Groups Blast Beyonce's Grant's Tomb Dance

[undergroundrailroad]

Groups Blast Beyonce's Grant's Tomb Dance




NEW YORK - The head of a private historical group says the government and NBC should have stopped a scantily clad Beyonce Knowles (news) from dancing in a "patently inappropriate" way on the steps of the tomb of President Ulysses S. Grant.

Frank Scaturro, president of the Grant Monument Association, wrote letters Saturday to NBC, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and National Park Service director Fran Mainella over Beyonce's nationally televised July 4 performance.


Saying the former Destiny's Child singer used "lascivious choreography" and barely dressed backup dancers, Scaturro's letter to NBC complained: "At that location, a certain decorum should have been observed from which popular entertainers are not exempt."


Representatives of NBC and Beyonce didn't return calls seeking comment Saturday. National Park Service spokesman David Barna declined to comment because officials hadn't yet read the letter.


Ulysses Grant Dietz, the great-great-grandson of the Civil War hero and 18th president, said Saturday he didn't object as a rule to most live performances, as long as the tomb is carefully maintained. But he suggested organizers be more thoughtful.


"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," Dietz said.

[acmavm]

1. Oh please, anyone familiar with her act would have known what to

expect. It's the way it is now. The only thing shocking is that they are surprised. Like she did anything different than any other music act is doing. I am not saying it's right, I am just asking what did they expect her to do, put on a tutu and dance to Swan Lake?

[ForrestGump]

2. If that's what she wore, I wouldn't call it particularly 'scanty'

In fact, it's kind of like a cut-off car mechanic's outfit.

Unzip!

Yes, let's celebrate America's independence by keeping things staid and containing any incipient, subversive bounciness. That's what made America great.

[tjdee]

3. She covered up for Grant!

Anyone who knows Beyonce knows that the above outfit is WAY more than she usually has on. And frankly, I bet she doesn't even know he's buried there.

But I do agree--it is the man's tomb. It's not the biggest deal in the world, but maybe the organizers should have kept that in mind.

[blondeatlast]

4. Well, there is this disturbing "dancing on a grave" aspect.

It could have been anyone, it still would make me uncomfortable.

It's a tomb, fer cripssakes!