Celebrity News

Beyonce slammed for sampling Challenger shuttle disaster

Beyonce has drawn criticism for the “insensitive” inclusion of audio from the space shuttle Challenger disaster in her video for a newly released love song.

Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members.

The song “XO,” about a troubled relationship, features the voice of now-retired NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt, commentating as the shuttle was seen breaking apart on live television.

“Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction,” Nesbitt is heard saying. The brief audio clip runs for six seconds.

“XO” was written and produced by Ryan Tedder and Terius Nash, who goes by the stage name The Dream.

Beyonce issued a statement: “My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster. The song ‘XO’ was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you.

“The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten.”

Former and current astronauts, NASA employees and Challenger family members see it differently. June Scobee Rodgers, the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee and a founder of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, expressed her disappointment in the singer’s decision.

Keith Cowing, a former NASA employee who now runs the NASAWatch.com website, said, “This choice of historic and solemn audio is inappropriate in the extreme. The choice is little different than taking Walter Cronkite’s words to viewers announcing the death of President Kennedy or 911 calls from the World Trade Center attack and using them for shock value in a pop tune.”

Cowing would like to see the clip removed and an apology issued to the families of the Challenger crew.

Retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson told ABC News, “For the words to be used in the video is simply insensitive, at the very least.”

This article originally appeared on News.com.au.