Beyoncé, MTV VMAs Break Records Last Night

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by Zara Golden | 7:11 pm, August 29th, 2011

» 16 comments

Beyoncé‘s big announcement last night — that she is, after years of wishful speculation by fans and media, in fact pregnant — set a new Twitter record for the most tweets per second, things peaking at 8,868 tweets per second. An early tweet suggesting that, “Also, B TOLD THE PAPS THAT SHE’S PREGNANT,” from MTV News correspondent Jim Cantiello seemed to set things off. Within minutes, the news was posted on various pop culture blogs. Finally, that photo of her, on the red carpet, beaming while clutching her belly for photographers, was posted. Confirmation. Who needs an official statement when you’ve got an nation of twitter followers eager to make the announcement for you?

There also to perform a show-stopping “Love on Top,” the night was mostly about sharing the big news. And in her own fabulously coy way, share she did. The record breaking moment came late in the show when Beyoncé punctuated her performance by rubbing her newly inhabited tummy, much to the excitement of Daddy Jay, probable godfather Kanye West, and, apparently, an internet full of people who feel they have a stake in the nascent being. The spike in tweets tops the previous record of 7,196 tweets tweeted per second, set during the final moments of the U.S. woman’s soccer team’s game against in July. Moreover, it greatly surpasses the number of tweets sent during the Royal Wedding (3,966 per second), after Japan’s March earthquake and tsunami (5,530 per second) and even the number sent upon news of Bin Laden’s death (5,106 per second).

Her announcement comes in the wake of a big year for both her and her husband Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z — both having further cemented their legend status with well received albums. Which is to say that Beyoncé has been, in recent months, near the tip of many twitterer’s tongues (if you will). The news also indulged a favorite gossip topic (baby bumps!) and settled a long-time internet debate as to whether Beyoncé and Jay-Z were overdue for a child, or on the splits. (Interestingly, the less-than-predictable MediaTakeOut had as their lead, when the news broke, a post about Jay-Z’s new girlfriend, a story that was quickly buried at the bottom of the page.) And after a week of mostly agitated weather news, the flurry of excited and triumphant tweets comes as no particular surprise.

Accordingly, last night’s MTV’s VMAs also posted record audiences. 12.4 million viewers tuned in to what the New York Times‘ Jon Caramanica supposes “was maybe the most bleeped award show in history, and certainly among the lewdest.” With viewership up nine percent from last year’s show, it was the most watched telecast in MTV’s history. Explanations for the big number range from a helpful Jersey Shore lead-in, to a younger and perhaps more relevant line-up, to the fact that much of the eastern coast was boarded up and growing tired of Hurricane Irene updates. Perhaps, even Beyoncé’s pre-show announcement gave a few otherwise unlikely viewers reason to tune in.

Watch Beyoncé’s dazzling performance-cum-baby announcement below:

Beyoncé Knowles, MTV, Twitter VMAs, Video Music Awards

Anonymous

And due to the fact that nothing else was on other than Real Housewives of New Jersey. :)
Re-Elect Obama 2012

Is there an alternative to Fox News for you and others?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FSPIVAFYI672OH5NOKVRTEZA4U MadCharles

Oh ! that show is still on ?
Anonymous

No according to what I read they won’t watch CBS,ABC,NBC,MSNBC or any other “lamestream media” They read News Corp tabloids.No New York Times or even the Washington Post. (The Post is not the liberal bastion of the past.) Most of these media outlets have people representing the left and right. ABC has George Will on This Week Every week for example. Even MSNMC has Morning Joe With Willie Geist & Pat Buchanan. I watch/listen to Morning Joe a lot. I don’t agree all the time.but the man is not full of crap like most of the pundents at Faux News.Tucker Carson had his show on MSNBC but he was just to lame even though he could inteligent at times . Hannity did have Clomes. (A Dem, but hard to look at. Probably on purpose.) Hannity dumped him. What Faux News show has a democrat at it’s helm.
Anonymous

Where did I mention Fox in anything I just said? RHONJ is on Comcast.
Anonymous

I watch those programs all the time…..with a bowl of popcorn. Purely for giggles.

I like Sky News more whenever it’s featured. We need a more critical press and it’s not my fault that the networks that you mentioned refuse to do it.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIQS6YEA47QFXGOR4JWUBU2QRM Shark City

whats the big deal? I like some of her music and i think she’s one of the best out there but my interest stop there. Allot of women gets pregnant, it’s the best thing on earth and they’re all the same. I’am pretty sure this one will be the same as to the women before and after her.
Bob

1993 – the last time MTV was watchable.
It would be nice if, between the marathons of Jersey Whore and Knocked-up Teens, they could find room to play some actual music.
What do all of last night’s auto-tuned VMA performers have in common? None of them could play an instrument to save their life.
Oliviaright

lady gaga, nice performance.
Anonymous

Ah yes, another Kanye West ( highjack the night ) moment. America needed it like we need another 4 more years of those two grifters freeloading in our White House.
TruDat

Who cares?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jj-Wisniewski/100002654075475 Jj Wisniewski

It’s becoming more and more evident that children being born out of weddlock is cooler than a marriage bonded family as evidenced by the MTV generation and hollywood in general. The clip of her song performed by her during this show indicates that great music is dead and the best they have to offer is GAGA, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber. What the hell happened to real music. I’m just glad there are still FM stations which don’t subscribe to this crap and continue to play the best of the 60s thru 90s music.
But I hate Fox News

Boy this Fox News haters are to funny, its pretty clear its rules their lives. No matter what the subject its all about whining about Fox News. What sad group.
Anonymous

Gretta is a dem.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QLB3RWWCFFM5RVG5SLE2KRBU3E Richard Collins

Yay!! Byonce needs to name their kid after OBAMA!!!!
Joe

Lol, Beyoncé’s been married to Jay-Z for about 3 years, and she dated him for 5-7 years before that. It’s a pretty solid relationship, without any scandal, that sets a very good example. I don’t know why you felt like saying that in this case, because it really doesn’t apply to Beyoncé/Jay-Z.