AceShowbiz - Megyn Kelly has thrown a spotlight on an intriguing rumor that swirled around the Democratic National Convention (DNC): Was the buzz about Beyonce Knowles performing there simply a calculated attempt to boost ratings? On her show, Kelly sharply criticized the DNC, suggesting the speculation was a deliberate ruse.

"This is why I think they released the lie about Beyonce allegedly showing up at the event last night," Kelly asserted on Friday, August 23's episode of "The Megyn Kelly Show" podcast. "They wanted to boost ratings," she added. Despite persistent online chatter and reports, no official announcement ever emerged from the DNC confirming the superstar's appearance.

Throughout the week, speculation about who the rumored surprise guest could be reached a fever pitch. Names like Taylor Swift and even former President George W. Bush were tossed around. Notably, TMZ and MSNBC's Katie Phang fell into the trap, breathlessly reporting updates that turned out to be incorrect.

Kelly had a field day with media outlets such as MSNBC, especially focusing on Katie Phang, who posted and then deleted tweets claiming Beyonce was at the convention. "All I could think is the girl at the high school prom, like 'He's still coming. He'll be here. I see a headlight'... No, she's not coming," Kelly quipped.

Several contributing factors added fuel to the fire: adjusted schedules and celebrity appearances like those of Oprah Winfrey and John Legend suggested something big was forthcoming. The rumor appeared to originate from an X user named "Angry Staffer" who suggested an unmissable event was on the horizon, later confirmed by TMZ who wrongfully reported Beyonce's presence.

By Thursday evening, the excitement crescendoed, only for Beyonce's team to squash the rumors around 7 P.M. ET. "Beyonce was never scheduled to be there," her rep told The Hollywood Reporter, leaving fans and journalists deflated.