A viral video from Bali, Indonesia, has captured a humorous and unexpected sight. Uploaded on TikTok by @ferysjournal, the clip shows what appears to be Beyoncé standing in the middle of a rice field during the end-of-year floods. The post quickly gained traction, collecting over 600,000 likes and 9,000 comments.
The creator joked, “I didn’t expect to see Beyoncé in a rice field during the end-of-year floods.” The clip shows a black-and-white cardboard cut-out of the global star used as a scarecrow, standing out against the lush green landscape.
The post struck a chord with viewers, who filled the comment section with playful reactions and pop culture references.
Netizens Join the Joke
Many comments referenced Beyoncé’s music and persona in a light-hearted way. One user wrote, “Thank you Beyoncé, for taking care of the rice fields. When birds pass by, they say ‘HELLOWWW’,” alluding to her famous song.
Another joked, “People of the rice fields ❌ Divas of the rice fields ✅.”
A third added, “If you don’t say thank you Beyoncé, your harvest will fail.”
The humour extended beyond Indonesia. The video also caught the attention of British media, with the Daily Mail sharing the clip on its social platforms.
“Farmers in Bali have taken scare-crowing to the next level,” the outlet wrote. “In the hilarious clip, farmers are seen using a black and white cardboard cut-out of Queen Bey as a scarecrow, and she definitely stands out against the sea of green on the farm.”
They added that the uploader “admitted that the last thing he expected to see in the fields at the end of the year was Beyoncé.”
International audiences also joined in with jokes. One comment read, “Crows running away like ‘We can’t afford these tour tickets’ 😂,” while another said, “Now if I were a bird I would be hanging around her all day tho 🤣.”
Scarecrow in Bali: A Blend of Tradition and Creativity
In Bali, scarecrows remain a common feature in rice fields, especially in areas such as Tegalalang. Farmers use them to deter birds and protect crops.
Traditionally, these scarecrows are known locally as lelakut or petakut. They are often built using bamboo poles, called pindekan, and fitted with sunari, small bells attached to the ends to create sound and movement.
This practice exists alongside Bali’s well-known irrigation method, the subak system, developed in the ninth century.
While the function of scarecrows has remained the same, their appearance has evolved.
Today, some farmers dress them in distinctive outfits or give them playful identities. The Beyoncé-inspired version is one example of how local humour and global pop culture can intersect.