Channing Tatum, Beyoncé? Text After ‘Lip Sync Battle’ — Dancing With Bey Was ‘Terrifying’


Channing Tatum’s hilarious Lip Sync Battle performance with Beyoncé is still on people’s minds. Tatum himself recently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in promotion for his new film Hail Caesar!, and mentioned how the performance came about, reports Us Magazine. Jenna Dewan Tatum, Channing’s wife, was able to bring out Paula Abdul for the friendly competition, and Channing didn’t think he would be able to secure Beyoncé in time, but was trying to get a hold of on the phone — Channing texted Beyoncé to join the lip sync battle with him.

“That is the first time I ever met her — right there,” Channing Tatum told Ellen. “I won’t even tell you what I had to do to essentially get her assistant’s phone number. Or text her. I was texting her. I didn’t even have the intention of her coming.”

Channing, however, was not expecting Beyoncé to agree, as he had planned to dance with a cardboard cut-out of of the singer if all else failed. Fortunately, Beyoncé agreed, leaving Channing feeling incredibly nervous, also considering the fact that two didn’t even rehearse their performance. As it turned out, Beyoncé was only on stage for less than a minute.

“But, ultimately I ended up having to meet Beyonce doing Beyonce and that was definitely the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done.”

The memorable Lip Sync Battle performance consisted of Channing Tatum, a former male stripper, jumping on stage in a blonde wig, bustier-style top, and fringe booty shorts performing “Run the World (Girls)” with Beyoncé next to him. The segment of the show went viral and the rest is history, though the competition was ultimately declared a tie. Afterwards, the two shared a brief interaction before she left.

“I said hi and she goes, ‘Hey, that was really funny. See ya!,’ ” Channing told Ellen. It seems she left just as quickly as she appeared, as Channing described the singer as Keyser Söze, making a reference to Kevin Spacey’s character in Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects. But everything came full circle. Beyoncé texted Channing after the show and suggested that they hang out again.

“She was like, ‘Hey, I would love to meet you guys and hang out when you’re not looking like me [like it’s] so terrifying.’ ”

This comes only after a few days Channing Tatum, Jenna, and daughter Everly buried their family pet and goat, Heather.

Hail Caesar!, the newest film from the Cohen brothers, also brought out the dancing skills in Tatum. In preparation for the role, he spent three months going through serious tap dancing training, for what is said to be a six minute scene in the film. Choreographer Chris Gattelli was a tremendous help to Channing in the training process, giving him everything he needed while also not cutting him any slack whatsoever. Channing also sings in the movie, but the dance choreography was the main focus, as his voice could be dubbed over for the film.

Channing Tatum, Beyonce? Text After 'Lip Sync Battle' - Dancing With Bey Was 'Terrifying'
[Image via Alison Cohen Rosa/Courtesy of Universal Pictures]
Channing Tatum’s tap dancing sequence in Hail Caesar!, however, does not compare to the choreography in Magic Mike. “They’re not even in the same realm,” Channing said, in an interview with Vulture. Gattelli made sure that Channing’s choreography and performance was worthy of being recognized by professional tap dancers all over the world. But the actor says that his work in Hail Caesar! was just as fun as it was in Magic Mike. And with his Lip Sync Battle performance with Beyoncé, it’s easy to assume that Tatum was having just as much fun as well, even if he was nervous to be that close next to Queen Bey.

Hail Caesar! opens February 5.

[Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images]

Share this article: Channing Tatum, Beyoncé? Text After ‘Lip Sync Battle’ — Dancing With Bey Was ‘Terrifying’
More from Inquisitr