Poppy Bilderbeck
Beyoncé's Netflix’s NFL Christmas Gameday broadcast has received a divided response on social media after she pulled a banned gesture.
On December 25, halfway through the second game of the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens vs the Houston Texans, Beyoncé took to the stage at the NRG Stadium in Houston.
Entering the stadium on a white horse wearing a white cowboy hat and matching outfit, she performed renditions of '16 Carriages,' 'Blackbird,' 'Levii’s Jeans' and 'Texas Hold’Em' and invited guest stars such as Post Malone and Shaboozey up on stage.
Beyoncé's daughter Blue Ivy even joined her up on stage as a dancer.
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However, her performance has been met with mixed reviews online after the singer was spotted performing a banned gesture during 'Texas Hold'Em'.
The singer was raised up on a platform during her performance.
The words 'Bang' were unfurled behind her and Beyoncé made a gesture of a finger gun - using her thumb, index or middle finger to mimic a handgun.
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And it didn't take long for people to flood to social media to weigh in.
One Twitter user said: "Queen Bey's tone-deaf finger gun display at Netflix's Christmas game highlights celebrity privilege, while NFL players get fined for basic touchdown celebrations.
"The performance, her first since husband Jay-Z's legal troubles made headlines, seemed more focused on controversy than Christmas spirit, complete with mock shootouts at a family event.
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"Looks like the self-proclaimed Queen of Texas just proved there's one set of rules for celebrities and another for everyone else - even in her hometown stadium."
"Would just like to note that Beyoncé is doing the double gun gesture which is banned in the NFL and a 15 yard penalty," another added.
A third commented: "One set of rules for celebrities and another for everyone."
NFL executive Troy Vincent has previously spoken out about the rule - which has seen the likes of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and tight end David Njoku fined over $10,000.
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He said: "There’s no place in professional football for that. Think about where we are as a society… I don’t think that’s where we are and what we’re trying to represent. We have a responsibility as professional athletes."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell added: "Troy had a direct conversation with the union, I think, just last week about it. We're going to continue on that focus. We don't think it's appropriate in those circumstances and sends the wrong messages. So, we'll continue to do that."
UNILAD has contacted Beyoncé's representatives for comment.