Beyoncé Defends Sound Sample

Reacting to criticism for including an audio snippet from the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster in one of her songs, Beyoncé said she only meant to honor those whose lives were affected by the tragedy.

Photo: Frank Micelotta / Invision for Parkwood Entertainment / AP

Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

The controversy dogging Beyoncé this week stems from the first few seconds of her song, “XO,” in which the voice of retired NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt is heard to say, “Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction.”

Nesbitt is referring to the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger that took place Jan. 28, 1986, killing all onboard.

But some people have taken a dim view of Beyoncé’s use of the audio. June Scobee Rodgers, the widow of Challenger Commander Dick Scobee, told ABC News that she finds the inclusion of Nesbitt’s words “disturbing” and “emotionally difficult.”

“We were disappointed to learn that an audio clip from the day we lost our heroic Challenger crew was used in the song ‘XO,’” Rodgers said. “The moment included in this song is an emotionally difficult one for the Challenger families, colleagues and friends. We have always chosen to focus on how our loved ones were lost, but rather on how they lived and how their legacy lives on today.”

So far, Beyoncé hasn’t backed down from using the sound clip in her video. Responding to criticism the singer said the audio sampling was meant to honor the Challenger crewmembers and to remind listeners that they should love the ones closest to them because “unexpected things happen.”

“My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster,” Beyoncé said in a statement. “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.”

But Beyoncé may find herself exchanging one controversy for another. One day later the singer is catching flak for a photo she posted on Instagram that shows her posing in front of Leonardo DaVinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper. What’s more, the famous singer appears to be blocking out Jesus Christ in the painting.

Photo: beyonce/Instagram

“Blasphemy,” wrote one person about the photo. “She thinks she’s Christ … I was really feeling her new music now I’m too scared to get her album.”