Christopher Polk/Getty Photographs for NARAS
Tennis legend Serena Williams drew a star-studded set of spectators to her first-round U.S. Open match — and probably final professional match — on Sunday evening, from former president Invoice Clinton and actress Queen Latifah to tennis star Coco Gauff and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
So it would not have been a complete stretch to identify her pal Beyoncé — who narrated a brand new Gatorade business honoring Williams’ legacy — within the stands too. Actually, some watching at house thought they did.
“#Beyonce on the #USOpen,” tweeted the account @Choni, alongside a video of a Black girl in hoop earrings and a face masks reacting with the group.
Solely Queen Bey it was not. As followers identified — and the unique poster rapidly clarified — the video really confirmed Laverne Cox, the actress, Emmy Award-winning producer and LGTBQ advocate.
Cox appeared amused by the mix-up and ensuing response, even reposting the video on her Instagram account.
“Not me getting mistaken for @Beyonce on the #USOpen tonight then trending on Twitter because the web cackles over the mistaken id,” she wrote. “These tweets are humorous as hell. Take pleasure in!!!”
Cases of misidentification are sometimes not humorous. They overwhelmingly plague folks of colour within the office and within the media, together with some latest high-profile instances — one in all which concerned Williams herself.
The New York Occasions mistakenly ran a photograph of her sister Venus subsequent to a narrative about her enterprise agency elevating $111 million earlier this yr, prompting Williams to share that she was working to assist founders missed by biased programs “as a result of even I’m missed.”
This specific mistake was higher obtained. Cox did not simply appear to take it in stride however as a praise.
Notably, Cox has made no secret of her admiration for the pop star. Simply hours earlier, in reality, she had shared a video of herself preparing for the U.S. Open with a Beyoncé tune enjoying within the background. She’s additionally impersonated Beyoncé previously — albeit extra deliberately — in a memorable Lip Sync Battle efficiency.
“All people is aware of that I dwell for Beyoncé,” she instructed Leisure Tonight in 2020. “I attempt to not worship gods on earth, or goddesses, however I worship Beyoncé.”
Many followers shared in that appreciation on-line, tweeting about how flattered Cox have to be. Some even mentioned that they noticed the resemblance, too.
Choni, who first shared the video, later wrote that they had been beginning to suppose the mix-up would possibly “really be okay,” however would give it 24 hours to see. To this point, that appears to be the case.
Sports activities and tradition author David Dennis, Jr. was one of many individuals who appeared to suppose so. He referred to as Cox the second largest winner of the evening (after Williams, in fact, who defeated Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3).
“Laverne Cox … was mistaken for Beyoncé all evening,” he tweeted. “Which is a profession spotlight for actually anybody.”
“Completely!” Cox agreed.