Back in February, Beyoncé’s surprise video “Formation” and her subsequent Super Bowl performance had the Fox & Friends crowd scratching their empty heads. Police unions even called for boycotting Beyoncé over perceived anti-police sentiments.
In an interview with ELLE magazine, which was published online today, Beyoncé addressed the accusations:
I mean, I’m an artist and I think the most powerful art is usually misunderstood. But anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken. I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe. But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice. Those are two separate things. If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I’m proud of what we created and I’m proud to be a part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.