Beyoncé faces bump in the ride on 'Cowboy Carter' tour after cease-and-desist letter

Beyoncé has received a cease-and-desist letter from Sphere Entertainment Group (SEG) after controversial visuals from her “Cowboy Carter” tour depicted the singer towering over the Las Vegas skyline and lifting the Sphere venue.

The imagery, which debuted during the opening night of her tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, shows Beyoncé as a colossal figure interacting with the high-tech concert venue. Kathleen McCarthy, attorney for SEG, stated in the letter that the footage was used without permission and violates the company’s intellectual property rights. McCarthy emphasized that the video portrays Beyoncé as "many orders of magnitude larger than the Sphere venue," with the singer leaning over, picking up the venue, and looming over it. McCarthy confirmed that SEG had not authorized the use of the Sphere venue in the visuals.

The letter also addresses significant speculation stirred by the unauthorized footage, suggesting that Beyoncé might be planning a residency at the Sphere, a rumor that had circulated since last year when talks reportedly fell through. The letter demands that Beyoncé's production company, Parkwood Entertainment, immediately cease using the Sphere venue in the video, and refrain from using the imagery in any merchandise, promotional materials, or tour movies.

If Parkwood Entertainment does not comply with the request, SEG has warned it may pursue further legal action. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour, which supports her country-inspired album of the same name, launched on Monday. The tour includes dates across the U.S., London, and Paris, and is scheduled to conclude in July.