Netizens divided as friends party through grief at Beyoncé concert after heartbreaking loss

IOL News

17 hours ago

Two friends attend a Beyoncé concert after tragically losing their third friend and the internet is judging them.
Image: Instagram.
A group of friends took the phrase 'life goes on' quite literally when they continued to attend Beyoncé's concert in Paris after one of their friends, who was initially meant to go with them, died.
A TikToker by the name of Victornotvicor has ignited a firestorm of debate among other TikTok users, who criticised his decision, along with his friend, to proceed with attending the concert instead of mourning their friend.
He shared a TikTok clip that shows all three friends jamming out to Beyoncé's 'Cozy' before suddenly transitioning to two of them at the concert, but there is one thing that has changed: one friend is missing.
The caption of the video reads: 'He would've liked that we went anyway', implying that one friend flatlined on the way to the concert, but the show went on anyway because that's what he would have wanted.
According to Victornotvicor's follow-up video, the friend who passed away had a pre-existing heart condition and started experiencing chest pains on the way to the concert.
Things took a turn for the worse when he fainted after getting off the train, and the paramedics confirmed he had stopped breathing.
'Going to a Beyoncé concert was a lifelong dream of ours. We were really excited, so we filmed the first part of the TikTok.
'We wanted to do the before and after transition at the concert, but by the time we got to the subway, he started feeling really strong chest pains and we were worried because it got worse. We called the ambulance, and by the time they arrived, he had fainted,' he said.
Yet, the two friends rocked on to Beyoncé, motivated by their deceased friend's love for the multi-award-winning artist.
'My other friend and I didn't know if we should go home, so we decided to go to the concert anyway because we really truly think that's what he would have liked and that's what Beyoncé would have liked in his honour,' said @victornotvictor.
The reactions were a mixed bag, with many TikTokers criticising the friends for prioritising the concert over their deceased friend's well-being. Some were shocked and questioned the genuineness of the friendship.
'Wait...on the way to the concert, he passed, y'all still went and finished the TikTok? All in one day?!? 😳,' asked @KrystalR.
Another TikTok user @GenevieveJ commented: 'Y'all definitely were just acquaintances because there's no way I would've been able to see through the tears for months.'
Additionally, the controversy highlights a broader issue, which is how social media has desensitised people to sensitive topics.
What is interesting is that many commenters seemed to agree with Victornotvicor's decision, saying they would want their friends to continue with their plans if they were in a similar situation.
'Why are people mad? I would want my friends to go if I died, y'all are crazy. Life doesn't stop when yours does. I'd haunt you from the grave if you didn't go to a Beyoncé concert just because I died,' said @evancurtisx.
This raises questions about how people process and respond to death and grief in the age of social media. Are they becoming more accepting of unconventional ways of grieving, or are they just losing touch with traditional norms?
The debate surrounding Victornotvicor's video serves as a reflection of how social media is changing the values and norms surrounding grief and mourning.