In a move to do battle with the NBA and try to steal their traditionally great Christmas Day viewership numbers, the NFL decided to treat December 25 like their own primetime slate this year. In order to make sure it was a success, the league scheduled four AFC powerhouses in playoff positions to compete. What they didn’t see coming was a blowout in both games.
In reality, the only thing that saved the whole slate from being a disaster was Beyonce; yes, that Beyonce. The NFL decided to employ the global music superstar to perform during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans halftime period. Unsurprisingly, Beyonce crushed her performance and drew rave reviews. She stunned fans by soaring high on the stage, and in the process she inspired tennis star Naomi Osaka to try something daring.
Naomi Osaka jumps from Sky Tower in Auckland
Osaka is currently in New Zealand for the Auckland Open, and she’s “doing side quests” during her spare time there. One of those quests was jumping from the Sky Tower, something that Beyonce had done a few years ago.
Knowing that Beyonce did it and came out unscathed, that gave Osaka the confidence to pull it off. It surely helped to see Beyonce on the floating stage recently, making Osaka feel even more empowered.
Beyonce is influential for many younger music artists and professional athletes, with even her risky moves proving to be a source of inspiration.