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Beyonce Bashed for Sampling NASA Crash; Singer Releases Part 4 of Documentary

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According to the Hollywood Reporter, former NASA astronauts and their family members are calling Beyonce “insensitive” for using audio from the space shuttle Challenger explosion in her new song, “XO.”The Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986, and all seven crew members aboard were killed.

“Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction,” then-NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt said as the tragedy occurred. He’s heard during a six-second audio clip that’s now at the beginning of “XO,” which is about a troubled relationship.

Family members, current and former NASA astronauts told ABC News that they were disappointed that Beyonce used a sample from such a tragic event. They called her choice “insensitive.” June Scobee Rodgers, the widow of Challenger space shuttle commander Dick Scobee, told ABC:

“We were disappointed to learn that an audio clip from the day we lost our heroic Challenger crew was used in the song ‘XO.’ The moment included in this song is an emotionally difficult one for the Challenger families, colleagues and friends. We have always chosen to focus not on how our loved ones were lost, but rather on how they lived and how their legacy lives on today.”

In a statement released to ABC News, Beyonce expressed her sympathies for the families of those who died in the Challenger disaster and indicated she didn’t mean any offense by using the audio.

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

Beyonce has also released part 4 of her documentary for her self-titled album ‘Beyonce’. In this part of the documentary, Beyonce talks about being embarrassed when recording her song ‘Partition’, saying she hadn’t even played the sexually driven song for her mother. She also talks about working hard to regain her body after reaching about 190 pounds during her pregnancy.

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