether you’re looking through a creative and cultural lens or an economic one, hosting tens of thousands of fans — many wearing new cowboy hats and boots — and filling Mercedes-Benz Stadium four nights in a row is extraordinary.”

The official merchandise truck for Beyoncé’s Vegas shows already confirmed over $1 million in sales each day. As for other major cities with only two-night shows, Houston officials also confirmed a $50 million economic boost when Beyoncé came to town.

South African President, daughter, Zuma,Recruiting Men, Russia

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2025

Trump Refugee Policy Was Meant For White South Africans Only, Internal Email Reveals

Top U.S. diplomat in South Africa asked Trump officials if repatriation program included non-white applicants.

Earlier in July, the top U.S. Embassy official in South Africa reached out to Trump administration officials to find out whether the controversial repatriation program, which so far has been used only by white South Africans, was also open to non-white applicants who met the eligibility criteria. However, despite the official position from the U.S. State Department that it is, a Trump administration official responded to their request by informing the official that the program was intended for whites only.

According to Reuters, the February executive order from Donald Trump that established the program only set forth that it was intended for “Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination,” a term generally used to describe South Africans who are descended from Dutch settlers.

However, when the U.S. Embassy’s Charge d’affaires, David Greene, asked if the program is open to people of mixed race, who are referred to as “colored” in South Africa, Spencer Chretien, the highest ranking official at the State Department’s refugee and migration bureau, replied in an email that the program is not open to anyone but white South Africans.

When Reuters reached out to the State Department for confirmation on July 18, the department did not specifically address Chretien’s comments but it did indicate that the scope of the policy is wider than he indicated to the U.S. Embassy official, parroting a claim on the state department’s website that applicants for the program “must be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa.”

According to the report, this is the first known account of tensions between the U.S. Embassy and the State Department, highlighting the confusion that can arise when enforcing a racially restrictive policy in a racially diverse country like South Africa, where both mixed-race Afrikaans speakers and white English-speaking South Africans reside.

Despite a campaign promise from Trump to crack down on immigration and a freeze on refugee applications from around the world, Trump also said after retaking the White House that the United States would only accept immigrants who “can fully and appropriately assimilate,” a statement that seems to hint at a discriminatory refugee policy.

In February, Trump issued an executive order that echoed far-right claims that white South Africans have been discriminated against by the Black majority in South Africa. Although these claims have been rejected by the South African government, Trump’s executive order stated that Afrikaners are victims of “violence against racially disfavored landowners.”

Officially, the White House, per a statement from a Trump administration official, is sticking with the official line that the policy is not racially restrictive, even though most of the people who have been resettled are white.

“We will prioritize refugee admissions for South African citizens, including Afrikaners and other racial minorities in South Africa, who have been targeted by the discriminatory laws of the South African government,” the White House official told Reuters.

Despite this assertion, as Pauline Bax, the African program deputy director for the International Crisis Group, told News Nation in April, white South Africans are not refugees, despite language in Trump’s order placing them in that category.

“Maybe they will have more economic opportunities than they think they have here in South Africa, but the idea that they will be refugees is completely false. There is no persecution. The fact of the matter is that South Africa had an apartheid system where whites dominated politics, they dominated the economy, and even low-skilled white people, mostly Afrikaans, who didn’t have many prospects, could easily get a state job…It’s just not true,” Bax said.

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2025

Trump Pushes Forced Hospitalization For Homeless, Impacting Black People Most

Homelessness advocates say that the order does not, in fact, assist the homeless in America's cities.

On July 24, Donald Trump issued yet another executive order; this one attempts to make it easier to forcibly hospitalize homeless people who are mentally ill or who are dealing with addiction, which the Trump administration believes will address what they have cast as an epidemic of homelessness in America’s cities.

According to a White House fact sheet regarding the executive order, which was titled “Ending Vagrancy And Restoring Order,” any existing consent decrees that limit the ability of state and federal governments to commit individuals who present a risk to either themselves or others, will be ended and any judicial precedents that limit that ability will also be reversed.

Although the executive order purports to be part of a solution and says it will steer resources to programs that address substance abuse, advocates for homeless individuals say that the order does not, in fact assist the homeless in America’s cities.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to live,” Donald Whitehead, Jr., National Coalition for the Homeless’s Executive Director said in a press release. “These executive orders ignore decades of evidence-based housing and support services in practice. They represent a punitive approach that has consistently failed to resolve homelessness and instead exacerbates the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals.”

According to the most recent data provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Black people and people of color comprise an outsized proportion of the homeless population relative to their percentage of the general population. Per their figures, despite only composing 12% of the population, Black people made up nearly 32% of the homeless population in 2024.

Ann Oliva, the CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, was also critical of the Trump administration’s approach to homelessness, saying in her own statement that it represents a dramatic step backwards.

