EXCLUSIVEBeyoncé used NFL performance to distract herself from Jay-Z's rape lawsuit
- Jay-Z was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean 'Diddy' Combs
- Beyoncé's NFL show was her first performance since the lawsuit was filed
- A source told DailyMail.com that she used it to distract herself from the 'mess'
Beyoncé used her show-stopping NFL performance on Wednesday as a welcome distraction from the 'mess' her husband Jay-Z's rape lawsuit has caused for her family, a source has revealed.
The insider told DailyMail.com that the 43-year-old was able to use the high-profile performance to take her mind off of her personal life - and to remind people that she's still the best performer in music today.
'One major and wonderful turnout from her performance was that it gave her some time to not worry about anything that Jay is going through with his lawsuit,' the source explained.
'She was so consumed with her performance, so concerned with Blue Ivy and so consumed with all the details of the performance that it took away any thoughts of the mess that they will be dealing with as a family over the next few months,' they continued.
The source added that the Cowboy Carter hitmaker was able to release 'lots of stress' on stage during the halftime show.
'She's a professional and she and her crew knew that she was going to kill it, but those nervous jitters are what makes her tick, makes her still want to do it,' they said.
'She wanted to convince the world that she is the best performer on earth and she thinks that she proved it tenfold.'
DailyMail.com has reached out to Beyoncé and Jay-Z for comment.
Beyoncé used her NFL performance on Wednesday as a welcome distraction from the 'mess' her husband Jay-Z's rape lawsuit has caused for her family, a source has revealed
Jay-Z, 55, real name Shawn Corey Carter, was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, at a VMAs afterparty in 2000. Both men have denied the allegations
The Netflix halftime show at the NRG stadium during the Houston Texas v Baltimore Ravens game marked the star's first performance since the accusations against her husband came to light.
Jay-Z, 55, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, at a VMAs afterparty in 2000. Both men have denied the allegations.
He was notably MIA from Beyoncé's halftime performance on Wednesday night, which also featured their eldest child, Blue Ivy Carter, 12.
Jay-Z likely secured the televised slot for Beyoncé, 43, as he serves as the executive producer of entertainment events for NFL, including the famed show.
Wearing all-white with a blond mane, Beyoncé tore up the stage, executing a 15-minute selection of songs from her latest album, Cowboy Carter.
It comes after Jay-Z became the first celebrity to be named alongside Diddy earlier this month in one of the myriad of lawsuits filed against Combs.
The anonymous victim in the suit previously referred to the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Corey Carter, as 'Celebrity A' in the bombshell filing, which also implicated a still-unnamed female star known as 'Celebrity B'.
Her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, who is representing more than 100 alleged Diddy victims, has now also named Jay-Z as the celebrity who allegedly 'filed a frivolous case under a pseudonym' against the accuser's legal team.
'One major and wonderful turnout from her performance was that it gave her some time to not worry about anything that Jay is going through with his lawsuit,' a source told DailyMail.com
The Texas-based attorney claimed Jay-Z has 'tried to bully and harass' him and his client over the incident said to have happened at a 2000 VMA's afterparty - but this has backfired by 'emboldening' them to take the case to court.
'Regarding the Jay-Z case and his efforts to silence my clients: Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm,' Buzbee said in a statement.
'He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him.
'Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation. Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff.
'His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve. As far as the allegations in the complaint filed, we will let the filing speak for itself and will litigate the facts in court, not in the media.'
Buzbee also told The New York Times in an email that he followed proper 'legal practice' in 'sending a basic litigation demand letter' to Jay-Z and his camp.
The lawyer said he sought to get a 'confidential sit down' with the rapper to protect his client's identity.
'We won't get bogged down in a silly sideshow that tries to make the lawyers the focus of what are very serious allegations brought by a courageous woman,' Buzbee told the paper.
Beyoncé performed a 15-minute, eight-song medley during the football game, which featured an appearance from her daughter Blue Ivy
Jay-Z issued a blistering response to DailyMail.com, accusing the victim of attempting to 'blackmail' him while saying he feared that his three children with Beyoncé would have to 'endure' harassment in the wake of the allegations.
The rapper said he is especially worried about Blue Ivy. He said he is afraid she will face questions from her friends about the lawsuit.
The couple also share twins Rumi and Sir, seven.
'My only heartbreak is for my family,' Jay-Z told DailyMail.com.
'My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.'
