Is there anything Beyonce can't do? She rocked the Super Bowl with one of the most memorable halftime shows in recent history, dropped a new song, and got her newest world tour underway with serious style. So why, amid all that excitement, are her fans and followers discussing a chain restaurant? Because when Beyonce name-drops, you absolutely pay attention.

Lyrical Content



In her amazing new song "Formation," Beyonce utters the unforgettable line: "When he f*** me good I take his ass to Red Lobster." Naturally, people loved this lyric and decided the best way to honor it was with a hashtag. Much to the surprise of the chain itself, #RedLobster was soon trending on Twitter, but for far more risque reasons than those delicious cheddar biscuits.

All Hail Red Lobster

From celebrities like John Legend to devoted Beyonce fans, suddenly everyone was all about the #RedLobster hashtag. People excitedly joked (or did they?) that they'd be taking their significant other to Red Lobster for Valentine's Day. Others enthused how great it was that Jay-Z and Beyonce still had affection for the chain despite their insane wealth and glamorous lifestyle. And everyone eagerly waited for Red Lobster itself to comment on the lyrics. What would the company say? How would it react to this unconventional and fantastic shout-out?

Disappointment Tastes Bitter

Yep, that's what Red Lobster offered up in the wake of some of the best free publicity in history. People were, to put it mildly, a little underwhelmed. Not only was it a fairly lackluster response to the social media mania, it came hours and hours after the hashtag surface. If there's one thing we've learned about social media: timing is everything.

Oh, and we were all reminded that the Internet (and Beyonce's fans in particular) don't take disappointment lightly.

Despite the virtually universal scorn Red Lobster received for its social media response, it's unlikely the company is particularly concerned. After all, Beyonce basically gave the restaurant chain the greatest endorsement possible. Even if they go there ironically, fans are still going to be spending money because of the song. Even a disappointing tweet can't change that.


Bow Down

"Cheddar Bey Biscuits" may not become a thing anytime soon (although we're sure endorsed Beyonce snacks would sell like crazy), but a few things remain a certainty: Red Lobster is going to benefit enormously from Queen Bey's shoutout (weak social media response notwithstanding), and as always, Beyonce simply rules.