“This order represents the most harmful policy proposal on homelessness in my career,” Oliva said. “At a time when unaddressed housing costs are driving record numbers of people into homelessness, this order demonstrates a lack of focus and understanding on what our communities — both red and blue — need to address this crisis. Instead, it largely focuses on punishing people for being homeless and denying desperately needed funds to overwhelmed and under-resourced frontline workers.”

The ACLU also joined the calls criticizing the Trump administration, in their press release, Scout Katovich, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality, noted that this approach from Trump compounds his decision to cut Medicaid, the number one payer of addiction and mental health services in America.

“Pushing people into locked institutions and forcing treatment won’t solve homelessness or support people with disabilities. The exact opposite is true – institutions are dangerous and deadly, and forced treatment doesn’t work. We need safe, decent, and affordable housing as well as equal access to medical care and voluntary, community-based mental health and evidence-based substance use treatment from trusted providers,” Katovich said.

He continued, “But instead of investing in these proven solutions, President Trump is blaming individuals for systemic failures and doubling down on policies that punish people with nowhere else to go – all after signing a law that decimates Medicaid, the number one payer for addiction and mental health services. Homelessness is a policy failure. Weaponizing federal funding to fuel cruel and ineffective approaches to homelessness won’t solve this crisis.”

by Mary Spiller

July 27, 2025

Barry Bonds’ Record-Breaking Home Plate Hits Auction Block

The home plate where Barry Bonds made baseball history by hitting his record-breaking 756th home run is now up for auction, giving collectors a rare chance to own a key piece of the sport’s milestones.

A piece of baseball history is back on the market as the home plate that Barry Bonds stood over when he broke Major League Baseball’s all-time home run record in 2007 is up for auction again — just over a year after it last sold for $37,515 at Goldin Auctions.

“This is the actual home plate from the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals MLB game on August 7th, 2007, at AT&T Park where I hit my 756th career home run in the contest, passing Hank Aaron for sole possession of first place on the all-time MLB home run leaderboard,” Bonds stated in a letter of authenticity (LOA) that accompanies the item.

“After the game this home plate was removed from the park and given to me.”

Now being offered by SCP Auctions, the home plate is part of a rare package that includes a game-used ball from that historic night and letters of authenticity signed by Bonds himself.

As reported by TMZ, the 50-pound plate — now filled with cement — originally came from Bonds’ own collection. The former slugger has long been known for holding on to key memorabilia from his record-setting career.

12 years ago today, Barry Bonds hit is 756th home run, passing Hank Aaron for the most all time. pic.twitter.com/w688OcblQE
— ESPN (@espn) August 7, 2019

In addition to setting the MLB record with 762 career home runs, Bonds amassed an unparalleled list of accolades: 14 All-Star appearances, multiple MVP titles, eight Gold Glove Awards, and league records including a .609 on-base percentage in a single season, 2,558 career walks, and 73 home runs in a season.

While the home plate doesn’t carry the same astronomical price tag as the one sold from the original Yankee Stadium — which SCP moved for over $300,000 — its connection to a defining moment in sports history makes it a coveted item among collectors.

Bidding is currently open, offering fans and collectors a rare chance to own a piece of the game that forever changed baseball’s record books.

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2025

A’ja Wilson Named First Ever Jr. WNBA Global Ambassador

She noted that her ultimate goal with her participation in the program is to create the next A'ja Wilson

On the heels of her seventh appearance as a WNBA All-Star, Las Vegas Aces superstar forward A’ja Wilson has been named the first-ever Global Ambassador for the Jr. WNBA, a moment that reinforces the commitment of the league’s stated mandate to grow the women’s basketball game.

According to a press release from the WNBA, the Jr. WNBA is a joint effort between the NBA and the WNBA, focused on keeping girls between the ages of five and 17 interested in basketball since its inception in 2018.

As part of its efforts, participants in the Jr. WNBA gain access to the Jr. WNBA Vision Box, which lets its recipients construct their own vision boards, reflecting their hopes, dreams, passions, and goals for the future.

https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1948481514200612989?s=19

In a recent interview with WNBA.com, Wilson opened up about how much it means to her to be entrusted with the mission to engage with youth basketball players, many of whom likely look to her as a source of inspiration.

“Connecting with youth in the future of this game, it’s so near and dear to my heart. I was once in their position, literally not even knowing if I wanted to play basketball, not even knowing if I wanted to stay in sports. And because I did, it allowed me to be the person that I am today,” Wilson said.

She continued, “If you can see her, you can be her. If I can just be seen in these spaces and make it look like, ‘Yes, they can do this. You guys are no different from me,’ that’s what I hope my role could be. I’m blessed to have a platform that can reach the masses. So I’ll continue to speak up for them, being the voice for the voiceless and giving them something they can see, dream of, and want to pursue.”

