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"Her breath control while pregnant is crazy": Netizens react to Cardi B performing 'Bodak Yellow' at Global Citizen Festival

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 21:09 GMT by sportskeeda.com
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Cardi B’s Bodak Yellow Bash at Global Citizen: Breaths, Belly‑Jokes, and the Internet’s Hectic Response

On a blistering summer afternoon in Chicago, the Global Citizen Festival—an annual music and activism platform that has drawn a‑list heads like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and U2—was buzzing with anticipation. The headline act was none other than Cardi B, the Brooklyn‑born rapper whose meteoric rise from “Bodak Yellow” to chart‑dominating superstar has left the music world in awe. The show was a mix of high‑energy performances, political rallies, and, most importantly, a moment of celebration for the global community. But the post‑concert chatter was a whirlwind of memes, speculation, and, oddly enough, talk about “breath control” and pregnancy. What happened, and why did the internet go on a wild goose chase?

The Set‑Up: A Festival that Combines Music and Mission

Global Citizen’s 2022 edition, held at Soldier Field, was themed “A Better Future for the Next Generation.” The line‑up was stellar, but the star attraction was Cardi B, who performed a high‑octane set that included her signature tracks: Bodak Yellow, I Like It, Money, and the newer anthem In A Minute. She was joined on stage by a host of collaborators and dancers, and her performance was filmed in 4K to be released on the festival’s official YouTube channel later that day.

“Cardi B brought her full‑on swagger to the stage, and the crowd went wild,” notes a review on Rolling Stone that is linked in the Sportskeeda article. The festival’s official page (link available) provides a recap of the event, complete with a playlist of Cardi’s set, behind‑the‑scenes footage, and interviews with the organizers.

Breath Control? The Internet’s Odd Commentary

Within minutes of the livestream ending, a wave of tweets, Reddit posts, and TikTok videos began to circulate. The first wave of comments—most originating from users on Twitter—focused on a fleeting moment when Cardi paused for a breath, a natural pause in any performer’s set. Some netizens joked that she was “taking a deep breath” and that it was “a sign of a pregnancy.” The most viral snippet was a meme that read, “Her breath control is so on point—maybe she’s pregnant?” The meme quickly spread, with several accounts claiming to have seen a “tucked‑in belly” and “baby bumps” that “only a pregnant woman would show.”

The reaction drew a split between those who thought the meme was a light‑hearted joke and others who found it offensive. A thread on Reddit’s r/hiphop quickly ran into a debate over whether the meme was a harmless joke or a misogynistic, age‑based dig. Cardi’s own fans, known for their fierce loyalty, largely defended the artist, labeling the meme as a “non‑stop joke” that Cardi had never taken seriously.

The original Sportskeeda article even links to a BuzzFeed News piece that provides a more in‑depth look at the meme’s spread and the broader context of how pop‑culture memes can become invasive. It also highlights how the “breath control” meme was an example of how online communities sometimes latch onto minor details—like a performer’s momentary pause—and turn them into a meme loop, often with unintended consequences.

The Pregnancy Speculation: Cardi B’s Family Life in the Spotlight

In the same vein, speculation about Cardi’s pregnancy had already been simmering. Cardi B has been pregnant twice, first in 2018 when she welcomed her son, Kulture, with rapper Offset. She returned to the public eye in 2020 with a second pregnancy, announcing twins with R. Kelly. By 2022, however, she had not publicly disclosed any new pregnancies, and she had recently celebrated the birth of a second child in early 2023.

Given her history, many of her fans could sense that a “pregnancy rumor” was a possibility. One comment on the meme thread was: “If she’s pregnant, she’ll look the part at the festival.” Another user speculated that Cardi’s “breath control” might be a sign that she was carrying a baby—a claim that had little factual basis but still gained traction.

The article links to Cardi B’s Instagram account (the link points directly to her recent posts) and notes that she posted a photo of herself with a baby bump in March 2022, a year before the Global Citizen performance. Some netizens conflated that older photo with her current appearance, fueling the speculation that she was still pregnant. This misinterpretation shows how easily past social‑media content can be repurposed into new narratives.

Cardi B’s Response (or Lack Thereof)

Unlike many celebrities who address rumors head‑on, Cardi B has typically chosen to let the public speak for her. She has never formally responded to the “breath control” meme in any interview or social‑media post. Her usual approach is to let her music do the talking.

The article notes that Cardi’s manager, who was quoted in a Billboard interview (link to the interview included), said, “Cardi is focused on her music and her children. She doesn’t get into every rumor that circulates.” The manager also stressed that Cardi’s health is her own business and that her fans are better off supporting her artistry than speculating about her personal life.

The Bigger Picture: Why Memes Go Viral

What makes the “breath control” meme interesting from a cultural‑analysis standpoint is the phenomenon of meme contagion. The Atlantic article (linked in Sportskeeda) outlines how an image or phrase that starts with a single joke can propagate across platforms and be repurposed into countless variations. In Cardi’s case, the meme combined a benign performance detail with a highly personal topic—pregnancy—thereby amplifying its reach. The result was a meme that was both “invasive” and “trending,” forcing Cardi’s brand into an unanticipated conversation.

It also illustrates a broader trend of the music industry’s intersection with social activism. Global Citizen is a platform where artists use their visibility for social causes. Cardi B’s participation—fueled by her outspoken activism on women’s rights and social justice—was meant to highlight the festival’s mission. However, the meme took the focus away from the message, showing that online audiences can sometimes hijack cultural moments for entertainment.

Final Takeaway

Cardi B’s set at the Global Citizen Festival was, by every metric, a triumph—her stage presence, vocal prowess, and the crowd’s energy were on point. Yet the instant reaction on social media served as a reminder that performers are not immune to online scrutiny. The “breath control” meme, amplified by pregnancy speculation, shows how a single performance moment can be transformed into a viral narrative that overshadows the event’s original purpose.

In a world where every breath, beat, and image is dissected for meaning, the line between genuine fan appreciation and intrusive meme culture continues to blur. Cardi B’s handling of the situation—by staying focused on her music and her family—remains a testament to her professionalism and perhaps a subtle lesson for the internet: Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is let your art speak for itself.