NASA Not Happy With Beyonce For "Challenger" Sample, Singer Insist It Was Her "Sincerest Intention"

Music superstar Beyoncé came under fire this week for a sample on her new record “XO.” The record uses the words “major malfunction,” an audio clip recorded just after the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded in 1986, killing seven people on board. According to the AP, NASA was not too fond of Beyoncé using the audio, which she flips to talk about a failed relationship. “The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized,” a statement from NASA reads. “NASA works every day to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe.” Beyoncé quickly released her own statement, insisting the sampling was done with “sincerest intention.” “My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster,” the statement said. “The song 'XO' was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you. The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten.” Some didn’t quite agree with Bey. June Scobee Rogers, who lost her husband on the Challenger, said hearing the audio was “emotionally difficult.”