Wilson will also serve as the Strategic Advisor to the Jr. NBA/WNBA Court of Leaders, a development program for top high school basketball players who will be chosen to receive mentorship and support from NBA and WNBA players.

She also noted that her ultimate goal for participating in the program is to create the next A’ja Wilson.

“I would love to see someone take my space. A young girl who was once sitting down on that basketball is now coming back when she’s a WNBA All-Star, and she’s now ‘the new A’ja.’ That is what I see for the longevity of this program.”

According to Candice Haynes, Director of Youth Basketball Development, the program’s strength lies in its inclusivity.

“We really look at the Jr. WNBA as an opportunity to educate girls on different things they can do, not just as basketball players, but as young women,” Haynes told WNBA.com. “Whether that’s setting goals, thinking through different career opportunities, or just falling in love with the game and being a fan.”

She continued, noting that Wilson’s impact on the next generation of basketball players is already palpable. “She’s where these young people want to be. She’s an MVP, she’s a champion. But she’s also been successful off the court. That example is so important.”

https://twitter.com/ariivory/status/1948486310609531109?s=19

Her statement encapsulates a maxim that WNBA media personality Ari Chambers often shares when posting clips of young fans engaging with WNBA players like Wilson, “The WNBA is so important,” and Chambers, who frequently hosts Jr. WNBA events, noted in her comments to WNBA.com that this program is an avenue to getting and keeping more girls into basketball.

“The whole point is to keep girls in sport past the age of 14,” Chambers said. “Most of them said what they love most about basketball is the friendships they make. These are core memories they experience with their friends. Not only do we build better basketball players, but we build better character along the way.”

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2025

Study: Black People In England Are Four Times More Likely To Be Homeless

A three-year-long study in England found that a person's ethnicity is the determining factor in whether or not a person will become homelessness.

A new study of homelessness in England, the first in over 20 years, has revealed that Black people in Great Britain, like their American counterparts, are also disproportionately affected by homelessness. Black Brits are four times as likely as whites to face homelessness and also face more disadvantages in their efforts to obtain housing.

According to The Guardian, a three-year study conducted by academics at Heriot-Watt University found that a person’s ethnicity is a determining factor in whether they will become homeless, ahead of factors such as geography, poverty, or homeownership rates.

The report’s lead author, Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, told the outlet that racism, both in the past and in the present day, shapes how British people navigate the country’s society.

“There are long-term forms of structural disadvantage, rooted in historic racism, which are impacting on risks of homelessness. But the data indicates present-day discrimination is also playing a role. We heard reports of really overt racism from private landlords – refusing to house people because they’re Black, particularly if they’re refugees, or imposing rules or restrictions on them that they don’t impose on other tenants,” Fitzpatrick told The Guardian.

Likewise, Mairi MacRae, the director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, a British charity, indicated in her comments that inequality “remains hardwired into our housing system.”

She continued, “The evidence is clear -– devastatingly, Black people are more likely to become homeless and less likely to have a safe and secure home. Racial stereotyping, culturally insensitive communication, and unjust treatment from housing officers, as well as excessive questioning around eligibility in the application process, leave Black people feeling unheard, neglected, and dehumanized.”

According to the study, which analyzed 750,000 household outcome records from official homelessness data collected between 2019 and 2022, the researchers discovered that only 10% of Black families in the statutory homelessness system were able to get social housing, compared to 24% of white families.

In addition, the study pointed out that families with Black heads of households were also more likely to become stuck in temporary accommodation (TA) for longer periods than families headed by whites.

Nearly half (43%) of Black families were in the TA period for over two years, compared to 25% of white families. Furthermore, 18% of Black families had been in TA for over five years, but only eight percent of white families experienced the same.

These numbers provided some context for the experience of Black Brits, such as Uchenna Eneke, one of 16 people who peer-reviewed the study. After her experiences trying to find stable housing, Eneke now volunteers at Shelter and advocates for people struggling to find housing.

As she told the outlet, “It makes you question everything – is it because I’m Black? Is it because I’m a woman? Is it because I’m a single mum? I was seeing people getting rehoused around me, and I came before them,” Eneke said. “Especially with a name like mine. Sometimes I had to change my name to an English name – I used to call myself Gillian – just to get through to speak to someone.”

She continued, “I tried asking for help, but nothing happened. You just keep to yourself, keep your head down, don’t get your kids taken off you. I ended up having a bit of a nervous breakdown. We need the laws to change because people are going crazy. People are losing their lives, losing their families, losing their jobs. Imagine someone being homeless but still having a job at the same time. That’s not normal.”

Jaguars, Josh Hines-Allen, Leukemia, Cancer Support Initiative

by Mary Spiller

July 27, 2025

Jaguars’ Josh Hines-Allen Announces Son’s Recovery From Leukemia, Launches Cancer Support Initiative

Hines-Allen shared a personal victory off the field this week: His 7-year-old son, Wesley, is on the road to a full recovery after a grueling seven-month battle with leukemia.

