Soon after Saturday night's performance, a GIF purportedly showing global entertainment superstar and hero Beyoncé kneeling mid-song to insert herself into the self-portrait of an apparently perfect 15-year-old—whose face, hair, and vibe were all on point—appeared on Tumblr and was quickly and widely disseminated.
Within days, mainstream news outlets began reporting the story as a photobomb attack of #epic proportions, ignoring the reality that it is physically impossible for Beyoncé to photobomb another person due to the fact that Beyoncé is the only true photo subject that exists, and it is the world that photobombs her.
Only one voice rang out clear and strong in defiance of the lies: Valentina, the photo's other subject. On Wednesday, Valentina, an Australian teen who, like all teens, takes selfies and the crimes against them very seriously, decided it was time people learned THE TRUTH.
In a Tumblr post titled “THE TRUTH,” Valentina explained that Beyoncé was not photobombing her at all; the two were merely collaborating on a dual-subject self photography project, as brand new best friends:
Okay so as most of the people that have recently followed me i have been the girl that got her selfie ”photobombed” by Beyonce when in fact i asked her for the photo so she posed and smiled as the perfect person she is!
just thought i’d clear the air haha
Valentina then provided a link to YouTube footage of the performance, in which she, frantic with the bug-eyed terror and euphoria Beyoncé’s presence inspires, can clearly be seen asking the singer to pose for a picture. As Valentina positions her camera, a mask of blithe serenity descends upon her face. It is truly chilling. Have a look. Fear a teen.