Jacksonville Jaguars star Josh Hines-Allen and his wife, Kaitlyn, have revealed that their 7-year-old son, Wesley, is nearing a full recovery from leukemia after a seven-month fight against the life-threatening illness.

The couple made the announcement in a heartfelt social media post on July 26, alongside news that Hines-Allen’s foundation, Four One For All, will launch a season-long initiative called Four One For Hope. The campaign will support four cancer-related nonprofit organizations throughout the 2025 NFL season.

“We recently received the good news that Wesley is on his way to a full recovery,” Hines-Allen said in a statement, per ESPN.

“We are grateful to the dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and caretakers who contributed to our son’s well-being and counseled us through this time. Our goal is to ensure that families going through something similar feel the same level of love and support as we did.”

In an emotional video, Kaitlyn recounted the moment they realized something was seriously wrong. “We spent the weekend at Disney. We came back on a Monday, and that night, he was bleeding a little bit from his tooth. I was just hugging him because he was crying, and he started bleeding even more in the gums. Then he started to catch a fever. It just didn’t get better and the bleeding was consistent every day,” she said.

The dreaded six-letter word that no parent ever wants to hear: Cancer.

Seven months ago, our world stopped when our son, Wesley, was diagnosed with leukemia.

As parents, we've held each other through tears we didn't know we had, watching our little boy fight the biggest battle… pic.twitter.com/KN33gTTaRT
— Joshua Hines-Allen (@JoshHinesAllen) July 25, 2025

After Wesley was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer, Hines-Allen put everything else aside. He pulled out of traveling to Indianapolis to play in the Jaguars’ 2024 season finale early this year after Wesley was diagnosed with leukemia.

“Nothing else mattered after that,” he said.

Dr. Bechtel, who helped guide the family through treatment, told them from the start that the journey would be long.

“We’re very grateful and just blessed to be in Jacksonville to have this unwavering support that we’ve received,” Hines-Allen said. “I know there’s families out there that’s dealing with this as well.”

“Wesley is doing great,” Kaitlyn added. “He’s swimming every day. He’s running around. He’s playing sports.” Hines-Allen added, “He’s got back to being the big brother he is.”

Wesley is expected to complete his final chemotherapy session at Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville this August.

To honor their son’s battle, the Four One For Hope campaign will spotlight a different pediatric cancer charity each month during the NFL season. The selected organizations include Nemours Children’s Health, American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville, and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

by Mary Spiller

July 26, 2025

Beyoncé Grants Viral Grandmother’s Wish With Cowboy Carter Tour Tickets

An 84-year-old grandmother from St. Louis who went viral for pleading with Beyoncé to lower concert ticket prices just got her wish — free floor seats to the superstar’s 'Cowboy Carter' tour, gifted by Queen Bey herself.

An 84-year-old grandmother from St. Louis became an internet sensation after a heartfelt plea to Beyoncé — and the global superstar responded in kind. Ms. Ida Mae Macklin, who is currently battling dementia, took to Instagram earlier this year in a now-viral video asking Beyoncé for tickets to her “Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit Tour.”

The video quickly gained millions of views across TikTok and Instagram, resonating with fans who could relate to Macklin’s frustrations over rising concert ticket prices.

“Look, Beyoncé, we have supported you so much… we have followed you, and I’m 80-something years old,” Macklin said in the video. “I can’t afford to see you no more. I hate this. We need some tickets, we in hard times. I used to have a lot of money.”

The video was filmed by Macklin’s granddaughter, Gabrielle, who started sharing clips of her grandmother as a way to preserve memories amid her dementia diagnosis.

The account was initially started to document Gabrielle’s time with Macklin, but it has grown significantly. The account now boasts 1.6 million views on TikTok alone, and a combined total of 7.2 million views across all platforms.

Macklin’s message reached Beyoncé, who gifted her floor seats to one of the Washington, D.C., shows over the Fourth of July weekend. During the concert, the singer even gave Macklin a special shoutout from the stage.

While performing Macklin’s favorite song, “Boots On The Ground x HEATED,” Beyoncé called out over the crowd, “I love you, grandma, wherever you are.”

Macklin and Gabrielle shared a series of clips from the concert on their TikTok, documenting Macklin dancing in her seat, singing the night away in a green and white accented cowboy fit, and reminiscing about the concert the day after it was over.

https://www.tiktok.com/@grandmaida82/video/7524861944189160759?_r=1&_t=ZT-8yM73eWBaiN

While the surprise thrilled both Macklin and fans online, Gabrielle has always emphasized that the videos are more than viral moments. The experiences are fun, but the lifelong bond with her grandmother is more meaningful.